NOUS42 KMLB 021600 RRA PNSMLB FLZ041-044>046-053-058-141-144-154-159-164-247-254-259-264-347-447- 547-647-747-020140- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Melbourne FL 1100 AM EST Mon Feb 2 2026 ...Monday, February 2 is Lightning Awareness Day... Lightning is one of nature’s most unpredictable hazards, making all thunderstorms potentially deadly. Central Florida is the most active lightning hotspot in the United States, with lightning storms occurring nearly every day from mid-May through mid-October due to frequent sea breeze boundary collisions. According to preliminary data, there were 21 lightning-related fatalities in the United States in 2025, near the 10-year average. Florida led the nation with four lightning-related fatalities. Lightning remains the second-leading weather-related cause of death in Florida, behind rip currents. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles from a storm, even when thunder is not audible, and is often most dangerous near the storm’s outer edges. As a result, most lightning fatalities occur before a storm reaches peak intensity or shortly after rainfall ends, when people delay seeking shelter or return outdoors too soon. Lightning cannot be avoided in the same way one would avoid a tornado or hurricane. Monitoring weather conditions and taking lightning safety seriously is essential when planning outdoor activities. To stay safe, seek shelter as soon as skies darken, even before thunder is heard. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Stop outdoor activities immediately and move indoors, and remain there for 30 minutes until after the last rumble of thunder. Picnic pavilions, dugouts, sheds, and trees do not provide adequate lightning protection. If a sturdy building is unavailable, an enclosed metal vehicle or bus offers the next best shelter. Golf carts and convertible vehicles are unsafe. Remember: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! $$ Watson/Ulrich