Florida Endures Over 80,000 Lightning Strikes During Weekend Storms

More than 80,000 lightning strikes hit Florida over a Saturday‑Sunday weekend, covering the state from Jacksonville to the Florida Keys. The surge is part of an unusually active 2026 lightning season in which the state has already logged over one million strikes for the year, with more than 200,000 occurring in a single week.

The storms caused utility disruptions, including a gas leak and a six‑inch water‑pipe rupture in North Palm Beach that prompted response from Seacoast Utility Authority, Florida Public Utilities, Florida Power & Light and local fire crews. Florida leads the nation in lightning‑related fatalities, recording 51 deaths between 2016 and 2025.

Meteorologist Matt Devitt used the event to warn golfers in Venice, Florida, that “no round of golf is worth getting struck by lightning,” emphasizing the heightened danger on open courses during thunderstorm activity.