Lightning caused 52 fatalities in 1996, down 33 from 1995. This figure is
somewhat lower than the 30-year average, which is 83 lightning fatalities
annually. Florida again had the highest number of lightning deaths with
10; Texas totaled 6. Of the 52 fatalities, 23 (44%) occurred in the open.
Three times as many males than females died from lightning. Most of the
fatalities occurred between the ages of 10 and 39 (71%).