New estimates of lightning counts from the Met Office ATDnet system are obtained for the ‘UK land area’ and compared with those currently available for the ‘UK service area’ (which includes Republic of Ireland and surrounding seas). Annual counts average 38% of those in the ‘UK service area’. Case studies of thundery periods highlight daily differences. The new annual counts offer a more accurate estimate of the lightning risk facing the UK population. For the period 2008–2016, one lightning death occurred, on average, per 59 000 lightning counts, and one person was either killed or injured per 4000–5000 counts.
Elsom, Derek M.Enno, Sven-ErikHorseman, AndrewWebb, Jonathan D.C.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences\Department of Social Sciences
Year of publication: 2018Date of RADAR deposit: 2018-04-05