Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – As winter quiets much of Oklahoma’s storm activity, state safety officials are urging residents to reflect on lightning awareness after two people were killed by lightning across the state during 2025.
According to the National Weather Service and the National Lightning Safety Council, 21 lightning-related deaths were recorded nationwide in 2025, marking the deadliest year since 2019. In Oklahoma, both fatalities occurred during outdoor activities, aligning with national data showing lightning most often strikes people who are fishing, working outside, or recreating when storms develop quickly.
In the Oklahoma City metro, no lightning fatalities were reported in 2025. Still, central Oklahoma remains highly vulnerable once late spring and summer storms return. Fast-moving thunderstorm complexes and isolated severe cells are common in June and throughout the warm season, often producing lightning well ahead of rainfall.
Emergency managers recommend using winter as a planning window for 2026. If thunder is audible, residents should seek shelter immediately inside a substantial building or a fully enclosed vehicle. Open fields, elevated terrain, metal equipment, and all bodies of water should be avoided during storms, and outdoor activity should not resume until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Officials say reinforcing lightning safety habits now can help ensure these tragedies are not repeated when Oklahoma’s next storm season arrives.
