Madison, Wisconsin – With winter limiting thunderstorm activity across Wisconsin, safety officials are taking time to reflect on a deadly reminder from 2025, when one person in the state was killed by a lightning strike.
According to the National Weather Service and the National Lightning Safety Council, 21 people across the United States died from lightning strikes in 2025, making it the deadliest year since 2019. Wisconsin’s lone fatality occurred during an outdoor activity, aligning with national trends showing most lightning deaths happen when people are exposed during recreation or work outside.
No lightning-related deaths were reported in the Madison area in 2025, but officials stress that risk returns quickly once warmer weather arrives. Wisconsin sees frequent spring and summer thunderstorms, particularly across southern and central parts of the state, where lightning can strike well ahead of heavy rain.
Emergency managers encourage residents to use the winter months to plan ahead for 2026. If thunder can be heard, even faintly, people should move indoors immediately to a substantial building or enclosed vehicle. Open fields, isolated trees, hilltops, and bodies of water are especially dangerous during storms, and outdoor activity should not resume until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
State officials say reinforcing lightning safety habits before storm season begins is key to ensuring Wisconsin avoids further tragedy when thunderstorms return next year.
