Chicago, Illinois – The Midwest is heading into 2026 with renewed attention on lightning safety after three people across the region were killed by lightning in 2025, part of a nationwide total of 21 fatalities, the highest annual count since 2019.
According to the National Weather Service and the National Lightning Safety Council, lightning deaths last year were closely tied to outdoor activities such as farming, construction, yard work, youth sports, and recreation near lakes and rivers. The Midwest’s fatalities occurred during warm-season storms, highlighting how quickly conditions can turn dangerous across the Plains and Great Lakes states.
The region’s geography plays a major role in lightning risk. Thunderstorms frequently develop along cold fronts moving out of the Plains, with storms often intensifying during afternoon and evening hours. Open farmland, athletic fields, construction sites, and lake-rich areas across states such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin increase exposure when storms build with little warning.
Emergency managers say winter is the best time to reinforce habits that save lives. If thunder is heard anywhere in the Midwest, residents should move indoors immediately to a substantial building or enclosed vehicle. Open fields, isolated trees, farm equipment, metal structures, and bodies of water significantly increase the risk of being struck.
Officials stress that early decisions make the difference. Lightning safety outreach is expected to increase across the Midwest as warmer weather approaches, with the goal of reducing risk and preventing additional fatalities when thunderstorms return in 2026.
