Jackson, Mississippi – With winter limiting thunderstorm activity across Mississippi, state safety officials are urging residents to reflect on lightning awareness after one person in the state was killed by a lightning strike during 2025.
According to the National Weather Service and the National Lightning Safety Council, 21 lightning-related deaths were recorded nationwide in 2025, the highest annual total since 2019. Mississippi’s lone fatality occurred during an outdoor activity, continuing a national pattern showing most lightning deaths happen when people are exposed during work or recreation as storms approach.
In the Jackson metro area, no lightning-related deaths were reported in 2025. Still, Mississippi remains among the most lightning-prone states once warmer weather returns. Frequent spring and summer thunderstorms, combined with outdoor work and recreation, increase exposure risk across both rural and urban areas.
Emergency managers encourage residents to use the winter months to prepare 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, metal equipment, and all bodies of water significantly increase the risk of being struck, and outdoor activity should not resume until at least 30 minutes after the final thunder.
Officials say reinforcing lightning safety habits before storm season begins is critical to preventing future tragedies as Mississippi heads toward the next warm-weather cycle.
