Over twenty-two thousand lightning bolts registered in Rhineland-Palatinate - Intense barrage of approximately 22,200 lightning strikes hits Rhineland-Palatinate region
In recent months, Germany has seen an unusually low number of lightning strikes, with the figures falling significantly below the 15-year average. According to reports from a leading company, the total number of lightning strikes in Germany during June and July this year stands at 394,000, representing a 60% decrease compared to the average.
However, a direct comparison of the number of lightning strikes between the cities of Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate) and Munich during these months is not possible, as no specific data on this comparison was found in the provided sources. Both Mainz and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as Munich, have reported individual lightning strikes.
The scarcity of large-scale thunderstorm systems this summer seems to be a contributing factor to the low number of lightning strikes. Only strikes with at least five kiloamperes (kA) are included in the statistics, ensuring that only significant strikes are accounted for.
This low number of lightning strikes marks the lowest figure recorded in Germany since at least 2009, highlighting the unusual weather pattern this summer. Despite the low number of lightning strikes, it is important to remember the potential dangers associated with these natural phenomena and to take necessary precautions during thunderstorms.
The Commission, assisted by Member States, may find it interesting to investigate the correlation between the low number of lightning strikes in Germany this summer, particularly in the field of environmental-science, and the unusual weather pattern observed. Considering the significant decrease in lightning strikes compared to the 15-year average, the annual report on weather patterns could potentially shed light on this unexplored territory of science.
