iStockphoto
This year July 4th fireworks shows all across America got a little extra entertainment as in at least 10 states lightning appeared right in the middle of the big show.
Now, if you are thinking to yourself that it probably isn’t a good idea to have a fireworks show somewhere lightning is flashing in the sky, you would be correct.
WGN in Chicago reported that, yep, four people were injured, three of them seriously, by lightning strikes during or shortly after July 4th fireworks displays.
“I got the phone call he got struck by lightning and was on the ground unresponsive, “ Cindy Fuller said of his son Dawson, 18. “He was thrown backwards into the air 5 to 7 feet and landed on his head.”
Kevin Kloesel, director of Oklahoma’s Climatological Survey and an expert on lightning safety, told the Washington Post, “It’s frustrating that we have this expertise and that it’s not being used. There’s no longer any excuse for someone to be struck by lighting at a fireworks show.”
Yeah, but the videos and pictures of the lightning mixing with the fireworks is really, really cool. And isn’t that what actually matters here? Just think of all the social media likes and shares!
Colorado
#Lightning appears in sky sw of #Longmont during #FourthofJuly2018 #fireworks #CoWX @TimesCall pic.twitter.com/jAVvqkEkyq
— Lewis Geyer (@LGeyerTC) July 5, 2018
WATCH: Tonight’s Memorial Park fireworks came with a lightning show. #ColoradoSprings #4thfireworks
Commentary by @DougalBrownlie pic.twitter.com/bWNnqZ27AO— Lindsey Smith (@LindseySquints) July 5, 2018
Florida
Great shot of the #lightning and #fireworks today by Aprile Arts Alparone in #BoyntonBeach #florida #flwx pic.twitter.com/K5gQFyl76d
— James Wieland 🏄🏻♂️ (@SurfnWeatherman) July 5, 2018
Check this out! Jonathan Woodward captured these pics in Vero Beach last night. Fireworks AND lightning! Very cool #flwx @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/PYwMdzVu9z
— Lauren Olesky (@LoleskyWX) July 5, 2018
In Florida, we debuted a new #FourthofJuly game called fireworks or thunder & lightning? 😳 @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/dfmqiA6hIY
— Veronica Vela (@VeronicaVnews) July 5, 2018
Illinois
Fireworks of Pilsen, lightning in the distance. #4thofJuly2018 pic.twitter.com/HL7skhYAah
— Nick Ulivieri (@ChiPhotoGuy) July 5, 2018
Lightning vs Fireworks#Chicago #NavyPier #4thofJuly2018 #FireworksFinale pic.twitter.com/31jg22g2KZ
— Doug 🌻 (@DFWHoppe) July 5, 2018
Train + fireworks + lightning!! Happy 4th of July from Chicago. ✌🏼🇺🇸 #Pilsen pic.twitter.com/xbWiUtGzxg
— Amy (@amyulo) July 5, 2018
Mississippi
Who says you can’t have both? #lightning #fireworks Pearl, Ms 7/4/18 @NWSJacksonMS #mswx @DaveRobertsTV @spann @JimCantore pic.twitter.com/ywLmkGvY8P
— Toi Batton (@StandAlonePhoto) July 5, 2018
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Lightning timed perfectly with my fireworks. Shoutout to Mother Nature ! pic.twitter.com/B64ktciig1
— kristen (@ItsMeKristennn) July 5, 2018
MOTHER NATURE STEALS THE SHOW: A fireworks display in Norwood, Pennsylvania was overtaken by Mother Nature as a massive bolt of lightning shocked onlookers. pic.twitter.com/CpfZJGDE3f
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) July 4, 2018
South Carolina
Nature’s fireworks stealing the show! Happy 4th of July! @NWSColumbia pic.twitter.com/dK1IZ6s5fL
— John Quagliariello (@JQuagliariello) July 5, 2018
South Dakota
https://twitter.com/stormtimelapse/status/1014394288686489600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Tennessee
WOW!!!! Lightning strikes a #firework….or looks like it does….video coming soon. This is real!
Credit: Angela Tharp in Scotts Hill TN.@WKRN @DanielleBreezy @spann @Ginger_Zee @JimCantore @GMA pic.twitter.com/TluEsZUaBu
— Jared Plushnick (@JaredPlushnick) July 5, 2018
Texas
https://twitter.com/Suzs_World/status/1014327799853830145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Watching the fireworks in League City during a lightning storm! #houwx pic.twitter.com/BaChnsW10j
— Cheryl Williams (@cwillintexas) July 4, 2018