FactSentinel

Lightning regularly strikes the same location repeatedly, and the old saying that it never strikes twice is a myth. Lightning follows the path of least resistance between a charged cloud and the ground, and tall, pointed, conductive objects offer an especially attractive route. Because these features do not change from one storm to the next, the same spots are struck again and again. The Empire State Building is a well-known example. Standing about 1,250 feet tall (roughly 1,450 feet with its antenna), it is typically hit around 20 to 25 times per year, and it has been struck several times during a single thunderstorm.

The evidence comes from decades of direct observation and research. Scientists have photographed and recorded strikes on the building, and the National Weather Service and atmospheric researchers have documented that tall structures act as lightning attractors. The building's metal frame and lightning protection system safely channel the current into the ground, which is why these strikes rarely cause damage. Other tall structures, such as the CN Tower and broadcast towers, also experience many strikes annually.

A common misconception is that lightning avoids places it has already hit. In reality, a previous strike has no effect on where the next one lands. Another misunderstanding is that strike counts are exact. The 20 to 25 figure is an approximate yearly average, and the actual number varies with weather patterns and the severity of storm seasons.