FALSE

The assertion that lightning never strikes the same place twice is a scientifically debunked myth 2 5. Multiple meteorological agencies and researchers confirm that lightning can and frequently does strike the same location, sometimes many times within a single year 1 6 10. Tall, isolated, or pointed structures are particularly susceptible to repeated strikes 3 9. Some evidence suggests that if a location is struck once, the probability of a subsequent strike may actually increase due to environmental factors 11 12. While the phrase is used as a metaphor for rare occurrences 13, physical evidence and international studies show that phenomena like needles store charges to allow for recurrent strikes 14 16. Although it is extremely rare for a specific one square meter area to be hit twice, for all general locations, the claim is factually incorrect 8 15.