FACT CHECK #NST9NL0H

WHAT WE FOUND

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.

SOURCES

1. 1 · britannica.comWEB
   Can Lightning Strike the Same Place Twice? | Britannica

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2. 2 · noaa.govACADEMIC
   5 striking facts versus myths about lightning you should know - NOAA

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3. 3 · weather.govACADEMIC
   Lightning Myths - National Weather Service

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4. 4 · lpsfr.comWEB
   Does Lightning Strike the Same Place Twice? Truth vs. Myth

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5. 5 · stormhighway.comWEB
   MYTH: Lightning never strikes the same place twice - Storm Highway

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6. 6 · westeamahead.orgWEB
   MythBuster: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice

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7. 7 · abc7news.comWEB
   Lightning DOES strike in the same place twice and other myths ...

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8. 8 · reconnectwithnature.orgACADEMIC
   Myth buster: Lightning can strike the same place twice

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9. 9 · firstcoastnews.comWEB
   Does lightning really not strike the same place twice? Debunking ...

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10. 10 · cbsnews.comWEB
    Lightning striking in the same place more than once seems unlikely

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11. 11 · farmprogress.comACADEMIC
    Who says lightning can't strike the same place twice? - Farm Progress

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12. 12 · spinoff.nasa.govACADEMIC
    Lightning Often Strikes Twice | NASA Spinoff

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13. 13 · merriam-webster.comWEB
    lightning never strikes (the same place) twice - Merriam-Webster

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14. 14 · agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.comWEB
    Recurrent Lightning Spots: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice

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15. 15 · cambridge.orgWEB
    Appendix 5 - Is it true that lightning never strikes the same place twice?

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16. 16 · science.anu.edu.auACADEMIC
    Study reveals how lightning often strikes twice

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