Spring is fully underway across the United States, although it might not feel like it in some locations. And to the delight of baseball fans, the unofficial holiday, also known as opening day for Major League Baseball, is upon us. All 30 teams will take the field on Thursday to play the first games of the season – a season that matches up all too well with the peak of severe weather.
In fact, according to Scott Mackaro, the head of innovation at Vaisala, a Finland-based lightning research firm, upwards of 90% of the lightning that happens in the United States, specifically the lower 48, occurs during baseball season. Even more shocking, data from a study published last year shows the chances of getting struck by lightning during a baseball game are surprisingly high.
