25 Common Beliefs That Are Totally Wrong

Never twice does lightning strike the same location.

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Lightning Can Strike Twice The comforting idea that lightning never hits the same spot twice is pure fiction. In fact, lightning often targets the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s tall, isolated, or conductive. Take the Empire State Building—it gets struck about 23 times a year. Tall structures act like magnets for lightning during storms. This also applies to trees, peaks, or even people in open spaces.

The myth may stem from the rarity of a person being hit twice, but that’s just luck, not lightning’s nature. Knowing this is vital for storm safety—always seek shelter in a solid building or car, as lightning doesn’t care if it’s striking for the first or fiftieth time.