Since April two people in Iowa have died as a result of lightning strikes, including one woman this past weekend in Linn County. On Saturday, 42-year-old Rebecca McCarthy was camping near Palo when she was struck by lightning. In May, William Clevenger was on horseback rounding up cattle when he was struck. So far this year, nine people have died across the country due to lightning strikes and on average 49 fatalities occur annually.

Kelsey Angle, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service, explains people should go inside when thunder is heard, because that means lightning is close enough to strike. Stay in safe shelter until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

Also, Angle explains lightning can strike the same place twice. Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times each year.

For more lightning safety tips click here.