Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS. Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead. It diminishes as the storm moves away.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Birmingham at 4:16 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1.

The NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC released a severe thunderstorm warning at 2:57 p.m. on Friday in effect until 4 p.m. for Cleveland and Rutherford counties.