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WATCH: Lightning Strike in NYC Caught on Video

1 minute read
By TIME Staff

Beautiful but Deadly: The Awesome Power of Lightning

Lightning strikes the Willis Tower in downtown on June 12, 2013 in Chicago.
Lightning strikes the Willis Tower in downtown on June 12, 2013 in Chicago.Scott Olson / Getty Images
Lightning is seen above buildings during a storm in central Shanghai
Lightning is seen above buildings during a storm in central Shanghai, Aug. 15, 2012.Aly Song—Reuters
Lesotho lightning
A multiple exposure photograph shows lightning striking above Maseru, capital of Lesotho, Sept. 27, 2011.Alessandro Della Bella—EPA
Arizona Summer Storm
Summer rain storms and lightning roll across the plains near the Petrified Forest National Park, in Navajo, Ariz., Aug. 31, 2011.Ralph Lauer—ZUMA Press/Corbis
Chile Volcano
Lightning strikes over the Puyehue volcano, over 500 miles south of Santiago, Chile, Monday June 6, 2011. Authorities have evacuated about 3,500 people in the nearby area. The volcano was calm on Monday, two days after raining down ash and forcing thousands to flee, although the cloud of soot it had belched out still darkened skies as far away as Argentina. (AP Photo/Francisco Negroni, AgenciaUno) CHILE OUT, NO PUBLICAR EN CHILE, NO SALESFrancisco Negroni —AgenciaUno/AP
Icelandic Volcano Causes More Disruption
A lightning bolt is seen through an ash cloud erupting from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland, on Saturday, May 21, 2011. British Airways, Air France-KLM Group and a dozen other carriers canceled more than 250 flights and U.S. President Barack Obama curtailed his visit to Ireland after ash from an Icelandic volcano drifted over the northern U.K. Photographer: Ragnar Axelsson/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesRagnar —Bloomberg/Getty Images
Lightning Statue of Liberty
Lightning strikes near the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Oct. 11, 2010.Jay Fine—Cater News
Lightning streaks across the sky as lava flows from a volcano in Eyjafjallajokul
Lightning streaks across the sky as lava flows from a volcano in Eyjafjallajokul April 17, 2010. An Icelandic volcano that is spewing ash into the air and wreaking havoc on flights across Europe appeared to be easing up on Saturday but could continue to erupt for days or even months to come, officials said. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (ICELAND - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT IMAGES OF THE DAY) BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE - RTR2UJ85Lucas Jackson—Reuters
Lightning above Cheetah with adolescent cubs on termite mound
Lightning strikes above a cheetah with adolescent cubs on termite mound in Maasai Mara, Kenya, Sept. 22, 2009.Paul Souders—Corbis
Lightning strikes over the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the ship transits through the Persian Gulf, March 28, 2007.
Lightning strikes over the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the ship transits through the Persian Gulf, March 28, 2007.Heidi Giacalone—EPA/Corbis
NatWest Series - England and Australia
Lightning strikes as the players leave the field due to the electrical storm during the NatWest Series One Day International between England and Australia played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, United Kingdom, June 28, 2005.Tom Shaw—Getty Images
Lightning and Thunderstorm Supercell
A lone lightning bolt strikes the ground beneath an isolated supercell thunderstorm at sunset in Kansas, June 5, 2004.Jim Reed—Corbis
USA, New York State, New York City, Empire State Building in heavy lightning
Lightning strikes the Empire State Building in New York City.Corbis
Lightning strikes during an electrical storm at night in the Canyon.
Lightning strikes during an electrical storm at night in the Grand Canyon.Kolb Brothers—National Geographic Society/Corbis

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