South Florida is one of the most lightning-prone areas of the country, with lightning commonly striking the most often between two and four p.m. reported Sonya Abadeer, a Florida International University graduate student researching lightning strike prevention and outdoor sports. Strikes often occur under clear skies. People that are sweating are struck more often and suffer worse injuries simply because they are wet in a dry, charged environment. On average lightning strikes from about six miles away.

If you spend any increased amount of time outdoors and were not aware of the facts, you may want to consider investing in a permanent or portable detection system.

The technology of handheld detectors, which cost between $100 and $400, is similar to that used in small radios, says Ed Edelman, president of Tempe, Ariz.-based Ambient Weather, most of whose customers are in South Florida and Texas.

?EUR??,,????'??Remember when we were kids, and our personal radios crackled when there was some sort of weather surge? Perhaps a lightning strike or a thunderbolt, or even a strong wind,?EUR??,,????'?? Edelman said. ?EUR??,,????'??The reason they crackled was because the radio signals were being interrupted. With handheld detectors, they sort of capture that footprint of the lightning bolt and it causes an alarm on the detector to sound.?EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??These systems are unbelievable,?EUR??,,????'?? says David Grand, assistant golf professional at Orangebrook Country Club in Hollywood. ?EUR??,,????'??They should be mandatory.?EUR??,,????'??

For Rusty Pfost, meteorologist in charge at the South Florida office of the National Weather Service, there is no lighting-detection tool like good sense.