depopulated, and dust storms ravaged the land. More recently, the western US experienced widespread drought from 1999 to 2004. In terms of deaths from heat waves, 7,415 losses occurred between 1999 and 2010, a mean of 618 per year. A disproportionate number of men, a full 68% of deaths, versus women have been affected. The highest yearly total of heat-related deaths during that time frame was in 1999. The lowest was in 2004. In terms of deaths caused by cold waves, the same gender inequality exists; 66% of hypothermia-related deaths in 2002 were of males. From 1979 to 2002, 16,555 deaths occurred due to exposure to excessive cold temperatures, a mean of 689 per year. Approximately 43 people die by lightning strike each year in the United States, and 90 percent of those struck will survive. Americans have a one in 15,300 chance of being struck by lightning in their lifetime. See also Weather media in the United States Climate change in the United States Geography of the United States List of snowiest places in the United States by state United States tropical cyclone rainfall climatology List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States Meteorology References External links National Weather Service United States