From similarity and differences of morphological, biochemical, cellular characteristics, biologist have constructed 'phylogenetic (evolutionary) trees' (who is most closely related to who, analogous to a family tree)
In the United States, lightning routinely kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Tornadoes, hail, and wind gusts get the most attention, but only lightning can strike outside the storm itself. Lightning is the first thunderstorm hazard to arrive and the last to leave.
Below are some additional facts about lightning: 1  25 million - Average U.S. cloud-to-ground lightning strikes per year. 2  50,000 degrees (F) - Temperature that lightning can reach. 3  1,800 - Average number of thunderstorms on earth at any given moment.  100 - Number of times lightning hits earth per second.