Scientists say they have developed a system that uses machine learning to predict when and where lightning will strike.Researchers report the system is able to predict lightning strikes up to 30 minutes before they happen within a 30-kilometer area.The research was led by engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland.The results were reported in the publication Climate and Atmospheric Science.Lightning is a strong burst of electricity in the atmosphere. It is one of the oldest observed weather events on Earth.It can strike between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.Since lightning carries an extremely powerful electrical charge, it can be destructive and deadly.It is difficult to know exactly how many people die of lightning-related causes.European researchers have estimated that between 6,000 and 24,000 people are killed by lightning worldwide each year.
