What happens when lightning strikes the Empire State Building?

Nothing happens. The voltage and electrical current is transferred harmlessly to the ground, as shown in the picture below. The building has no doubt been struck by lightning tens of thousands of times since its construction in 1932. Lightning rod. read more

Nothing happens. The voltage and electrical current is transferred harmlessly to the ground, as shown in the picture below. The building has no doubt been struck by lightning tens of thousands of times since its construction in 1932. read more

The Empire State Building is no stranger to lightning, as this 1934 photo shows. Credit: NOAA. New York City's lightning rod of a building — the Empire State Building — was struck by lightning three times in a row last night. read more

A thunderstorm is hitting New York City right now and Henrik Moltke of the Intercept just grabbed this timelapse of a bolt of lightning coming right for the Empire State Building. It’s not exactly a rare event—the construction of the building makes it a lightning rod for the area. read more