Lightning strikes Empire State Building and One World Trade Center in dramatic pics
The Big Apple is electric!
Lighting struck two of the city’s iconic skyscrapers Wednesday night as a thunderstorm pounded Manhattan.
Dramatic photos captured the split-second moments lightning bolts zapped both the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.
Glowing white bolts cut through the night sky and zig-zagged to the tip of the antennas atop each building, the amazing images show.
The Empire State Building’s X page shared one photo of the electric zap hitting the building — lit up in red — with the simple caption “OUCH.”
According to its website, the Empire State Building’s antenna is hit by lightning 25 times per year on average.
One World Trade Center was just struck by a lightning bolt during a thunderstorm last Thursday morning, according to Fox Weather.
In the same storm, a person was injured when lightning hit the Manhattan building they were in, the outlet reported.
The buildings’ antennas or lightning rods are designed to absorb the shock of a lightning bolt so that the building itself and the people inside are safe from electrocution.
Contrary to popular belief, the rods do not attract lightning strikes.
The rods only protect the buildings. However, lightning often will hit the tallest thing around like these skyscrapers.
Wednesday night’s drenching rain and thunderstorm came after a beautiful day of sunshine and warm temperatures.
The city was expected to get about a half inch or rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
