The Surprising Link Between Thunderstorms and Asthma

This summer was defined by record-breaking heat and dramatic storms across the U.S. Injuries and delays in medical care brought on by flooding, power outages and dangerous road conditions are among the more conspicuous health effects of storms, but they can also lead to a less obvious health problem: asthma.

In 2016, the city of Melbourne, Australia, experienced an alarming mass asthma event immediately following a thunderstorm. In the 30 hours following the storm, area hospitals saw 3,365 more medical visits for breathing problems than would be expected based on the average for the previous three years, an increase of 672%. At the peak of the crisis, calls for ambulances were coming in once every 4.5 seconds. The city’s emergency and healthcare systems were overwhelmed, resulting in 10 deaths and spurring new programs to prepare for future episodes of “thunderstorm asthma.”