At a Glance

Spring, summer and early fall have numerous dangerous weather threats.This likely makes it the most deadly time of year for weather.Extreme heat, flooding, lightning and rip currents are among the concerns.

The United States is now in what is likely the most deadly time of year for weather because of the multiple threats a broad swath of the country can face, some of which fly under the radar.

Warmer temperatures from spring to summer and early fall make weather-related threats such as extreme heat, flooding, lightning, tornadoes and rip currents more likely to occur, but most of them can happen year-around as well.

You might be surprised that extreme heat, on average, has been responsible for the . An average of 101 people have been killed by heat each year, according to the from NOAA's Natural Hazard Statistics.

Weather-related deaths per year 2009-2018.

(NOAA)

While tornadoes and hurricanes garner most attention, flooding typically kills the second largest number of people annually. NOAA says an average of 95 deaths per year have been caused by flooding.

Recent years have been especially deadly because of flooding. The three years spanning 2015 to 2017 had 187, 126 and 116 deaths blamed on flooding, respectively.

Flooding can happen anytime of year, but warmer temperatures from spring into summer and early fall make it more likely because of the potential for heavier rainfall rates.

(MORE: We're in the Prime Time For Flash Flooding)

Summer's warmth also sends droves of people to beaches, but sometimes dangerous rip currents are hiding in the inviting waters.

Rip current deaths by state or territory 2014-2017.

(NOAA)

Rip currents are strong but narrow currents that flow away from the beach and pose a threat to all swimmers when they form. Rip currents can develop at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

In the past 10 years, rip currents have killed an average of 58 people each year, the fourth most for any category of weather-related fatalities in NOAA's statistics. The past two years have been above that average with 71 lives lost in 2018 and 70 lives lost in 2017.

Outdoor activities in the warmer months of the year also make lightning-related fatalities more likely to happen.

Lightning has killed an average of 27 people annually over the past 10 years, but the 30-year average is higher with 43 killed per year. The overwhelming majority of lightning deaths in the past 10 years have occurred between .

Lightning-related deaths that occurred during a leisure activity, broken down by activity (2006-17). These stats do not include work- or routine-related deaths.

(National Weather Service/NOAA)

Of all lightning-related deaths, have happened during leisure activities.

The last two years, however, have seen a reduction in lighting deaths compared to average. NOAA says lightning killed 16 people in 2017 and 20 people in 2018, in a given year dating to 1940. That said, 2016 was much higher than the 10-year average with 39 deaths.

Tornadoes are also an in the warmer seasons.

The 10-year average (2009-2018) number of tornado deaths per year is 89, but that statistic is skewed by the horrible 2011 tornado season which had 553 fatalities. The other nine years in that period of time had anywhere from 10 lives lost in 2018 to as many as 69 in 2012.

Finally, tropical storms and hurricanes also present a danger along our nation's Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastlines. They can bring flooding rain, destructive storm surge and high winds. All of those threats can be deadly if you are not prepared.

Stay Safe

As we head through the warmer months, it's important to have a plan to stay informed about any of these potential dangers.

-Heat safety should be a priority in summer . Stay hydrated and take breaks if outdoors. Check on vulnerable people such as the elderly and children, especially if air conditioning is unavailable.

-When heavy rain threatens, never try to drive through a flooded road. of the 80 flooding deaths in 2018 were in vehicles.

-You should also have a way to receive warnings when severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, are a threat. Make sure you have an .

-If you have outdoor activities planned, be sure you know where you can shelter from lightning. If you hear thunder, then it's time to move indoors no matter how faint or loud it sounds.

-Take note of the rip current risk if you are planning a day at the beach. There are color-coded flags placed on many beaches each day to communicate the current threat. You can also get a from NOAA.