'Terrifying' Photo Captures Lightning Striking Empire State Building In New York

As a thunderstorm rolled through Manhattan, New York on Wednesday night, lightning struck the city’s iconic tower. A dramatic picture caught the instant lightning struck the Empire State Building. Bolts of bright white light sliced across the night sky and zigzagged to the top of the building’s antenna. The precise moment was captured on camera by New York-based photographer Gary Hershorn.

The X (formerly known as Twitter) page of the Empire State Building posted a picture of the thunderbolt striking the structure, which was illuminated in red, along with the caption “OUCH.”

Additionally, Gary posted a number of images on X along with the statement, “The Empire State Building hit multiple times by lightning during a thunderstorm in New York City, Wednesday evening.”

The Empire State Building’s website states that lightning strikes the antenna 25 times a year on average.

The renowned building has 103 floors and 1,860 stairs between the street level and the observation deck on the 102nd floor, according to its official website. In addition to being the oldest, it is one of the top five tallest structures in New York City. In 1931, this famous landmark was completed.

The building’s stunning height, Art Deco architecture and expansive observation decks have made it a popular destination. One of the largest architectural companies in the United States, Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, designed it. As of 2024, the structure ranks 54th in the globe, ninth in the United States, and seventh in New York City among completed skyscrapers.

One World Trade Centre was also struck by lightning during the thunderstorm; images and videos of this incident appeared on X.

The FOX Forecast Centre reports that 174 lightning bolts were seen in the greater New York City metro region, including this one.

Fox Weather reports that during the same storm, someone suffered injuries when lightning struck the Manhattan building they were in.

According to the New York Post, the buildings’ antennae and lightning rods are made to withstand the force of a lightning strike, protecting both the structure and the occupants from electrocution.

The rods do not draw lightning strikes, despite what everybody assumes.

The rods simply protect the buildings. Nonetheless, lightning frequently strikes the biggest structures around, such as these towers, The Post added.