Powerball Dreams vs. Weather Realities: Which Odds Are Really Scarier?

The Powerball jackpot has soared to $1.7 billion. While millions of Americans are busy picking numbers, the odds of winning remain almost unimaginable: 1 in 292.2 million. To put that in perspective, you are far more likely to encounter extreme weather than you are to cash in on a billion-dollar ticket.

Lightning Strikes: A Real Risk

The National Weather Service reports that your annual chance of being struck by lightning in the U.S. is about 1 in 1.2 million. That is more than two hundred times more likely than hitting Powerball. And while most lightning strikes are not fatal, they can cause life-altering injuries and deserve real caution during storms.

Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Floods