Most Americans like thunderstorms, but people in the South are more likely to be scared by them and are also less likely than anyone else to find them exciting
2014 had been set to be an El Nino year, when the water in the Pacific Ocean becomes warmer, affecting global weather patterns. Scientists say that the El Nino effect this time may be weaker than initially expected. The stronger an El Nino year is, the more rain falls on the western United States as huge thunderstorms form in the Rockies. These storms looked set to save California from a record-breaking drought, but with a weaker El Nino comes less rain.
The latest research from YouGov shows that most Americans (55%) like thunderstorms, though 34% of the public do say that they dislike thunderstorms. People in the West (69%) are the most likely to say that they like thunderstorms, while people in the Northeast (45%) are the least likely.
People in the West are the most likely (74%) to say that they are excited by thunderstorms, while people in the South (33%) are the most likely to say that they are scared by storms.
This makes a certain amount of sense, as people in the West are the least likely (22%) to report property damage in their neighborhoods from storms, while people in the South are the most likely (47%).
Full poll results can be found here.
Image: Getty
