Does it seem like we're having lightning and thunder all summer? Here's what's going on.

Our rainy spring has now stretched deep into July, so it's perhaps no surprise that we're also seeing more noisy, window-rattling thunderstorms accompanied by lightning.

Just ask anyone who was at the RNC Monday night, or Summerfest on several nights.

June, July and August are the peak months for such weather events, according to the National Weather Service. They're also the months when 75% of the annual deaths from lightning strikes — however rare — happen.

What exactly is a lightning strike? Why are they more common in the summer? How can you stay safe from them?

Here's what you need to know.