Lightning Strikes Empire State Building on New Year’s Eve

Footage of the moment surfaced on YouTube and X.

January 1, 2025, 10:22am

A 98 percent Snow Moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York City on February 25, 2024, as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

While many in New York City fought through the rain to see the ball drop in Times Square, there was another great sight in the Big Apple. As footage from around social media on Tuesday night shows, a lightning bolt struck the famous Empire State Building on New Year’s Eve.

Among those who captured the footage on-camera was the YouTube channel Walks & Wall Street. The account livestreams walking tours of NYC areas at various points of the year and happened to be filming the Empire State Building as the lightning strike occurred. You can watch the stream highlight below.

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While it is an interesting sight, it is not unprecedented — as some around social media are claiming. The Empire State Building gets hit by lightning fairly often. For example, Getty Images has documented lightning striking the structure during a thunderstorm on May 29, 2024, and April 22, 2023.

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While the rain dampened spirits in Times Square, the ball drop still went down as usual. CNN and other TV networks documented the occasion. You can watch footage of the moment below.