Beijing, July 4 (PTI): With July being the prime season for thunderstorms in China, the country is busy developing enhanced storm-prediction technology to help minimise damage caused by frequent lightning strikes.

Equipment using "lightning positioning technology" and "atmosphere electric-field detection" would help Shanghai Anti-Thunderstorm Centre to predict where and when a thunderstorm may hit.

Data will be collected in advance from observation spots in different parts of the sprawling city including Chongming District, Nanhui District and the border between Shanghai and Zhejiang Province, Director of the Shanghai anti-thunderstorm centre under the local meteorological administration, Wang Jianchu said.

"By collecting data from different spots and with the help of new technology we can make out a fairly detailed picture of the thunderstorm's intended path," Wang was quoted as saying by 'China Daily'.

Thunderstorms strike Shanghai an average of 50 days a year, according to weather data from the last 30 years.

"Skyscrapers, computers, power grids, home appliances and other electronic intelligence systems easily fall victim to thunder strikes," Wang said.

Economic losses annually have been estimated to be as much as 200 million yuan ($28.6 million).

Wang said that this figure has increased over the years because now "integrated circuit" is being used in common household appliances and other electronic systems which are sensitive to thunder strikes.

Lightning has killed 193 people in China from January to June 25 this year, 78 more than the last year, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said last week.