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Lightning...The Underrated Killer
How Lightning Forms
Lightning results from the buildup and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas. Rising and descending air within a thunderstorm separates these positive and negative charges. Water and ice particles also affect charge distribution.
A cloud-to-ground lightning strike begins as an invisible channel of electrically charged air moving from the cloud toward the ground. When one channel nears an object on the ground, a powerful surge of electricity from the ground moves upward to the clouds and produces a visible lightning strike.
Lightning Safety Rules
- Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent. This is your best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.
- Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles. Stay away from tall objects such as towers, fences, telephone poles, and power lines.
- If lightning is occurring and a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep the windows up. Avoid touching any metal.
- Utility lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Use phones ONLY in an emergency.
- Do not take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm.
- Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
If Caught Outdoors and No Shelter Is Nearby
- Find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. Make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding.
- If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees.
- If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands over your ears and your head between your knees. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact with the ground. DO NOT lie down.
- If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately!
30/30 Lightning Safety Rule
- Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
- Remember, if you can hear thunder - you are close enough to be struck by lightning!
Lightning Facts
- Lightning causes an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year.
- Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightning strikes the Earth 20 million times.
- The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months.
- Most lightning fatalities occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.
- Lightning can occur from cloud-to-cloud, within a cloud, cloud-to-ground, or cloud-to-air.
- The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50,000 degrees F - hotter than the surface of the sun! The rapid heating and cooling of the air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in thunder.
How far away is the Thunderstorm?
Count the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the next clap of thunder.
Divide this number by 5 to determine the distance to the lightning in miles.
Lightning Myths and Truths
MYTH: If it is not raining, then there is no danger from lightning.
TRUTH: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
MYTH: The rubber soles of shoes or rubber tires on a car will protect you from being struck by lightning.
TRUTH: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires offer NO protection from lightning. The steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer in a vehicle than outside.
MYTH: People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
TRUTH: Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information on CPR and first aid classes.
MYTH: "Heat lightning" occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
TRUTH: "Heat lightning" is a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard.
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For more information on Weather Hazards Awareness Week in New York contact:
David Nicosia
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NWS Binghamton:
phone: (607) 770-9531 ext 223
e-mail: david.nicosia@noaa.gov
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