Lightning refers to one of the several forms of visible electrical discharge
produced by thunderstorms. It is essentially a giant spark that jumps between
vast pools of positive and negative electrical charge that form inside thunderstomrs
The primary forms of lightning discharges are cloud-to-ground (CG), cloud-to-cloud
(CC), in-cloud (IC) and cloud-to-air (CA). Rare forms also include ball
lightning. Lightning appears very bright because it is - its optical output
is equivalent to some 100 million light bulbs going on and off.
hot is lightning?
Some like it hot
and they should just love lightning. The air in
the core of a lightning bolt has been estimated to be heated to as much
as 54,000°F (30,000°C). That happens to be about six times hotter
than the surface of the sun.
are the electrical currents within a lightning discharge?
They are highly variable
but high!. The average lightning stroke
has a peak current on the order of 30,000 amps. But some discharges, especially
those that are totally within the cloud, are only several thousand amps.
On the other hand, superbolts do occur, occasionally reaching 300,000
amps or more. The electrical potentials involved in lightning discharges
can range up to 200 million volts.
often does lightning occur on our planet in a year?
There are probably 1500 to 2000 thunderstorms active around the world
at any one time. It has been estimated from satellite observations that
lightning flashes approximately 50 -100 times per second on a global basis.
Lightning therefore flashes as often as three billion times each year
across the whole planet. GO
does lightning appear to flicker?
When you see a flash of cloud-to-ground lightning, it often appears to
flicker. If you were to video tape that flash, on slow play back you would
find that many flashes are composed of a succession of multiple strokes,
which most of the time follow the exact same path as the initial stroke.
Thus flashes are composed of strokes, typically several in number. The
actual stroke lasts on the order of millionths of a second, separated
in time by several tens of millisecond (thousands of a second). The entire
flash can sometimes last for a second or more.
lightning strike up or down?
Well, it goes both ways. After the initial lightning leader of a cloud-to-ground
event starts within the cloud above, it approaches the ground. As it does,
an upward streamer emerges from the object about to be struck. When the
two meet, this completes the path to ground, and the cloud is short-circuited
with a brilliant, luminous 60,000 mile per second return stroke from the
earth back up into the cloud. If the flash has more than one stroke, a
dart leader emerges from the cloud and follows the same path (usually)
to ground without branching, and as it approaches the object to be hit,
another upward streamer emerges, resulting in the next return stroke.
Occasionally the stepped leader originates at the ground (more likely
from a tall building or tower), and moves upwards. The branching of the
first stroke would then look like an upside down tree. This could also
be considered true upside down lightning.
many kinds of cloud-to-ground flashes are there?
There are basically two distinct types of CG flashes, as they are often
called, negative CGs and positive CGs, though they generally look the
same to the naked eye. The negative CG is by far the most common (perhaps
90-95% of the total) and lowers negative charge to the ground. The less
common, positive CG lowers positive electrical charge to the ground. The
positive CGs typically have stronger peak currents, are less likely to
have multiple strokes in a flash, and often have a continuing current
which, lasting many tens of milliseconds, allows the struck object to
be intensely heated and causing ignition. The positive CGs are thought
to be the chief forest fire starters. They also seem to be the cause of
The angels bowling? No. Thunder is the sound emitted as a result of the
rapidly expanding gases along the heated lightning channel. When lightning
strikes very close by, one sometimes hears a tearing sound. This is believed
to be produced by the stepped leader which precedes the first stroke in
a flash. The sharp crack heard at very close range, just prior to the
main thunder crash, is caused by a ground streamer ascending to meet the
stepped leader of the first stroke. A combination of an elve and
a sprite above a New Mexico Storm. Courtesy of Dr. Mark Stanley ©
New Mexico Tech
far away was the last lightning bolt?
How close was that lightning bolt you just saw hit the ground? Count the
seconds between the flash and the bang, and divide by 5, and you have
the answer in miles. Sound travels at about a mile in five seconds, so by
timing the interval between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder
is a pretty good indicator of how close you were to the strike point.
If the flash-to-bang time is 30 seconds or less, the last strike was within
5 miles. And statistically in many storms, the following strike usually
strikes about to 3 to 5 miles from the last
meaning you could be
often does lightning strike the ground in the U.S. each year?
Lightning detection networks suggest that bolts blast the ground some
25 to 30 million times per year. The lightning hot spot of the U.S. is
central Florida. Disneyworld could be called Lightning World. In a typical
year each square mile of central Florida is struck some ten times. Most
parts of the country east of the Rockies have 10 to 50% of that lightning
wide is a bolt of lightning?
A big lightning bolt striking the ground might seem be hundreds of feet
across, but in actuality the current channel is generally not much thicker
than a pencil.
far away from the lightning bolt can you hear the thunder?
Generally thunder can not be heard much more than ten miles from its source.
In a city, where ambient noise levels are high, often thunder is audible
only when the lightning strikes a mile or two away.
lightning come from ice?
As strange as that sounds, lightning, with a temperature hotter than the
surface of the sun, only forms in clouds with large quantities of ice.
Electric charge is generated during freezing and melting processes in
the presence of snow and supercooled water droplets.
Florida always have the most lightning?
During the summer of 1993, not only were torrential rains pelting the
Midwest (resulting in great floods), but for the first time since automated
lightning detection networks began, the national lightning "hot spot"
was located in Missouri-not Florida. GO
approaching. Where to go?
A car or truck (with windows closed) or the inside of a building are your
best bets. Where not to go? Avoid standing under trees, near fences, railroad
tracks, tents, hilltops, golf carts, or holding onto telephones, electrical
appliances or plumbing. And stay out of the water! Open sided rain shelters
are not particularly good protection from lightning, either.
you have thunder without lightning?
Cant be done, if only by definition. But you might not always be
able to see the parent lightning discharge. Especially during the daytime,
lightning discharges deep within a cloud are difficult to see. And more
than 80% of all lightning discharges remain inside clouds. GO
you survive a lightning strike?
Yes, in fact the majority of the people struck do not die. Estimates of
the mortality rate from lightning strikes range from 5% to 30%. But your
odds of survival are significantly enhanced if you are struck in the presence
of someone who knows CPR. The basic rule to follow if several people are
struck by lightning is to treat the dead first. Often lightning
victims appear dead but are in fact in cardiac arrest. The immediate application
of CPR can bring them back to life. More often than not people
who have been struck and are screaming and howling, while obviously in
pain, are usually in less imminent medical danger. Many people think that
someone who has been struck by lightning are still somehow electrically
charged. This is nonsense. There is no danger whatsoever in touching a
lightning strike victim.
More people are killed
by lightning every year than by rattlesnake bites. You have less than
3 chances in a 100 of actually dying from a rattler bite. If you have
the choice between the reptile and the big spark, go with the snake.
you survive a lightning strike more than once?
Some people like to push the odds. And at least one person has been hit
by lightning some seven times and survived. An American park ranger by
the name of Roy Sullivan was nailed seven times between 1942 and 1977.
Known as the "human lightning rod", Mr. Sullivan survived being
struck although his hair was set on fire twice and he suffered burns on
various parts of his body. But he lived. Kids, he was a professional.
Don't try that at home. While being struck by lightning does not mean
automatic death, especially who knows CPR is nearby, who wants to take
that kind of chance?
lightning strike victims burst into flames?
In spite of the Saturday morning cartoon depictions, those struck by lightning
do not become crispy critters. Some of their clothing may be singed and
smoking and they may have burn marks. But flames? No. GO
is a fulgerite?
OK, you're digging out in the back yard garden. You strike something hard.
You keep digging...and unearth a 15 foot long, hard lumpy tubular "thing"
that is white/green/gray in color. Quiz: What have you found? (1) Part
of a UFO (2) A giant dinosaur leg bone? (3) fossilized lightning. Number
3 is the winner. Called a "fulgerite" it forms when a powerful
lightning bolt melts the soil into a glass-like state. Such a record large
specimen was found several years ago in Michigan.
Visitors to the Great
Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado get to see examples of fulgerites
extracted from the nearby sand mountains. And in order to make a point
to the many hikers who take off for a long stroll through the dunes, the
last sign they see warns them to take cover in thunderstorms and
not to become fulgerites.
safe are you from lightning inside an airplane?
Commercial airliners are generally quite safe during electrical storms.
A commercial airliner is on the average struck by lightning twice per
year. Not to worry-the metal skin of the plane conducts the current on
the outside like a Faraday cage. Fuel tanks are now designed to prevent
entry of electrical charges. GO
The last major U.S.
commercial airliner crash caused by lightning was more than 35 years ago
and was the worst lightning related aviation disaster. It occurred over
Elkton, MD on 8 December 1963. Lightning struck and penetrated the reserve
fuel tank, igniting the vapors and sending the plane in a fiery crash,
killing 82 persons. This tragedy resulted in numerous design changes in
aircraft to prevent its repetition.
Flying through a thunderstorm
can be a bouncy and sometimes unnerving experience. But while the up-
and downdrafts can be a potential hazard, you at least don't have to worry
much about lightning. If struck by a bolt, the current is largely directed
around the outside of the aircraft's metallic skin. Passengers might see
a flash, hear a bang, but as for a shock, or worse, not to worry.
commercial airliners are well protected from lightning strikes, a direct
strike usually causes little or no problems. Usually. On August 4, 1992,
a DC 10 flying from Denver to Minneapolis flew into a thunderstorm. It
took a direct hit. In addition to burned out electronics, some of the
rivets on the fuselage were damaged.
safe are you from lightning inside your car?
You are generally safe from lightning while inside a car. The rubber tires
may provide some shielding, but it is the metal body which provides a
safe path for the current to flow to ground on the outside of the vehicle
that provides the protection. GO
Being struck in a
vehicle can be an experience though. Lightning struck and severely damaged
a pickup truck in Blue Earth County, Minnesota on 7 August 1994. The occupants
inside? No problem. A car traveling on I-35 near Des Moines, IA was struck
directly by a bolt of lightning. The car stopped dead in its tracks, but
the startled driver was none the worse for wear. The car had major electrical
damage, many small holes in its body, and all four tires eventually went
flat. The roadway beneath the car had a yard wide, several inch deep crater.
The drivers first name was Rod and the most enduring effect of the
incident is that his friends now insist in calling him Lightning Rod
It was just one of
those days. Two Michigan motorists had an accident during a rainstorm.
While huddling under an umbrella watching the tow truck hoist their wrecked
car, lightning struck the umbrella, zapped the motorists, and then jumped
over and shocked the tow truck driver. None were seriously hurt, but they
were not in a good mood by day's end.
We note that a car
can be very dangerous place to be during a tornado. Standing under a tree
is a also bad idea during both a tornado and a lightning storm.
safe are you from lightning inside your home?
Being inside a building during a lightning storm is generally quite safe.
Of course you dont want to be talking on the phone (cordless or
cellular excepted), holding on to plumbing fixtures, or working with electrical
And there are some
exceptions. A lightning bolt struck a house in Denmark, went down the
chimney, knocking plaster off the living room walls, ripping curtains
to shreds, and smashing a clock to bits...while leaving a caged canary
inches away unfazed....then breaking 60 window panes and all mirrors,
blasting through the door into the back yard, killing a cat and a pig
before burrowing into the ground. Lightning can do weird things. A house
in Iowa was severely damaged by a lightning bolt. A pile of twelve dinner
plates was found to have every other one broken.
On 24 October 1991,
one resident of Chicago Heights, IL was comfortably sleeping in bed when....KABOOM.
Lightning struck, traveled through a cable television line into the house,
struck the bed, which then caught fire. The person was treated for shock
(not the electrical kind).
this dumb luck or divine intervention?
A 75 year old German grandmother was being attacked by a street burglar.
As the assailant raised a crowbar with which to strike her, he in turn
was struck dead by a bolt of lightning. The woman notes her attendance
at Church has become more frequent since the incident. We will let the
reader decide for his or herself the theological implications of the incident.
lightning a sign from a Higher Power?
Well continue to avoid theological discourse, but we do note that
many cultures have believed this. Ancient Romans saw Joves thunderbolts
as a sign of condemnation and denied burial rites to those killed by lightning.
Some cultures have made medicines from stones struck by lightning. Roman,
Hindu and Mayan cultures all held the belief that mushrooms arise from
spots where lightning has hit the ground. In ancient Greek mythology,
Zeus was the great bearer of rain, thunder and lightning. Spots struck
by lightning were frequently fenced in by Athenians and consecrated to
lightning ever do any good?
Well, it is very pretty and makes for some really neat pictures. It also
fixes the nitrogen in the air which is used by plants. And every once
in while it does some good deeds.
According to an article
published in Scientific American in 1856, an intense lightning discharge
hit the ground in Kensington, N.H. and made a hole about a foot wide and
30 feet deep, forming a well which soon filled with good water.
A Greenwood, SC man
(by profession an electrician) survived a direct strike by lightning 28
years ago. But since then he has never felt cold. He can stay outside
in sub-freezing temperatures wearing summer clothing for hours without
About 500-1000 people
per year are injured by lightning, and sometimes (albeit rarely) come
out ahead-there are several stories of blind people regaining their sight
after a tangle with a bolt. Talk about shock treatments!
It is reported that
lightning once struck a house in Minnesota, setting it afire. But this
bolt must have had a conscience, as it then leaped across the street,
striking a fire alarm box. The power surge resulted in an alarm being
sounded, and the fire department responded promptly and put out the house
A woman living in
Kansas was once talking on the phone with her husband (who had called
to find out if she was OK during a storm) when the line was zapped. She
was knocked unconscious, and ever since has been absolutely unable to
tolerate any alcoholic beverages.
There is a published
claim of improved intelligence on psychological testing after a lightning
strike. A woman in southern Illinois believes she become psychic after
being zapped. She claims to help police agencies in locating missing persons.
a lightning flash takes only a fraction of a second, how come thunder
lasts so long?
While we see the flash virtually instantaneously, the beginning and end
points might be 5 or more miles separated. Due to the slower speed of
sound, it takes differing lengths of time for the shock wave to reach
our ears. If the lightning channel was two miles long, and assuming it
started directly overhead, it would take at least 10 seconds for the rumbling
many people are killed and injured by lightning each year?
When people say the chances are the same as being struck by lightning
to describe a low probability event, they had better go check their figures.
Over 7000 Americans have been killed by lightning in a recent 34 year
period. Your chances of being struck by lightning in the U.S. are about
1 in 250,000 and 400,000 in a given year. You can increase your odds,
if you would like, by golfing, swimming, boating and just being outside
during a thunderstorm. In the U.S. alone each year, between 75 and 150
people are reported killed by lightning with 5 to 30 times that being
injured. And these statistics are thought to be underestimates of lightning
casualties. It is possible that many lightning victims cause of
death is listed as burns or cardiac problems.
The deadliest month
for lightning fatalities and injuries in the U.S. is July. The large number
of thunderstorms combined with numerous vacation trips and other outdoor
activities yields this deadly total.
there be lightning during a snowstorm?
Lightning is usually associated with thunderstorms, and therefore is thought
to be a spring and summer event. Yet lightning does occur during winter,
and even during heavy snowfalls and blizzards. Winter lightning appears
to be unusually powerful, associated with loud and long thunderclaps.
Sometimes associated snowfalls can reach 3 inches an hour. A man was struck
by lightning during a blizzard in Minneapolis during March of 1996. He
is still alive...and very puzzled.
thunderstorms the only source of lightning?
Lightning is usually associated with thunderstorms. On a few occasions,
it has been observed within giant steam and debris clouds from erupting
volcanoes. Lightning, and even miniature tornado-like vortices attended
the spectacular volcanic birth of the island Surtsey, near Iceland. Giant
plumes of smoke from large forest fires also have been known to produce
lightning, although these smoke clouds were probably in the process of
turning into regular thunderstorms. In the western U.S., most forest fires
are started by lightning. Sometimes the heat from the intense fires trigger
new thunderstorms ... which in turn can produce more lightning. This is
called a feedback loop. GO
lightning strike twice?
In many ways. As mentioned, in a typical lightning flash, often several
strokes hit the same spot in rapid succession. Tall structures and buildings
such as the Empire State Building in New York City, the Hancock Building
in Chicago and the CN Tower in Toronto are hit many times each year. This
fact has actually led to lightning research programs using structures
like these. In general any object struck by lightning is generally a better
candidate to be struck again than something which hasnt been zapped.
And then lightning
does strike twice...and sometimes with apparent malevolence. On 8 August
1937, three persons were killed by a bolt that struck the Jacob Riis Park
beach in New York. On 7 August 1938, almost a year to the day later, lightning
again struck the same beach, and again killed 3 bathers. And dont
tell a homeowner in Arvada, CO that lightning doesnt strike twice.
His new house was struck during a summer thunderstorm and sustained considerable
damage. Just as they were getting things back in shape six weeks later-shazaam!
resulting in $30,000 more in fire damage.
you make lightning indoors?
Easy, although on a rather small scale. When the indoor relative humidity
is very low, which it often is during winter, static electricity built
up on your shoes and clothing can generate notable electrical discharges.
It can result in that annoying static cling on your dress,
and a lot more. In fact, each inch of spark represents a potential difference
of 40,000 volts. So a three inch discharge represents a 120,000 volt potential
difference. This is why you want to protect your PC from static electricity.
Cat fur gives up its electrons easily. So if you need to generate an electrical
spark .... just grab that kitty and rub away. And when in Boston, check
out the Boston Museum of Science which has a great indoor lightning exhibit
featuring a massive Van der Graaf generator. GO
lightning give off radiation besides light?
In 1895, William Roentgen discovered X-rays. Much more recently atmospheric
scientists were surprised to find that thunderstorms can produce X-rays
during lightning discharges. Of course lightning also radiates radio energy
over a broad range of frequencies. Some of this energy is with the AM
broadcast band, which produces the familiar static heard on many summer
afternoons and evenings. Another name for this static is sferics, short
does lightning strike?
Lightning strikes most portions of the globe sooner or later, but it does
have its favorite haunts. Weather satellites suggest that the vast majority
of lightning strikes to the planet occur over land areas, even though
it comprises only about a quarter of the earths surface. Not too
surprisingly, the tropics receive two thirds of the lightning bolts. But
some mid-latitude storms, such as those which roam the interior of the
U.S. during summer night time hours, can be prodigious producers of lightning.
sporting activities are prone to expose you to lightning?
Virtually anything you do outside during spring and summer involves a
lightning risk. Swimming, boating, hiking, golfing, soccer...if you are
out there, you are a target. Most lightning deaths in the U.S. (in descending
order) occur (1) in open fields or ball fields, (2) under trees, (3) while
boating and fishing, (4) near tractors and heavy equipment, (5) on golf
courses, (6) and on telephones (but not cellular or cordless ones).
A young man fishing
in Indiana in 1993 caught more than he was planning on. The fishing rod
he carried over his shoulder was struck by lightning as he walked away
from a pond. He was hospitalized but did recover. Wonder what his bait
Perhaps frisbee is
joining golf as a dangerous sport? During a frisbee match in Nashville
TN on 10 April 1994, lightning struck. One person was killed and 18 were
injured. The safety rules are the same for all outdoor activities. If
lightning threatens, get inside-and dont seek shelter under trees.
Golfers are generally
not significantly more often struck by lightning than most outdoors types,
but there are plenty of golf-lightning tales. Golfers Lee Trevino and
Jerry Heard were both struck by lightning during the 1975 Western Open
in Chicago. Both recovered after hospitalization. Over the years, hundreds
of other golfers who failed to leave the course after lightning was spotted
have been far less fortunate in their encounters. Thor showed his wrath
in the land of Vikings in June, 1991. On 13 June one spectator was killed
and 5 others injured while taking shelter under a tree during the US Open
Gold Tournament near Minneapolis. Then on 29 June, four were injured when
lightning struck nearby at a St. Paul golf course.
A 37 year old man
was killed by a bolt while golfing near Louisville, KY. Two others were
injured. All were standing under a cluster of trees. The rule still stands:
don't stand (or sit) under a tree during a thunderstorm. Get inside. GO
But with all the talk
of lightning hits during recreation, those working for a living in outside
jobs are equally at risk. Postal employees, construction workers, farmers,
and many others need to take care. Five miners were killed in Texas in
May of 1985. They were all taking a lunch break while sitting under a
35 foot oak tree. Only a single lightning flash was seen in a classic
bolt from the blue scenario.
Cowboys and farmers
are at risk. Cowboys are a tough breed. One Utah cowboy was literally
blown out of his saddle when struck by a lightning bolt in August 1993.
He found a hole in his felt hat, his hair was melted in several spots
and he had numerous burn marks on his torso. His faithful steed, however,
Not everything that
happens in an amusement park is funny. Four workers were injured after
being struck by a bolt of lightning while they were dismantling a ride
in Warrick County, Indiana on 2 September 1991. GO
lightning rods work?
Yes. Lightning rods, invented by none other than Ben Franklin, neither
attract nor repeal lightning bolts. They do, however, provide a safe path
to ground for the flash. Indoor plumbing, which includes pipes buried
deep in the ground and vents extending above the roof, have long served
as surrogate lightning rods for homes. However with the trend towards
using PVC rather than metal pipes, this free lightning protection
has vanished from many newer homes. To be effective, lightning rods must
be properly grounded, and there should be no sharp bends in the cable
leading from the air terminal (the pointed rod) to the grounding rod.
now a word from Smoky the Bear about lightning.
Lightning is the leading cause of forest fires in Alaska and the western
U.S. In the past decade, over 15,000 lightning-induced fires nationwide
have burned over 2 million acres of forest. Thoughtless campers not watching
their camp fires and nut cases who like to see things burn are still a
major cause of fires, especially near large cities. But still Smoky would
like to find some way to help stamp out lightning.
it need to be raining for lightning to strike?
It is a myth that if it is not raining there is no danger of being struck
by lightning. Bolts can and often do strike as much as ten miles outside
of the rain area of the parent storm. Recent research on lightning deaths
finds that most fatalities occur in the period when the storm appears
to be ending. During the height of most thunderstorms, people are inside
seeking protection from the rain. For the ten or more minute period after
the rain ends, and even after the sun comes out, lightning is still a
threat. People leave their shelters and ....wham! People apparently have
enough sense to come in out of the rain, but not always to get out of
the way of lightning. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Move at once to a sturdy
building or vehicle. GO
we harness the power of lightning?
Well, first of all catching lightning is not the easiest thing
to do. But even if could capture and store a bolt, there is less energy
there than you might think. Though very powerful while it lasts, the typical
stroke only last for millionths of a second. If the total energy of a
single lightning flash were captured, it would only run an ordinary household
light bulb for several months.
is one reason why U.S. electricity bills are not lower-lightning strikes
destroy more than $100 million worth of utility power transformers each
being struck by lightning be genetic?
Is it in the genes? A midwest woman was struck by lightning in 1995. Nothing
odd there, you say. But her nephew had recently been struck and suffered
temporary blindness. Her cousin was dazed in the 1970s when lightning
struck her unfolded umbrella. The same woman had been struck once before-in
1965. Her grandfather was killed by lightning on his farm in 1921. And
his brother was killed while standing in the doorway of his house in the
1920s. At this rate that part of gene pool will soon be exhausted. GO
if you are caught outside in a lightning storm?
If you are caught outside in a lightning storm and cant make the
shelter of a car or building, then get away from isolated trees, tall
objects and hilltops. [Being deep inside a grove of trees is safer than
being exposed in the open.] Do not be the highest point around. Avoid
direct contact with other persons (in a group, dont hold hands or
hug each other!), get into a ditch or shallow depression if possible,
crouch down with feet together and with your hands on your knees. Remove
metal objects such as belts and golf clubs. And then promise to be more
alert to weather signs and not get yourself in such a fix again!
Do we understand everything
about atmospheric electricity?
Based on the following story from the truly weird department, apparently
not. In 1991, two young girls near Bristol, England were playing frisbee.
Suddenly the disk was hurled back at one of the girls by some unseen force.
Then both were enveloped in some sort of yellow bubble. They
received slight electric shocks, were thrown to the ground, and had problems
breathing. Eventually they freed themselves from their capture and ran
home, quite terrified by their experience.
is a bolt from the blue?
A bolt from the blue. It is more than just a figure of speech. Lightning
bolts can on occasion jump 10 or more miles out from their parent cloud
and appear to strike in a region with blue skies overhead. Such was the
case on this date in 1995, when lightning struck a ball field near Miami,
FL, injuring 10 children and a coach. The skies were clear save for a
line of clouds to the distant northwest.
Lightning seems to be picky about what it hits. Some studies suggest that
it preferentially strikes oaks trees over other species. And it certainly
is sexist, striking and killing men far more often than women. In Great
Britain over a two decade period, 85% of lightning fatalities were men.
In a recent study of Florida lightning fatalities, 87% of the persons
struck by lightning were males. Before suspecting a plot by radical feminists,
note that while 34% of the males struck by lightning were killed, 44%
of the females struck died. GO
Take cover immediately...
During severe thunderstorms and tornadoes lashing the Huntsville, AL area
in February 1995, National Weather Service staff were on television warning
people of the dangerous storm conditions. Just then, the weather office
took a direct lightning hit a fire started, and the weather radar was
knocked off the air.
is ball lightning?
Ball lightning is one of nature's most mysterious phenomena. Usually seen
during violent thunderstorms, the spheres of glowing light are typically
the size of bowling balls or basketballs. They can last from a few seconds
to many minutes. The spheres can simply vanish into thin air but can also
pass through window glass and screens leaving burn marks behind. Not every
scientist is convinced the phenomenon even exists. But there are numerous
credible reports of "balls" of "fire" floating through
the air, often after nearby lightning strikes. They usually do not cause
much damage and even seem "playful". They have been known to
roll down the aisles of airliners or pass through an open window into
a startled resident's bedroom.
On 8 June 1972, a
hole, 2 inches across, was punched through a window of an empty office
in Scotland during a thunderstorm. Since the glass was melted and fused
around both the inside and outside of the pane of glass as well as on
the circle of glass found on the nearby floor, it is presumed that ball
lightning had passed through the window. Even stranger, the office was
in the University of Edinburghs Department of Meteorology.
In Wales, on 8 June
1977, a brilliant yellow-green transparent ball bounced down the side
of a hillside. It was visible for about 3 seconds but this phenomenon
appeared to be the size of a bus!
In 1996 in Gloucestershire,
England ball lightning entered a factory. Blue, white and orange, it traveled
along girders and machinery around the building, sending off a shower
of sparks. The ball then hit a window and disintegrated. The incident
lasted only 2 seconds. The only damage was to the companys phone
system, and the nerves of the workers.
lightning deaths on the increase?
In the United States, lightning deaths per million citizens have declined
some 70% since the 1950s, although the number of serious injuries has
only dropped slightly. This is probably the result of several factors,
including widespread CPR training which can revive lightning victims.
But with more and
larger outdoor gatherings and concerts taking place, outdoor crowds during
summer pose a special hazard-the chance of a major lightning strike disaster.
On 6 July 1994, at least 22 people were injured as lightning struck a
crowded beach in Potterville, Michigan. Some of the victims were in the
you are not hit directly by lightning, are you safe?
No. Lightning can travel through the ground for a considerable distance
from where it strikes. It can easily enter your body through your feet.
Four legged creatures like cows and horses are even worse off because
they have four feet which are further apart than ours, a fact which increases
the electrical potential difference. On 8 June 1993, ten cows were killed
by lightning in Trempealeau County, WI. If caught in the open during a
thunderstorm, seek shelter from lightning - but not under a cow.
Also lightning might
hit a tree nearby, but a phenomenon called side flash can have a streamer
jump sideways to a nearby object. Grim photographs exist of a person being
directly struck by a bolt followed by a side flash leaping to the person
standing several feet away from them. Both were killed. And you could
also be on the telephone telling your friends what a neat thunderstorm
you are having -when lightning could strike the phone line and travel
into phone, and your head. Several people are killed this way each year.
Use cordless or cellular phones during lightning storms.
Does carrying an umbrella
increase your chances of being hit by lightning?
Probably. But even more risky would be standing next to a boat mast, leaning
on a conductive object such as a metal fence, sitting on a railroad track
(an already high risk activity) or swimming.
On 31 August 1991,
lightning struck two recreational craft in the Gulf of Mexico off Panama
City, FL. The toll: 2 killed and 9 injured. Any time you are exposed in
a thunderstorm, in particular near a tall, attracting object such as a
tree or a boat mast, there is a real risk of being struck by lightning.
long can a lightning discharge be?
If it is a cloud-to-ground bolt, then travel distance is limited
by the distance from the interior of the cloud to the ground, which is
rarely more than 10 miles. But cloud-to-cloud or intracloud flashes may
reach for a 100 miles or more in rare cases. GO
billion dollar lightning strike?
In July 1977, a bolt took out a major power line in upstate New York resulting
in a massive 24-hour blackout in New York City. The resulting looting
losses were estimated at over $1 billion. There was also a surge in the
birth rate nine months later. Maternity costs were not tabulated.
cities affect lightning?
Perhaps. Recent research suggests that lightning frequencies over and
downwind of a number of midwestern cities can be 10% - 20% or more higher
than surrounding areas.
mountain climbers at special risk from lightning?
Yes. Falling off a cliff isnt the only risk for climbers. Between
1980 and 1991, lightning killed at least 50 people in Colorado - and of
these 20 were killed while climbing or hiking. Mountain hikers should
plan their climbs early in the day before the storms start. If caught
in a thunderstorm, dont stay mounted on horseback. If in a group,
spread out. Cars (if you can find one) are a safe haven. Taking shelter
under an isolated tree can be deadly, but the cover of a dense forest
canopy is relatively safer.
The irrational fear of lightning is known as keraunophobia. The fear of
thunder is termed brontophobia.
is the most dangerous part of a lightning storm?
Near the end. A study of Florida lightning strike casualties found that
the largest number occurred just as the storm was ending, not during its
most intense part. Seems people were to quick to declare the storm over
and wandered outside from their protective shelters to get nailed by the
storms last flashes. GO
Lightning struck a Waterford, WI barn on July 10, 1992. Inside the barn
were 6000 bales of hay.
During the 1990s,
roast chicken became a staple of fast food restaurants. And in July, 1995
in Miller City, OH nature joined the trend when lightning struck a poultry
farm and 68,000 chickens were roasted.
In 1926, the Navy's
largest ammunition depot was located in Lake Denmark, NY. The storage
buildings were sturdy, and equipped with lightning rods. On 10 July, lightning
struck. BLAM! Depth charges and TNT bombs went off. Sometimes you just
can't argue with Mother Nature.
On July 2, 1992 in
the Chicago area the fireworks started early. Five people were killed
by lightning. Then thousands were left in the dark for up to two days
due to widespread, storm-caused power outages.
Strike 1: Lightning
strikes a chemical plant in Texas. Strike 2: The building catches fire.
Strike 3: The fire department finds there isnt sufficient water
available to put out the fire and the place goes up in flames.
The summer of 1980
was a rough one for lightning strikes in Ohio. In Wickliffe, the entire
high school football team was knocked down by a bolt during practice,
and one player was injured. Then 26 people were injured in Tuscora Park,
OK, with one fatality. And a lone man was struck and killed - while digging
a grave in a cemetery.
Lightning struck near
a house in upstate New York on 17 July 1988. Among the unusual results:
the tires on cars parked in the driveway were flat. The hubcaps were blown
off. And the home owner's contact lens popped out of his eye.
is heat lightning?
Heat lightning is not a special form of lightning. It is simply the reflection
of regular lightning off atmospheric dust layers from distant thunderstorms
below the horizon. GO
you outrace lightning?
The electrical breakdown of the atmosphere during a lightning strike takes
place at speeds on the order of 100,000 miles per second. You can hide
but you cant run from Zeus.
if you hair stands on end?
If you are outside when a thunderstorm is nearby and your hair starts
to stand on end, a fishing line literally hangs in the air after casting,
or a plastic rain coat suddenly begins lifting into the air, lightning
may be about to strike. These phenomena are caused by an extremely high
electric field in the atmosphere. Seek shelter immediately. If caught
in the open, crouch down as close to the ground as possible without having
your hands touch the ground.
is triggered lightning?
On March 26, 1987, the Air Force launched a rocket from the Kennedy Space
Center carrying a communications satellite into low-hanging rain clouds.
48 seconds after launch, the rocket was "struck" by lightning
- apparently triggered by the ionized exhaust plume trailing behind the
rocket. The cost: $162 million dollars (which was not insured except by
the taxpayers). A similar thing happened to the Apollo moon landing launch
vehicle during lift off, although the mission continued without incident.
Also, scientists routinely fire small rockets trailing copper wires into
electrically charged clouds, often triggering a lightning strike in a
predetermined location. This capability is being used to study the effects
of lightning on electrical equipment and materials, as well as to conduct
you get paid to be struck by lightning?
Some research pilots actually did. Their job was to fly heavily instrumented
F106 aircraft through thunderstorms, deliberately trying to be struck
by lightning. And they were really good at their job, getting nailed many
times. This seemingly odd occupation was pursued to improve aircraft lightning
safety features and to develop better forecasting tools for in-route lightning
avoidance. Too bad the old TV show Whats My Line still
isnt on the air. These guys would be shoo-ins.
you sit under a tree that grows in Brooklyn?
Yes, but not during a thunderstorm. On 9 July 1988, one man was killed
and ten were injured during a thunderstorm in Prospect Park, Brooklyn,
NY, while seeking "shelter" under a tree. Standing under or
near a tree during a thunderstorm is truly dangerous. Nationwide, dozens
of people are killed and injured each year as a result.
thunder make milk go sour?
An "old wives tale" says that thunder causes milk to go sour.
Neither thunder nor lightning can have that effect. Nevertheless, the
thunderstorm season comes with heat and humidity, and if not properly
refrigerated, milk will "turn" sooner than usual, thunderstorms
to try an electrifying new experience?
Take a vacation. Go hiking in the Colorado Rockies. Climb to near the
top of a tall peak to admire the view, and stand there during a thunderstorm.
A Massachusetts woman did just that in the summer of 1991. She also had
the good sense to be struck by a lightning bolt right in the presence
of a doctor and a nurse. They revived her stopped heart with cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. Somehow this makes bungee jumping seem perfectly tame by
comparison. For those less adventurous, heed the signs posted by the Forest
Service, which suggests among other things to do ones mountain climbing
early in the day before the afternoon thunder (lightning) storms get going.
loud is thunder?
Sound intensity can be expressed in decibels (sometimes abbreviated dBA).
A clap of thunder can typically register about 120 dBA, or ten times louder
than a garbage truck, chain saw or pneumatic drill. On the other hand,
sitting in front of the speakers at a rock concert can expose you to a
nearly continuous 120 dBA, which can seriously harm your hearing.
that go boom at the beach?
One enduring mystery has been the reports by coastal residents of water
guns, loud thunder-like booms that seem to emanate from somewhere
out over the sea. The reports have been made for centuries, so sonic booms
seem to be ruled out. Natural gas explosions are one possibility.
We dont know. They are one of the great mysteries of 19th century
science, and still unexplained. Mistpouffer? One of the many names given
to strange, dull, distant, explosion-like sounds that have been heard
sporadically along the coasts of Europe and elsewhere, with no apparent