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Aug 19, 2020 · We debunk 5 popular myths with science-backed facts about this dangerous and often misunderstood phenomenon. 1. Myth: A tree can act as sufficient shelter during a thunderstorm. Fact: No. Standing underneath or near a tree is the second most dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm; the most dangerous is being outside in an open space. An ...
- Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall, pointy, isolated object.
- Lightning only strikes the tallest objects. Fact: Lightning is indiscriminate and it can find you anywhere. Lightning may hit the ground instead of a tree, cars instead of nearby telephone poles, and parking lots instead of buildings.
- If you're stuck in a thunderstorm, being under a tree is better than no shelter at all. Fact: Sheltering under a tree is just about the worst thing you can do.
- If you don't see rain or clouds, you're safe. Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or even the thunderstorm cloud.
- Before The Thunderstorm
- During The Thunderstorm
- After The Thunderstorm
- Driving in A Thunderstorm
Lightning can cause power surges, unplug any non-essential appliances if not already using a surge protector.Seek shelter if possible. When you hear thunder you are already within range of where the next ground flash may occur, lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from the centre of a storm.Telephone lines can conduct electricity so try to avoid using the landline, unless in an emergencyIf outside avoid water and find a low-lying open place that is a safe distance from trees, poles or metal objectsAvoid activities such as golf, rod fishing or boating on a lakeBe aware of metal objects that can conduct or attract lightning, including golf clubs, golf buggies, fishing rods, umbrellas, motorbikes, bicycles, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs, wire...Avoid downed power lines or broken cablesIf someone is struck by lightning, they often suffer severe burns. The strike also affects the heart, so check if they have a pulse.If you are caught out in thunder and lightning it is advised that you wind up the windows and stay inside your car. This is because in the vast majority of cars with a metal roof and frame, the frame will act as a conductive Faraday cage, passing the current around the passengers inside and on to the ground. 1. Soft-top convertibles, with their fab...
Lightning is not only spectacular, it’s dangerous. About 2,000 people are killed worldwide by lightning each year. Hundreds more survive strikes but suffer from a variety of lasting...
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Are thunderstorms dangerous? Thunderstorms can be frightening, with the rumblings of thunder teamed with the flashes of lightning creating a scary atmosphere. Thunder cannot hurt anyone, but lightning can be dangerous with, on average two people a year being killed in the UK.
Jun 20, 2024 · What really happens when lightning strikes cars, what to do if you’re out in the open or on a beach, and other tips.
When positive lighting strikes it is forced to go around the negatively charged base of the cloud, this generally results in a more powerful lighting strike which shoots out sideways and...
