There is an average of 25 million lightning strikes in the U.S. each year. The odds of being hit by lightning are 1 in 3,000. An average of 58 deaths is due to lightning strikes each year, and you can be hit even if you are miles away. So it is best to take every precaution you can in a storm. What causes lightning anyway? You ask.
The ice particles in the cloud cause positive and negative electrical charges to separate. The positive charged particles collect at the top of the cloud and the negative particles settle at the bottom. As the negative charged particles in the lower cloud fall closer to the ground, they become attracted to positive charges on the ground. The two charges draw closer and connect to form lightning. Each spark at about 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit contains about 100 million volts.
Safety Tips If You Are Caught in a Storm
- If you are outside, try to take shelter in a vehicle and close the windows.
- Avoid trees and picnic shelters.
- Avoid water, high ground, open spaces, and metal objects.
- Turn off and unplug all electronics.
- Do not use a phone; even a cell phone can be risky. It can't hurt to delay phone calls until danger is past.
Lightning can contain enough energy to start a fire in materials such as wood, whether in a house or a tree.
Rubber tires or rubber soled shoes do not repel lightning. A car or truck is safe from lightning because it is enclosed, low to the ground, and grounded by the tires. Rubber has nothing to do with it, and yes, lightning rods will protect your home. "The latest research shows that blunt lightning rods are more effective than sharp ones," says William Beasley, a meteorology professor at University of Oklahoma.
If lightning should strike near you squat on your heels low to the ground. Place your hands over your ears and put your head between your knees. Minimize your contact with the ground. Do not lie flat on the ground.
