“When thunder roars, go indoors.”
This is a worldwide warning by climatology authorities that you would want to take seriously.
After a recent event where a woman had to be taken to hospital after lightning struck her house in Witpoortjie, the Record decided to take a look at why lightning is considered to be one of the scariest forces of nature.
Lightning in actual fact is so dangerous, that if you simply can hear it, you are close enough to be killed and by simply swinging a golf club, you can be a target. Considering that lightning is responsible for hundreds of deaths and property damage around the world, one certainly should take cover.
Lighting is described in the English Dictionary for South Africa as “a flash of electricity between clouds or from a cloud to Earth during a storm, usually followed by thunder”.
According to the National Geographic Society, one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world, “The spark can reach over eight kilometres in length, raise the temperature of the air by as much as 27 700 degrees Celsius and contain a hundred million electrical volts”.
Something bizzare that was discovered during the research is that the myths of ‘lightning never strikes the same place twice’ or ‘anything containing rubber will protect you’ are considered hogwash. In other words, you cannot run or hide, but simply decrease your chances of becoming toast.
Some of the interesting myths and facts from the National Weather Service (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov) are:
• Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building is hit nearly 100 times a year.
• Myth: Rubber tires on a car protect you from lightning by insulating you from the ground. Fact: Most cars are safe from lightning, but it is the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, not the rubber tires. When lightning strikes a vehicle, it goes through the metal frame, into the ground. Don’t lean against metal doors during a thunderstorm.
• Myth: If outside in a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter under a tree to stay dry. Fact: Being underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning casualties. Better to get wet than fried.
• Myth: If you are in a house, you are 100 per cent safe from lightning. Fact: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity. This means staying off corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors and windows.
• Myth: Structures with metal, or metal on the body (jewellery, cellphones, mp3 players, watches) attract lightning. Fact: Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The presence of metal makes absolutely no difference on where lightning strikes. Mountains are made of stone but get struck by lightning many times a year. When lightning threatens, take proper protective action immediately by seeking a safe shelter and don’t waste time removing metal. While metal does not attract lightning, it does conduct it so stay away from metal fences, railing, bleachers, etc.
• Myth: If trapped outside and lightning is about to strike, I should lie flat on the ground. Fact: Lying flat increases your chance of being affected by potentially deadly ground current. If you are outside in a thunderstorm, you should keep moving towards a safe shelter.
Additional precautions to take during a lightning storm (according to www.ec.gc.ca):
When outdoors:
• Stay away from water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as golf karts, tractors, metal fences, motorcycles, lawnmowers and bicycles.
• Avoid being the highest point in an open area: Swinging a golf club, holding a fishing rod or even holding an umbrella can make you a target.
• In a forest: Find a low-lying area under a thick growth of small trees and bushes.
When indoors:
• Before the storm hits, disconnect electrical appliances such as TV sets and do not touch it during the storm.
• Keep as many walls between you and the outside.
• Don’t handle electrical equipment or telephones. The electrical current from the lightning will travel through wires and cords and if you are directly connected with them, you could be struck. Use battery-operated appliances only. Cordless telephones are safe, however, you could receive a very loud noise on the phone that may seem like a shock. This would be consistent with the house or somewhere nearby being struck by lightning.
Sources:
• National Geographic Society (www.nationalgeographic.com)
• National Weather Service (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov)
• NASA (thunder.msfc.nasa.gov)
• Government of Canada (www.ec.gc.ca)
• English Dictionary for South Africa
