Lightning Facts

• The average flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than three months.
• Most lightning occurs within the cloud or between the cloud and the ground.
• Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but could be reduced by following safety rules.
• Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors.
• Most lightning casualties occur in the summer months and during the afternoon and early evening.

Estimating your distance from a thunderstorm:

Important: You are in danger from lightning if you can hear thunder. Knowing how far away a storm is does not mean that you're in danger only when the storm is overhead.

Lightning Myths

MYTH: If it is not raining, then there is no danger from lightning.
FACT: 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.
FACT: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, 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 inside a vehicle than outside.

MYTH: People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
FACT: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.

MYTH: "Heat lightning" occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
FACT: What is referred to as "heat lightning" is actually from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.

Definitions and Introduction | What Causes Lightning? | Which Way does Lightning Travel? | Lightning Facts and Myths