Most fatal lightning strikes take place during the summer, according to National Weather Service data. It kills an average of 47 people in the United States annually. Hundreds more are injured. I think it is sometimes underestimated as a risk because every thunderstorm has lightning. But 2/3 of lightning fatalities occur during the summer because so many people want to be outside. It's not something to be underestimated. it is a serious threat. Especially this time of year. Lightning can strike up to 10 to 15 miles away from the parent storm that's producing it. Those are known as bolts from the blue. And they can strike under sunny skies as well! Lightning can stretch for miles away from a thunderstorm. And because summertime thunderstorms are so isolated, that's not that uncommon. Lightning CAN Strike the same place more than once! Summer storms can produce hundreds of lightning strikes over the span of a few minutes. Positive strikes that come from the tops of those storms (sometimes as high as 50,000 feet) are the most powerful; they're the ones that cause the most damage, and are sometimes responsible for fires like house fires that start in the attic. Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air, or the ground. In the early stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground. When the opposite charges builds up enough, this insulating capacity of the air breaks down and there is a rapid discharge of electricity that we know as lightning. The flash of lightning temporarily equalizes the charged regions in the atmosphere until the opposite charges build up again. You might actually be surprised to learn that about one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Some tips to remember while inside: Stay away from plumbing or water. Metal piping conducts electricity.Don't get near electrical equipment like televisions, stereos, or the other fancy smart electronics in homes today.Avoid concrete walls and flooring. Concrete is often supported by metal rods or frames.Don't use a corded phone, however cellular or cordless phones are fine.
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