Lightning: The Deadly Truth

Lightning: The Deadly Truth
Reported by John Roach and written by Sarah Ives
National Geographic Kids News
July 13, 2004
You may have heard the expression "lightning never strikes the same place twice." But that is one of the many lightning stories that scientists say are not true.
Lightning kills more people each year than snowstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. In fact, among natural disasters, only floods take more lives than lightning.
Lightning is deadly in part because it is so powerful. The average flash has enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for three months. Plus, a flash of lightning heats the air around it to nearly 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,760 degrees Celsius). That’s hotter than the surface of the sun!
The most common form of lightning is intracloud lightning, which means that the lightning goes from one cloud to another. This kind of lightning never touches the ground. But a hundred lightning bolts do hit Earth every second—and more than eight million hit Earth every year.
Lightning strikes in tropical central Africa more than anywhere else. Scientists call Florida the lightning capital of the United States. More people are killed by lightning in Florida than any other U.S. state.
Why Florida?
"A lot of people in Florida are involved with outdoor activities. People are out golfing, they are out boating, so the odds of getting hit by a lightning flash are greater," said Stephen Hodanish, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Colorado. A meteorologist (meet-e-o-RAHL-o-gist) is a person who studies weather.
Vladimir Rakov, a lightning expert at the University of Florida agrees: "To produce lightning you need thunderclouds. To produce thunderclouds, you generally need heat and moisture, and both are plentiful in Florida."
But Florida is certainly not the only place that lightning hits. According to Hodanish, studies show that tall buildings like New York’s Empire State Building often get hit several times in a single storm!
Lightning Fast Facts
More thunderstorms happen in the summer than any other time of year. Here are a few safety tips to remember.
• If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Seek safety immediately. Houses and buildings provide the best shelter.
• Lightning can be dangerous even after a storm seems to have passed. Wait at least 30 minutes after you hear thunder before leaving your shelter. Don’t be fooled by blue sky!
• Water is very dangerous during thunderstorms. If you are in or near water during a storm, leave the area right away.
• People can be hurt by lightning even if they are inside. To stay safe, avoid telephones, electrical appliances, and running water. Don’t wash your hands, take a shower, or do laundry during a thunderstorm!
• If you are stuck outside, "make yourself as small a target as possible," Hodanish said. "Never stand near tall trees, metal fences, or water."
• If a person is hit by lightning, medical attention could be needed immediately.
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