Lightning and what to do...

stripee · #1 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 01:28 PM

There is winter lightning and lightning in hail showers often this time of year. Then there are summer thunderstorms. It's hard to predict winter lightning, and if it's in showers, and I've been in the woods at night when you can see it almost in front of you. Also I've lost a couple of modems in the past from single flashes. If you are outside either in the woods or on hills, is it a risk? Also do umbrellas attract lightning? And what about all the other metal bits like on your coat etc? Should you go under bushes or stay out in the open? I know golfers get struck on golf courses. Any information or stories anyone has would be interesting!

kml · #2 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 01:54 PM

I have been in a large country manor house when the lightening struck the conductor on the roof only a few meters from where we were sat.We all jumped about 3 foot in the air!!! It took about a minute to register that it was lightening as it sounded like a huge bomb had gone off.The neighbouring farm had a line down in the field with wires and sparks everywhere (possibly damage from lightening).On that night I was glad to be indooors but I think that is the only time it has scared me.

Bub-les · #3 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 02:04 PM

In a thunder storm switch off your mobile. I didn't know about this and when we were on Safari last week there was a storm and a flash of lightening flashed so close the air was sizzling! We were in a vehicle at the time. It was scary ( I like thunder storms!) The downside it fried my daughter's mobile now it won't switch on!
Our driver told us that mobiles can act as lightening attractors in storms! That is if they are on.
Barbara

Ollie · #4 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 03:23 PM

I had two relatives, father and son who were both killed by the same bolt of lightning whilst turning hay in a field. This was years back mind in 1800 and something, can't remember the exact date. but it was docummented in the family history.
Roger

demicav · #5 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 03:29 PM

I think the safest place to be in a thunder storm is in your car, not much help if you're out in a field I know but it is a safe place. I quite like watching storms too but from inside the house. I hate being out in them.

hank · #6 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 04:53 PM

Have a look here ...

BBC NEWS | Magazine | What to do in a thunderstorm?

demicav · #7 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hank

Have a look here ...

BBC NEWS | Magazine | What to do in a thunderstorm?

Useful read, thanks for sharing.

Purplepixii · #8 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 07:09 PM

I concur with Demicav - from experience!

It was one of those days I'll remember forever. I was in the car with my (then) boyfriend on the way to London. We were going to watch England play in Euro '96 in the afternoon followed by a gig in the evening and were on the A1 in Bedfordshire. There was a great storm going on (I love thunderstorms) which I was avidly watching out the car windows. We noticed it was getting closer as we travelled and I was able to look up and watch lightning through the sunroof - which was great until it hit us!

Luckily we were slowing for a roundabout, otherwise the shock might have been catastrophic, but it was an amazing experience which will stay with me for a looooooooooooong time.

The amazing thing about it though (to me) was that at the time we were listening to an ACDC album and the track playing at the time it hit was "Thunderstruck"!! After watching the football that day we went to the gig - it was ACDC on their final world tour!

Needless to say, when I hear that track these days it makes me grin somewhat - what's the chance of that happening again?

Purplepixii

dragonfly · #9 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 07:42 PM

there is aman in arcansaw usa who has been struck 11 times now he holds the record
for lighting strikes if your out side make youe self as small as possible crouch in to down
on your knees if you can dont stand near trees if you must lay down get wet stay alive
good place out side is in a car

stripee · #10 (**permalink**) 31-03-2008, 02:22 PM

What interesting stories!!

It goes to show what you can turn up in family history research too, a huge tragedy, Ollie. Probably more common when people were more often working out in the fields.
The BBC page is very informative. Umbrellas not a good idea

We have lost several cordless phones, the type that have chargers, and a computer which blew up! I remember some cattle being struck in their field. It's good to be aware if you spend much time outside. Although a much bigger problem in countries where they have the monsoon or more frequent violent storms than the UK.

Adam Cheeseman · #11 (**permalink**) 31-03-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stripee

There is winter lightning and lightning in hail showers often this time of year. Then there are summer thunderstorms. It's hard to predict winter lightning, and if it's in showers, and I've been in the woods at night when you can see it almost in front of you. Also I've lost a couple of modems in the past from single flashes. If you are outside either in the woods or on hills, is it a risk? Also do umbrellas attract lightning? And what about all the other metal bits like on your coat etc? Should you go under bushes or stay out in the open? I know golfers get struck on golf courses. Any information or stories anyone has would be interesting!

Generally make yourself as low to the ground as possible i.e. lay down. If you can find a natural hollow try and secrete yourself in that. If you are amongst trees, again lay down without touching a tree, do not stand up as the bolt can arc across from a tree into you. If this happens you are more likely to survive if you are wet because the bolt will travel through the water on you rather than go through you.

There is a theory that if you bend over and hold your ankles whilst pointing your bum into the air you are less likely to get hit or at least more likely to survive. Hmmm!

A couple of weeks back my Uncle got struck whilst indoors. The lightning hit the tree next to the building he was in, arced across to the building he was in and blew out the electric meter box and him across the room. The biolt went to earth in the gas main, which to was blown out. A rather close shave.

Cheers,

Adam

Meta menardi · #12 (**permalink**) 31-03-2008, 05:41 PM

My Mum always felt safe when wearing a straw hat (large one) during a thunderstorm.

galanthus · #13 (**permalink**) 17-05-2008, 11:36 PM

Hmmm facinating thread.

My ex-fella and I were out walking the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path near Tenby; I remember we were having a political disagreement over the use of bombs which started off when we heard what we thought were target practice on the offshore range. Target practice was actually thunder and we ended up in pouring rain huddled on the floor near but not under very short gorse bushes. It was one of the most scary moments of my life, not a house in sight and we were stuck on a headland in the storm.

When it stopped I wanted to turn back to the beach and head of back to the camping site, however, he argued the storm had gone. At this point a fork of lightening hit the bush near us and we flew back to the beach. We were v traumatised and a kind man gave us a lift back to camp, I felt really bad cos I'd actually snapped 2 of his rods in the back of the car with my boots and never confessed

We also had our tv damaged beyond repair by a lightening strike, came down the terrestial ariel.