Lightning Truths

1
Lightning Truths

• Bob Woodson
• WX4MMM
• Central Carolina Skywarn

2
Basic Ingredients for Lightning Formation

• Ice, hail or graupel
• Strong updrafts and downdrafts with close
  proximity to each other
• Cloud base negative charged and top positive
  charged

3
Did You Know...

• Florida leads the way with most lightning strikes
• Lightning can spread out approximately 60 feet
  upon striking earths surface
• Distant thunder can be heard 10-12 miles away
• 75-80 lightning occurs within the storm cloud

4
Did You Know (continued)

• CG Flashes in a storm are within 5-6 miles of the
  previous flash (30 second rule)
• Lightning strikes create powerful radio waves at
  3 KHZ 10 MHZ frequency and can travel around
  the world
• Nighttime lightning can be seen up to 100 miles
  away

5
Did You Know (continued)

• Positive lightning makes up less than 5 of all
  strikes
• Peak positive charge can be 10 times greater than
  a negative strike
• Positive strikes can occur more than 10 miles
  from storm

6
Lightning Safety Truths

• 27 of lightning casualties occur in open fields
  and elevated places
• 14 casualties occur under trees
• NC ranks 5th in deaths from 1997-2006
• Safest place is home away from windows or in a
  vehicle with a solid metal roof and sides

7
Lightning Safety Truths (continued)

• Lightning victims can not electrocute you
• You have a 1 in 280,000 chance of being struck by
  lightning in a year
• 30/30 rule

8
Sources / Websites

• www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/facts.htm
• www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/lightning/lightning
  .htm
• www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_info/little_known_fac
  ts.html
• www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/ltg/crh_ltg_facts.php
• www.stormwise.com/striking.htm
• www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/photos.htm
• www.electricalfun.com/lightning.htm
• www.cherylsgardenparty.com/Graphics/Lightning.jpg