Dispelling myths about lightning

Powerful thunderstorms full of lightning can occur at any time of the year, but they are most prevalent when the weather is warm. Moisture and warmth are crucial to thunderstorms, which form when the air is unstable.

According to The Weather Channel, as the sun heats up the air near the Earth’s surface, air rises and cools. At this point, it condenses to create moisture and forms a cloud. If conditions are right, the cloud will continue to build. Moisture is carried up high and forms ice crystals or hail. These ice particles bump into one another and give off electrical charges. Negative charges are attracted to positive charges around them, including on the ground. If the attraction is great enough, negative and positive charges will join together and discharge. It is this discharge that produces lightning and thunder, which has been prevalent throughout Marion County over the past couple of weeks.

Though magnificent to watch and experience, lightning can be very dangerous. That is why it is essential people move indoors when storms are approaching. In addition, it’s important to separate fact from fiction regarding lightning. The following are some common myths about lightning and what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Insurance Information Institute have to say about them.

1. Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.

Fact: Lightning can strike the same place twice, especially if it is a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building has been hit up to a dozen times during a single storm.

2. Myth: Crouching down outside during a thunderstorm is a safe option.

Fact: You are not safe anywhere outdoors. Try to get to a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle.

3. Myth: If the sky is clear, you are safe from lightning.

Fact: Lightning can strike more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud.

4. Myth: Lightning victims carry an electrical charge and another person can be electrocuted if he or she touches them.

Fact: The human body does not store electricity. Provide first aid immediately if you are able and call 911.

5. Myth: You are completely safe in your home.

Fact: While you are safer in a sturdy home, lightning will travel toward the ground via the fastest route. That can mean along pipes, cables, gutters, water, wires and metal windows. Using a corded electronic device or even washing the dishes while a storm is overhead can put you at risk.

6. Myth: Rubber tires insulate people from lightning while driving.

Fact: It’s actually the metal car that protects occupants. The lightning travels through the car frame to the ground. Don’t lean on doors during a thunderstorm.

Lightning is a considerable hazard and should be treated as such. There is no completely safe place to be during a lightning event. There are, however, ways to reduce risk of injury.

Knowing what to do when lighting strikes is vital to summer safety and NOAA urges people to take precautions like these when storms arrive:

• The administration notes the best place to be during a lightning storm is inside a large, enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. Plumbing and electrical wiring will conduct electricity more efficiently than a human body, so the safest place to be when lighting is present is inside a building, such as a home, office or shopping center. If buildings are inaccessible, the agency recommends retreating to an enclosed metal vehicle.
• Places such as a picnic pavilion at a park or a baseball dugout at an outdoor athletic complex are unsafe during storms with lightning because they feature exposed openings. The NOAA also notes that golf carts and any vehicles with open cabs are unsafe. The agency advises against seeking shelter from lightning in beach shacks, metal sheds and carports, particularly when safer retreats are accessible.
• Water and metal are good conductors of electricity, so NOAA advises against taking a bath or shower during a lightning storm.
• Avoid using desktop computers during lightning storms, as such devices typically need to be plugged in. If you must use devices like a smartphone or tablet during a lightning storm, unplug them from wall outlets before doing so.
• Radio dials, touch screens and ignitions should not be touched when sheltering in a vehicle during a lightning storm. The conducting paths in radios, ignitions and touchscreens lead to the outside of the vehicle, making people who touch them vulnerable to lighting strikes.

Lightning storms can come and go quickly or continue for an extended period of time. Knowing what to do when lightning strikes can save lives.

The National Weather Service 7-day forecast on July 9 was predicting frequent showers and thunderstorms through July 15.

To learn more, go to forecast.weather.gov and put in your zip code.