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Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in danger of being struck by lightning.
How far away from a storm is considered dangerous for lightning strike?
When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within six miles (ten kilometers) of you and is dangerous.
What is the 30 30 rule for lightning?
Don’t forget the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
Can lightning strike 20 miles away?
This means, if there is a storm in one of those towns, folks in the other need to be aware lightning can strike in their area! Yes, lightning can travel up to 20 miles.
Can lightning strike you 50 miles away?
That lightning bolt can travel a great distance – up to 25 miles – from the storm cloud. The bolt then angles down to the ground. What makes them especially dangerous is that they do seem to come out of the blue sky, and people are not looking out for lightning if there is no storm visible.
How close do you have to be to get struck by lightning?
The next one could be a lot closer. Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in danger of being struck by lightning.
How Far Can lightning be seen?
‘ All lightning comes from a thunderstorm, but you can see that lightning many miles away from a storm when the sky is clear (clear away from the storm, of course). How far? Depending on visibility conditions, you can see lightning from as far as 150 to 200 miles away on a dark summer night.
Should I unplug electronics during a thunderstorm?
Keep Your Computer Plugged In Anything that’s plugged into an outlet in your home is at risk of suffering damage from an electrical surge during thunderstorms. If an electrical storm has been forecast, unplug your computer, laptop, and other devices, and consider unplugging appliances.
Is it OK to have your AC on during thunderstorm?
Though it’s tempting to rely on your air conditioner, you shouldn’t run your unit during a thunderstorm. Not only does running your AC during a storm put your system at risk, but it can also put your safety at risk.
How do you know if you’re about to be struck by lightning?
7 Signs That Lightning Is About to Strike You See Tall, Bright White Clouds. You Can Hear the Thunder Approaching. You See Your Hair Standing on End or Feel Tingling. You Taste Something Metallic. You Smell the Scent of Ozone in the Air. You Start to Get Dizzy or Sweat. You Can Hear Vibrating, Buzzing, or Crackling.
How far away does lightning have to be to shower?
“Lightning can strike up to three to 10 or more miles away from the parent storm.” Experts generally recommend waiting for 30 minutes after you last hear thunder before taking a shower or bath, just to be safe.
What is the longest lightning bolt ever recorded?
The megaflash lightning bolt spanned 477 miles across the sky. It covered an area from Texas to Mississippi. This bolt was associated with powerful storms on April 29, 2020. WMO declared it as the longest single lightning flash in the world.
Why are you safe in a car during a lightning storm?
Cars are safe from lightning because of the metal cage surrounding the people inside the vehicle. This may sound counter-intuitive because metal is a good conductor of electricity, but the metal cage of a car directs the lightning charge around the vehicle occupants and safely into the ground.
How loud is lightning up close?
A clap of thunder typically registers at about 120 dB in close proximity to the ground stroke. This is 10 times louder than a garbage truck or pneumatic jackhammer drill. By comparison, sitting in front of speakers at a rock concert can expose you to a continuous 120+ dB level.
How Far Can lightning travel sideways?
Perhaps the most dangerous lightning appears as “bolts from the blue” — lightning that begins upward, but then moves sideways and then downward to hit the ground as much as three miles from a thunderstorm.
What happens if lightning strikes the ground near you?
Anyone outside near a lightning strike is potentially a victim of ground current. Typically, the lightning enters the body at the contact point closest to the lightning strike, travels through the cardiovascular and/or nervous systems, and exits the body at the contact point farthest from the lightning.
How far does lightning travel when it strikes the ocean?
Because seawater is a good conductor, the remaining current penetrates hemispherically downward and fully dissipates less than 10 feet below the surface. It is believed that lethal current spreads horizontally only 20 feet from the position of strike impact.
What happens if you are in the water when lightning strikes?
Lightning doesn’t strike the ocean as much as land, but when it does,it spreads out over the water, which acts as a conductor. It can hit boats that are nearby, and electrocute fish that are near the surface. If you can’t, either stay low in the boat or retreat to a cabin.
