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If you count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then divide by 5, you’ll get the distance in miles to the lightning: 5 seconds = 1 mile, 15 seconds = 3 miles, 0 seconds = very close. Keep in mind that you should be in a safe place while counting.
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.
How far away is thunder when you hear it?
Thunder can be heard up to 25 miles away, and lightning strikes have been documented to occur as far as 25 miles from thunderstorms – known as a “bolt from the blue.” So if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be hit by lightning, and sheltering indoors or in an enclosed car is your safest bet.
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.
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.
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.
Can you hear thunder 15 miles away?
Thunder is the sound produced by lightning and generally cannot be heard more than about 15 miles from the nearest point of the lightning bolt, though the upper limit of audibility can, at times, approach 30 miles.
Can lightning strike a car?
NO! Like trees, houses, and people, anything outside is at risk of being struck by lightning when thunderstorms are in the area, including cars. The lightning will then pass through the vehicle’s outer metal shell, then through the tires to the ground.
Can I use a ceiling fan during a thunderstorm?
Just stay several feet away from it and you should be fine. One of the wires that connects to the fan is a ground wire. Any dangerous voltage that gets into a table fan, more than likely will take that ground wire to the earth, away from anyone several feet away from it.
Can I have my window open during a thunderstorm?
Close windows and doors: Stay away from open windows, doors and garage doors as the lightning can travel through the opening to electrocute you. It’s not safe to watch a lightning storm from a porch or open garage door. Stay away from plumbing: It’s incredibly important to avoid using the plumbing during.
Can you poop during a thunderstorm?
DO NOT POOP During A Thunderstorm. The plumbing company said this is just as rare as getting struck by lightning yourself. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands.
Can I cook during a thunderstorm?
Nope, Don’t Do the Dishes If your house or plumbing isn’t properly grounded, the electricity from a lightning strike can move through pipes and water, which can shock you.
How do you stop lightning from hitting your house?
4 Ways To Protect Your Home From Lightning Use a home lightning protection system Unplug electronics and appliance. Install transient voltage surge suppressors Check your homeowners and renters insurance coverage.
Can thunder be heard from 200 miles away?
Thunder is the sound caused by a nearby flash of lightning and can be heard for a distance of only about 10 miles from the lightning strike. As you continue to listen, you’ll hear the sound created from the portions of the channel farther and farther away.
Is lightning hotter than the sun?
In fact, lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5 times hotter than the surface of the sun). When lightning strikes a tree, the heat vaporizes any water in its path possibly causing the tree to explode or a strip of bark to be blown off.
How fast is a lightning?
The speed of lightning While the flashes we see as a result of a lightning strike travel at the speed of light (670,000,000 mph) an actual lightning strike travels at a comparatively gentle 270,000 mph.
Why is thunder so loud?
A big noise Why is thunder so loud? It’s because the amount of electrical energy that flows from the cloud to the ground is so enormous: it’s like a very big waterfall of electricity. The louder the sound that you hear, the closer you are to the lightning. Light travels through air much faster than sound.
Can you see lightning from 100 miles away?
At night, it is possible to see the flashes of lightning from very far distances, up to 100 miles (160 kilometres), but the sound does not carry that far.
