Lightning: what to do when it threatens

Hotter than our sun and carrying enough energy to light a 100 watt lightbulb for three months ... lightning is a beautiful and deadly weather phenomena.

Michigan ranks second in the nation, behind Florida, in lightning-related deaths. Most happen in open spaces like lakes or golf courses.

No one likes to cancel their golf game on account of weather. But here's a sobering fact you should remember. If you hear the rumble from a thunderstorm, or see the flash of the lightning, you're in danger. You can be struck by lightning many miles from the storm.

The time from the flash to the thunder is a rough estimate of how distant the lightning is. If you see a flash and count the seconds, five seconds corresponds to about a mile.

What is currently being advocated is the 30-30 rule. Take shelter if the time from seeing a flash to the time you hear thunder is 30 seconds or less. Don't resume activities until 30 minutes have elapsed from the last lightning and thunder.

What to do when lightning threatens

• If you're outside when lightning threatens, move indoors immediately. A wood frame building or automobile will do.
• If you can't get inside get as low to the ground without lying down. Crouch down on your toes, like a baseball catcher.
• Stay away from trees. If lightning strikes a tree the energy can jump to you, causing severe burns or death.

Other tips to avoid being struck by lightning

• Avoid being the tallest object around
• Avoid being near the tallest object around
• Avoid being near fence lines and power lines
• There is no reliable warning sign that tells you lightning is about to strike
• You do not have to be directly hit by lightning to be affected

For even more about lightning, try these interesting links

• How likely are you to be struck by lightning?
• More lightning strike probabilities.
• 35 years of lightning deaths and injuries.
• Selected incidents from the "It can't happen to me" file.
• What happens when lightning strikes people.
• What happens when lightning strikes vehicles.
• See a Japanese airplane get stuck by lightning.
• Lightning photographs.
• Make very tiny lightning.