What Is A Lightning Strike?
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A lightning strike is when a lightning bolt connects with the ground or an object on the ground. The strike involves current flow of 30,000 amps or more in microseconds. Strikes can cause fires, electrical surges, damage to buildings or trees, and serious injury or death to people, animals, or sometimes electronics.
A lightning strike is the dramatic moment when atmospheric electricity reaches Earth's surface. Unlike cloud-to-cloud lightning that stays high in the sky, a strike sends enormous current through whatever it hits. The effects vary from minor electrical damage to fires, building collapse, and human injury or death. Understanding how lightning strikes occur is key to lightning safety.
How does a lightning strike happen?
A lightning strike begins when charge separation in a thunderstorm cloud creates strong electric fields between the cloud and ground. A faint, invisible 'stepped leader' descends from the cloud in short jumps, ionizing a path through the air. When the leader gets close to the ground, an upward 'streamer' rises from a tall object or surface point. When leader and streamer meet, they create a complete conductive path, and the main lightning flash occurs along this path. The entire process takes a fraction of a second.
What happens when lightning strikes a person?
When lightning strikes a person, enormous current flows through the body in microseconds. About 10% of direct strikes are fatal, and most survivors have lasting injuries. Common effects include cardiac arrest, severe burns at entry and exit points, neurological damage, blindness or deafness, and Lichtenberg figures (fern-like burn patterns on the skin). Many lightning injuries come from indirect effects: ground current spreading from a nearby strike, side flashes jumping from struck objects, or contact with conductors carrying lightning current.
What gets hit by lightning most often?
Lightning preferentially strikes tall, isolated, or pointed objects. Tall buildings, especially metal structures, are common targets. Trees in open areas are frequently struck. Mountains and isolated hills attract lightning. Open spaces like fields and water surfaces can be struck when nothing taller is nearby. Aircraft are struck regularly but designed to handle it. People standing in open areas or near tall isolated objects are at high risk. Some structures like the Empire State Building are struck dozens of times per year.
How can you stay safe in a lightning storm?
The safest place during a thunderstorm is indoors in a substantial building. NOAA's lightning safety guidance emphasizes that no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are nearby. Avoid open areas, tall isolated objects, water, and metal objects. If indoors, stay away from corded phones, plumbing, and windows. If caught outdoors with no shelter, crouch low (don't lie flat) in the lowest area available, avoiding isolated trees and metal. The standard rule: 'When thunder roars, go indoors.' Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside.
How does a lightning strike happen?
A lightning strike begins when charge separation in a thunderstorm cloud creates strong electric fields between the cloud and ground. A faint, invisible 'stepped leader' descends from the cloud in short jumps, ionizing a path through the air. When the leader gets close to the ground, an upward 'streamer' rises from a tall object or surface point. When leader and streamer meet, they create a complete conductive path, and the main lightning flash occurs along this path. The entire process takes a fraction of a second.
What happens when lightning strikes a person?
When lightning strikes a person, enormous current flows through the body in microseconds. About 10% of direct strikes are fatal, and most survivors have lasting injuries. Common effects include cardiac arrest, severe burns at entry and exit points, neurological damage, blindness or deafness, and Lichtenberg figures (fern-like burn patterns on the skin). Many lightning injuries come from indirect effects: ground current spreading from a nearby strike, side flashes jumping from struck objects, or contact with conductors carrying lightning current.
What gets hit by lightning most often?
Lightning preferentially strikes tall, isolated, or pointed objects. Tall buildings, especially metal structures, are common targets. Trees in open areas are frequently struck. Mountains and isolated hills attract lightning. Open spaces like fields and water surfaces can be struck when nothing taller is nearby. Aircraft are struck regularly but designed to handle it. People standing in open areas or near tall isolated objects are at high risk. Some structures like the Empire State Building are struck dozens of times per year.
How can you stay safe in a lightning storm?
The safest place during a thunderstorm is indoors in a substantial building. NOAA's lightning safety guidance emphasizes that no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are nearby. Avoid open areas, tall isolated objects, water, and metal objects. If indoors, stay away from corded phones, plumbing, and windows. If caught outdoors with no shelter, crouch low (don't lie flat) in the lowest area available, avoiding isolated trees and metal. The standard rule: 'When thunder roars, go indoors.' Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside.
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