Lightning Fact And Fiction
Fiction: Lightning never strikes the same
place twice.
Fact: Lightning has "favorite" sites
that it may hit many times during one storm.
Fiction: If it is not raining, then there
is no danger from lightning.
Fact: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy
rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
Fiction: The rubber soles of shoes or rubber
tires on a car will protect you from being struck by lightning.
Fact: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires
provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped
vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although
you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside
a vehicle than outside.
Fiction: People struck by lightning carry
an electrical charge and should not be touched.
Fact: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical
charge and should be attended to immediately.
Fiction: "Heat lightning" occurs
after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
Fact: What is referred to as "heat lightning"
is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to
be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction!
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