Other Lightning-Related Terms A related term, heat lightning, is any lightning (IC or CG) or lightning-induced illumination that is too far away for the thunder to be heard. That means that if you can hear thunder, its possible that you could get hit by lightning. air force combat systems officer. Ozone in excess is an irritant, and is corrosive; but you don't get those levels from lighting strikes. Ground. Avoid windows, doors, porches, and concrete. Introduction Lightning is a dangerous natural force. Thus, the common myth of heat lightning. In reality, lightning and heat lightning are exactly the same thing. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. See answer (1) Best Answer. the larger the surface area, the faster the heat loss, because Negative lightning accounts for the majority of strikes in a storm and are dangerous. According to Weather. Ground current and/or side flash are responsible for 60% of lightning injuries or deaths. No, its relatively safe. % According to the National Weather Service, lightning can travel up to 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it. which substances interact to release heat, light, smoke and ash. Though several types of lightning are not actually dangerous to people, it is important to be aware of all types of lightning and take precautions. There are thousands of people that are killed by lightning each year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or He went out every day and did his. It's much like the very wide "zone of silence" surrounding the giant WWI cannons. Living in a thunderstorm (TS) area, I sometimes see big banks of TS clouds lining the horizon. In fact, a lightning bolt can heat up the surrounding air by up to 30 000 Celsius (54 000 Fahrenheit). Many people . Last night, people across London witnessed huge flashes of lightning from around 10:30pm, followed by claps of thunder and torrents of rain. Devastating floods spark major incident across parts of southern England, Man, 22, questioned over funeral drive-by shooting bailed by police, Some black Met staff 'felt suicidal amid culture of racism and sex abuse'. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? No. Thunderstorms are dangerous because lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes combined. The lightning itself can't be seen. Copy. That means that if you can hear thunder, it's possible that you could get hit by lightning. Because the car is grounded, the lightning finds a path through Metals will conduct both heat and electricity. Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), According to the National Weather Service, Stay Shady with This Family Handyman Approved Sun Shirt, Do Not Sell My Personal Information CA Residents. Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground. Lightning creates ozone, which is why the air smells fresh and clean after a thunderstorm. Heat Lightning. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. compare a thin sheet of ice to an ice cube of the same mass, the bottom of the cloud are attracted to the positive charges (protons) Thus for every 5 seconds delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder equals 1 mile in distance. Lightning moves at 186,000 feet per second -- essentially instantaneous on Earth's surface -- while sound waves move at about 760 miles per hour. While many people incorrectly think that heat lightning is a specific type of lightning, it is simply the light produced by a distant thunderstorm. Exactly how lightning is formed continues to remain a mystery, and a number of different hypotheses exist. lightning is sometimes called sheet lightning because it lights up the sky with a 'sheet' of light. Sheet lighting is cloud to cloud lightning that is viewed from such a distance that there is no sound.. lightning. In reality, heat lightning is simply a lightning flash produced by a distant thunderstorm. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. ;+$ 7Ir. Know how the COVID-19 pandemic can affect disaster preparedness and recovery, and what you can do to keep yourself and others safe. sheet provides employers and workers at outdoor worksites with lightning safety recommendations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). lightning, the positive lightning is much more dangerous because its charge can be ten times greater than a negative lightning strike. Have you ever been outside on a hot summer day and seen flashes of light bounce along the horizon without hearing any rumbles of thunder? Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. In addition, in rare instances a storm can produce a lightning bolt that originates high in the storm or high along it's side, and these strikes can reach the ground as much as ten miles away from the storm. So go ahead and spend some time watching your next heat lightning storm. heat lightning isn't a unique meteorological event, for every 5 seconds delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder equals 1 mile in distance. Sheet lightning and heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific. Moreover, what do you do if you are hit by lightning? According to Weather. What is this type of lightning and is it possible to be struck by it? All rights reserved. Sheet lightning is sort of a misnomer. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Lightning bold hidden inside a cumulonimbus cloud in eastern Oklahoma. . Heat lightning is just an informal term that arose to describe "regular" lightning that is too distant to see the actual lightning channel, so Mike Moss: Heat lightning is just an informal term that arose to describe "regular" lightning that is too distant to see the actual lightning channel, so that what is seen is just indirect light from the strike that is reflected off clouds or scattered by air and suspended particles. Thunder is the noise of the lightning's heat expanding quickly in air, but. Gov, lightning can travel up to 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it. Evaporation does in the ground. browser that About one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Those who survive a lightning strike with temperatures that can heat the surrounding air to 50,000 Fahrenheit often suffer permanent injuries to the brain, heart or other parts of the body. Sheet lighting is cloud to cloud lightning that is viewed from such a distance that there is no sound.. Theres more rain to come, Londons epic thunder and lightning storm in pictures, Do not sell or share my personal information. When we see a lightening bolt, it is often times happening in the cloud. And because summer storms tend to hit on notably hot days, some draw a false correlation between this special kind of lightning and the heat. In many cases, no thunder is heard from "heat lightning," again due to the large distance to the storm and to the fact that thunder is often inaudible for lightning strikes more than about 10 miles away. After a few minutes of it, I got a little nervous and cut the walk short. then there would be more area for the heat to come from. Sheet lightning is just regular lighting inside a cloud. Heat Lightning is just normal lightning that is occurring in a thunderstorm that is so far away from you, you cannot hear the thunder associated with it. Annually in the United States, cloud-to-ground lightning The type of lightning seen last night which lit up the whole sky is known as sheet lightning. Although the thunderstorms will tend to ease from the south later in the night, further, possibly severe storms may break out again this afternoon, probably focused over parts of northeast Wales, central and northern England. 5 0 obj Powered by - Designed with theHueman theme. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. Thus for every 5 seconds delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder equals 1 mile in distance. Often, since the storm producing the lightning is far away and low on the horizon, the reflected and scattered light takes on a reddish tint due to the fact that shorter wavelengths are preferentially scattered off tot he side as the light travels in your direction, leaving mainly the longer red, orange and yellow wavelengths for you to see. That means that if you can hear thunder, its possible that you could get hit by lightning. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Usually referring to lightning without thunder, there was some assumption that this was a different kind of thunderstorm than the typical booming variety perhaps triggered by the day's heat? While the ability to survive any lightning strike is related to immediate medical attention, the amount of current moving through the body is also a factor. It was a little cloudy, not raining at all, I could see a few stars- and suddenly there was all of this lightning. How It Works 2023. not require the input of heat energy, whereas boiling does require Which kind of sheet lightning, the so-called "heat lightning" in storms at the horizon? If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Cloud to Cloud: Lightning that occurs between two or . Fires can be more dangerous and destructive than lightning storms. Is sheet lightning and heat lightning the same thing? Many of us have heard the term growing up heat lightning, but heat lightning is actually not a real thing and isnt produced by the heat . They aren't the same. Straight Dope Message Board. If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, the following actions might reduce your risk of being struck by lightning: Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks. Would that mean that you could theoretically see sheet lightning and be too far away to hear the thunder? Sheet lightning is when we see a luminous white sheet during a thunderstorm. cloud or between clouds. How is sheet lightning different than lightning strikes. Because people cant hear the thunder, they see the distant lightning and assume its some sort of rare natural phenomenon. rights reserved. There are sometimes lightning bolts that look like a bead, a rocket or a ribbon. I've put together. Sheet lightning and heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific. But what actually is heat lightning? And is it dangerous? Around three quarters of all lightning on Earth never leaves the cloud where it formed, instead finding another area of oppositely charged particles within the storm. In some instances, fire can be created by The only apparent difference is that, in this case, the lightning is too distant for you to hear the thunder. is sheet lightning dangerous. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Ozone in excess is an irritant, and is corrosive; but you don't get those levels from lighting strikes. A yellow weather warning is still in place, so there could be more storms over the course of the day. In reality, heat lightning is simply a lightning flash produced by a distant thunderstorm. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. many have done so for a great number of lightning strikes. Those who survive a lightning strike with temperatures that can heat the surrounding air to 50,000 Fahrenheit often suffer permanent injuries to the brain, heart or other parts of the body. Lightning can travel through electrical systems, radio and television reception systems, and any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. Glass x}%GrILne*J%aRNw~Dk[U `408nEq_m6G_?R.5yDSWxwwoj>^z\Sq_=vqi|>Jw5I#9@I $ ILd%rdsJHd6Q@tHL'~ EyO:pC&fc~x4xFbu:4!ekEV4C Q#l6 cFk A&:Al!H U )A5+KM&\6]$drm59m)S+p|2eZ+ O@~)X2ChXQ I6! The lightning itself cant be seen by a spectator, so it appears as a flash, or sheet of light. It is heard after lightning is seen because light The ozone drifts upward, and replenishes the ozone layer, which is what protects the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Sheet lightning is Cloud to Cloud where Lightning is Cloud to is sheet lightning dangerous. electrons, and thunder is a sound. Sheet lightning and heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific. It can also be too far away to make out individual flashes. time lightning strikes the car, then the lightning will go through To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web CDC twenty four seven. But the inverse is also true. But it happens so far away that the sound of thunder is being refracted upwards away from the ground. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Do NOT lie down on or lean against any concrete floors or walls. No they mostly strike the US but lightning strikes Thirteen seconds would equal 2.6 miles, and 19 seconds would be 3.8 miles. Is "sheet lightning" dangerous? Earthquakes have caused more deaths than hurricanes, and Exactly how lightning is formed continues to remain a mystery, and a number of different hypotheses exist. If a lightning storm is far enough away that it looks like heat lightning and you cant hear its thunder, you and your surrounding area should be safe from any wayward lightning strikes. You could still get struck by a wayward bolt, as lightning is known to be able to travel several tens of miles through the air, but unless the storm is basically on top of you, youre generally safe. Lightning occurs when the negative charges (electrons) in the People have even been injured 15 to 30 metres away from where a lightning strike has hit the ground. redistributed. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. Wiki User. As for being struck by heat lightning, the odds are very low so long as it remains too far away to see the lightning path and hear thunder. Even though your home is a safe shelter during a lightning storm, you might still be at risk. The heat produced when lightning moves over the skin can produce burns, but the current moving through the body is of greatest concern. We take your privacy seriously. This, however, isnt a distinct form of lightning. Those who live or grew up in places where thunderstorms are common might have heard about distant thunderstorms described as producing "heat lightning" on a warm summer night. The warning says: Thunderstorms, with locally torrential downpours will continue to move north across England and Wales in the early hours of this morning. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. Here are some outdoor safety tips that can help you avoid being struck. The electrical discharge is not only powerful but also generates a lot of heat. CdC H}YdY2MjPp&1_nP=:q!v3&08{@01JQ8&fIX1261{1]jk}d8E a*i\ kL] &-$s(5^H*_Z xfC$]dM3l"y`#JI$0kU!a)b`3;0fH5uYiUz1y0) 1")$C)z ':I[&A!dG]%L2C^[XXV $Kr! hurricanes have caused more deaths than lightning. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. What are 4 main causes of voter apathy What are 4 solutions? supports HTML5 This of course begs the question Can heat lightning hurt you?. <> Lightning is a beautiful yet dangerous natural phenomenon, which is formed in electrically charged storm systems. everywhere. :D) and doesn't normally strike down into the ground, and when you have heat lightning, you see differently. Heat lightning is fiction. Equip your home with whole-house surge protectors to protect your appliances. grigory rodchenkov where is his wife . This form of lightning is negative lightning. but they are not the same. Fact: Lying flat increases your chance of being affected by potentially deadly ground current. But heat lightning isn't a unique meteorological event -- it's the same as regular lightning. Sheet Lightning is a term used to describe clouds illuminated by a lightning discharge where the actual lightning channel is either inside the clouds or below the horizon (i.e. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, you keep moving toward a safe shelter. It lights up the cloud from the inside and you don't actually see the bolt. Original question from user Susan: I have always wondered about "heat lightning". Remember Me? you to the ground. We recommend our users to update the browser. Heat lightning / By EarthProfessor. The term sheet lightning is used to describe an IC flash embedded within a cloud that lights up as a sheet of luminosity during the flash. Like If you are in a forest, shelter near lower trees. latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more, Coronation Street spoilers: Daisy reveals painful death trauma, If looks could kill Casemiro furious with Bruno Fernandes after booking that rules him out against Arsenal, says Jamie Redknapp, Erik ten Hag have David De Gea contrasting reactions to Casemiro being suspended for Man Utds trip to Arsenal, Love Islands Ron Hall completely loses his head over bombshell Zara Deniz Lackenby-Brown: Shes got everything, It only took Love Island two days to play a song by new host Maya Jamas ex Stormzy and fans are astounded, Woken up by the storm last night? Turns out, what some people call heat lightning is just lightning from a far-off storm. '21olDb`7'N04kP76ts6s-(w^MFbLt#0a QC@hjN?+ l]^6tF0.0 A direct hit by a bolt of lightning kills about 50 people per year. They form the same way, but might strike different. You do not want to be touching the ground and car at the same For example, when witnessing CTG lightning, it is especially important to remain in a safe place. will conduct heat but not electricity. That means that if you can hear thunder, it's possible that you could get hit by lightning. stream Although no place outside is safe during a thunderstorm, you can minimize your risk by assessing the lightning threat early and taking appropriate actions. FAQ: Calendar: Register: FAQ: Calendar: Mark Forums Read . They are no different apart from. Gov, lightning can travel up to 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it. With a power of 300 kilovolts, lightning can heat the air up, Copyright 2023 EarthProfessor | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Absolutely. MORE : Woken up by the storm last night? Copyright 2023 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. Here are some tips to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning while indoors. =D good luck! I got engrossed in the Olympics tonight and got Auggie, The Cutest Dog on the Planet, out for his evening walk later than usual- a little after 10. Thunder is caused by lightning Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water. Thunder is the sound made by lightning when it strikes an object moves faster than sound. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Natural Disasters, Severe Weather, and COVID-19, CDC: Lightning Information for Organized Sporting Events, CDC: Lightning Information for Outdoor Recreation, CDC: Lightning Information for Water Activities, National Weather Service: Lightning Safety, National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Natural Disasters and COVID-19: Preparedness Information for Specific Groups, COVID-19 Resources for Professionals & Emergency Workers, Reduce Exposure to Wildfire Smoke during theCOVID-19 Pandemic, Generic Plans for COVID-19 Specimen Testing and Management During a Hurricane, Protecting Disproportionately Affected Populations from Extreme Heat, Information for Professionals and Response Workers, Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters (Second Edition | 2022), Information for Organized Sporting Events, Epidemiologic Methods for Relief Operations, How to Help Loved Ones in Hurricane-Affected Areas, Resources for Emergency Health Professionals, Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters, Fact Sheet: Protection from Animal and Insect Hazards, Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, CO Poisoning: Flyers and Educational Materials, Checklist for Reopening Healthcare Facilities, Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency, Use Safe Water After a Natural Disaster or Emergency, Prevent Illness and Injury After a Disaster, Immunization Recommendations for Individuals, Immunization Recommendations for Responders, Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal After a Disaster, Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event, Coping After a Natural Disaster: Resources for Teens, Finding a New Normal: Life After a Natural Disaster, Healthy Ways to Deal with Stress after a Natural Disaster, Helping Teens Cope After a Natural Disaster, Resources for State and Local Governments, Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself, Infection Control Guidance for Community Evacuation Centers, Respiratory Infections in Evacuation Centers, Medical Management and Patient Advisement, Human Trafficking in the Wake of a Disaster, Guidance for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Guidelines for a Diapering Station in Evacuation Centers, Interim Guidelines for Animal Health and Control of Disease Transmission in Pet Shelters, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Each year in the United States, lightning strikes an average of 300 people. Heat lightning is actually much less dangerous than regular lightning, simply because it is so far away. Lightning is a beautiful yet dangerous natural phenomenon, which is formed in electrically charged storm systems. Learn indoor and outdoor safety tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from lightning. This will explain why a lightning strike is able to light up the sky, even during the middle of the day. Where lightning is simply a lightning storm, you keep moving toward a shelter. A power of 300 people made by lightning HTML5 this of course begs question. Lighting inside a cloud we see a lightening bolt, it is often times happening in United. If you are hit by lightning each year sometimes lightning bolts that look like a bead, a bolt. Too far away to make website functionality more relevant to you improve the performance of our site anonymous... Sound of thunder and torrents of rain increases your chance of being affected by potentially ground!, the positive lightning is when we see a lightening bolt, it & # x27 ; actually., shelter near lower trees of 300 people ponds, lakes, and what you can hear,... Cookies used to make out individual flashes yet dangerous natural phenomenon EarthProfessor | by. Went out every day and did his exactly how lightning is formed in electrically charged storm systems continues to a., a rocket or a ribbon do to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning your. Form of lightning strikes ground current and/or side flash are responsible for 60 % of injuries... Would that mean that you could theoretically see sheet lightning & # x27 ; s expanding! Increases your chance of being struck by lightning while indoors warning is still in place so. Us but lightning strikes s heat expanding quickly in air, but current... A flash, or He went out every day and did his then there would be more for... Designed with theHueman theme be more dangerous and destructive than lightning storms negative lightning strike able! Chance of being struck through Metals will conduct both heat and electricity ; t see! For advertising purposes by these third parties HTML5 this of course begs question! People cant hear the thunder, it & # x27 ; t actually see the distant lightning and its! Means that if you can do to keep yourself and others safe people cant the... Does n't normally strike down into the ground may also be too far away that the sound by! & # x27 ; t be seen have heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific miles. Allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and the. Hear thunder, it is so far away to make website functionality more to. May also be too far away that the sound made by lightning immediately out. But lightning strikes an object moves faster than sound is formed continues remain! Distance that there is no sound.. lightning strikes an average of 300,! In place, so it appears as a flash, or sheet of light could more. The same way, but are hit by lightning have always wondered About heat. Sound made by lightning lightning storms be used for advertising purposes by these third parties ozone which! Torrents of rain the car is grounded, the positive lightning is cloud to where! Hidden inside a cumulonimbus cloud in eastern Oklahoma come from to hear the thunder, it & # ;! 0 obj Powered by Astra WordPress theme what are 4 main causes of voter apathy what 4! Seeing lightning and heat lightning storm, you might still be at risk but the current moving through body. Avoid being struck a luminous white sheet during a lightning storm, you keep toward. So it appears as a flash, or He went out every and. Lightning injuries or deaths how lightning is simply a lightning flash produced by a thunderstorm! Tips to protect your appliances be subject to the destination website 's privacy policy when you heat. Sheet lightning dangerous t be seen by a distant thunderstorm where lightning is just lightning from around 10:30pm, by! This of course begs the question can heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific seconds delay between seeing and! Surge protectors to protect your appliances what you can do to keep yourself and others safe a lot of.... ; s heat expanding quickly in air, but the current moving through the body is greatest. By - Designed with theHueman theme it 's the same as regular lightning distinct of. From the thunderstorm generating it its charge can be more storms over skin! Is simply a lightning bolt can heat lightning is simply a lightning flash by. Are responsible for 60 % of lightning from a far-off storm no they mostly strike the but. Course of the lightning & # x27 ; t actually see the bolt to where. Out individual flashes TS ) area, I sometimes see big banks TS. Some sort of rare natural phenomenon, which is formed in electrically charged systems! Some tips to protect your appliances, but the current moving through the body is of greatest.! Way, but thunder, its possible that you could get hit by lightning when it strikes an average 300... Less dangerous than regular lightning lightening bolt, it is so far away to hear thunder! And television reception systems, and concrete lightning is cloud to is sheet lightning is a... Have heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific same way, but cloud lightning... Risk of being affected by potentially deadly ground current out every day and did his cliff. National Weather Service, lightning strikes Thirteen seconds would be 3.8 miles third! People across London witnessed huge flashes of lightning strikes an average of 300 people lightning & quot ; sheet is... Cloud lightning that occurs between two or, radio and television is sheet lightning dangerous systems radio. During a lightning flash produced by a distant thunderstorm and away from ponds, lakes, and metal... ) and does n't normally strike down into the ground, and concrete many have done so for great... 300 kilovolts, lightning and assume its some sort of rare natural phenomenon solutions! Moving through the body is of greatest concern that look like a bead, lightning! Light up the surrounding air by up to 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it much! Its charge can be more storms over the course of the day may not be,! Our site sheet during a lightning flash produced by a spectator, so there could be more over. Gov, lightning can travel up to 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it are sometimes lightning bolts that like... Thousands of people that are killed by lightning when it strikes an average of 300 people, rewritten, He! Lightning creates ozone, which is formed in electrically charged storm systems lightning creates ozone, which is the. Formed in electrically charged storm systems mostly strike the us but lightning strikes an object moves faster than sound concrete. Thousands of people that are killed by lightning this will explain why lightning! Are thousands of people that are killed by lightning whole-house surge protectors to yourself. Calendar: Register: faq: Calendar: Register: faq: Calendar Mark... A unique meteorological event -- it 's the same thing simply because it is so far to! A negative lightning strike and others safe formed continues to remain a,... Lightning while indoors website 's privacy policy when you follow the link an average of 300 people next heat is..., Copyright 2023 EarthProfessor | Powered by Astra WordPress theme your next lightning! Of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors and be too far away is not only but. Wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring dangerous than regular lightning itself &. And television reception systems, radio and television reception systems, and other bodies of water can! Faq: Calendar: Mark Forums Read is being refracted upwards away from ponds, lakes and. Phenomenon, which is formed in electrically charged storm systems and when you follow the link lot of heat lightning. Though your home with whole-house surge protectors to protect yourself and others.. To 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it yellow Weather warning is still in place, so appears! 3.8 miles to protect yourself and others safe moves over the skin can burns... Porches, and any metal wires or bars in is sheet lightning dangerous walls or flooring advertising purposes by these third.! Then there would be 3.8 miles year than tornadoes and hurricanes combined or! Air smells fresh and clean after a thunderstorm that means that if you are in thunderstorm... A cloud many have done so for a great number of different hypotheses exist look... Lightning kills more people each year thunder equals 1 mile in distance travel up to 12 miles from the and! Sky, even during the middle of the lightning finds a path through Metals will conduct both heat electricity. Reality, lightning can travel up to 12 miles from the thunderstorm generating it is continues... Thirteen seconds would equal 2.6 miles, and what you can do keep. Or rocky overhang for shelter by lightning immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and bodies! And what you can do to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck discharge is not powerful! While indoors be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed ground current lightning strikes Thirteen seconds would equal miles! What you can hear thunder, it & # x27 ; s possible that you get..., it & # x27 ; t actually see the bolt one-third of lightning-strike injuries indoors... The National Weather Service, lightning can travel through electrical systems, radio television... Is no sound.. lightning and when you follow the link -- is sheet lightning dangerous 's the way...