Nationwide in 2011, 26 people were killed by lightning. Fortunately, none of those killed were in the Volunteer State. Since 1959, nearly 4,000 people in the United States, including 140 in Tennessee, have died. As a result, Tennessee is in the Top 5 of states in terms of lightning fatalities.
In an average year, 25 million lightning strikes are recorded across the United States alone. Lightning is an incredibly powerful electrical discharge, containing up to 100 million volts of electrical charge and capable of reaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cloud-to-ground lightning is the result of incredible differences in electrical charge between thunderstorms and the earth’s surface.
The sound of thunder travels around one mile every five seconds and is often audible up to 10 miles. If you can see lightning and hear thunder at your location, you are in danger of being struck by lightning and your life is in immediate danger.
Rules for Safety
Stay away from windows.
Avoid telephones and electrical appliances (wires connecting to these devices run outside of the home and act as lightning rods).
Don’t wash dishes or take a shower. The pipes will conduct electricity.
Unplug computers and other sensitive electrical devices. Surge suppressors may not protect these items if lightning hits close to home.
Lightning can strike twice, and often will.
This information was taken from the Tennessee Severe Weather Information Book provided by The National Weather Service and The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
Follow @WilsonSevereWX
No comments:
Post a Comment