It’s safe if you’re caught outside to crouch down or lay down on the ground to prevent being struck by lightning, right? Wrong! Laying down on the ground makes you more susceptible to a deadly ground current and crouching doesn’t do any good either. The best option is to quickly move to a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle.
Wednesday’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week focuses on lightning safety.
Did you know there doesn’t have to be storm clouds overhead to have lightning strike near you? Lightning can strike more than 3 miles from the center of a thunderstorm. In fact the Kennedy Space Center has reported lightning more than 90 miles from a thunderstorm..
“When thunder roars, go indoors” is the National Weather Service’s thunderstorm safety message. The NWS has lots of great information on lightning safety including a cute presentation by Dr. Lightning, how to safe indoors & outdoors and when participating in recreational/sporting activities.
(Some of this information and the graphic have been provided by the National Weather Service.)