An average of 67 people a year in the United States die after being hit by lightning, and more than 300 are injured. Angela Oder with the National Weather Service says if you’re planning on being outside, it’s smart to check the weather forecast. Even when you’re taking part in activities, Oder says you should keep an eye to the sky and watch for darkening skies and increasing winds.
Oder says if a thunderstorm’s approaching, use the 30-30 rule — after you see the bolt of lightning, if you can’t count to thirty before you hear the thunder, you should head for shelter because she says you’re in danger of being struck by a bolt of lightning.
Oder says an old do-it-yourself technique to tell how far away you are from a lightning strike will work fairly well. When you see lightning, count how many seconds pass before you hear the thunder and divide that number of seconds by five. If you see a strike and count to fifteen before the thunder rolls, divide that fifteen by five, and assume you’re three miles from where the lightning struck. If that thirty-thirty rule indicates you’re less than ten miles from that lightning, it’s time to seek shelter immediately.
This is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week designated by the National Weather Service.
Related web sites:
Info on lightning strikes
