Lightning Safety Awareness Week!

I'm sure you have heard this before... When you hear or see lightning, seek shelter immediately. Lightning is not something to mess around with. One strike of lightning has enough power to run a light bulb for a year. And on top of how much power it generates form one strike, lightning is 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit!  

I'll give you a small lesson on lightning. It all starts with a Cumulonimbus cloud (Thunderstorm cloud) has different charges within the cloud. There are protons or a positive charge at the top of the cloud. And there is electrons or a negative charge at the bottom of the cloud. Then the ground is mostly positively charged. The opposite charges within the cloud and on the ground creates lightning. This lightning will actually pass through a channel that was made through the air multiple times. Which is why you see multiple flashes of light sometimes. Lightning also looks for the shortest distance to the opposite charge which is why tall buildings and trees are struck by lightning more often then something lower to the ground.


Photo/ Info From:
nws.gov
britannica.com
theatlantic.com