Studies indicate that certain trees are zapped by lightning more than others. Oaks are by far the most likely trees to be hit. Other trees that seem to be common targets include elm, ash, yellow poplar, and pine.
Certain types of trees are more likely to be struck by lightning, including Ash, Black Locust, Hemlock, Oak, Pine and Tulip Poplar. Damage from lightning can be prevented using a Lightning Protection System. This system safely handles the strike and conducts the electrical energy to the earth.
For example, if the number of ground strikes per square mile per year is 15, and tree height above its surroundings is 60 feet, then the estimated number of years between strikes to the tree would be 18 years. The inverse of 18 is the annual probability of a lightning strike on the tree, or 0.056 (5.6% per year).
Whether inside or outside, anyone in contact with anything connected to metal wires, plumbing, or metal surfaces that extend outside is at risk. This includes anything that plugs into an electrical outlet, water faucets and showers, corded phones, and windows and doors.
Holly (Ilex sp.) and hazel (Corylus avellana) In Norse mythology, holly and hazel also belonged to Thor the Thunderer, and were thought to protect people from his thunderbolts. Holly trees were planted a little distance from homes to attract lightning strikes away from the house.
Some of the signs that a tree was hit by lightning include: Split bark or cracked wood. Hanging branches. Blackened areas that look burned.
Lightning is attracted to the ground and clouds. You may have been brought up to believe that what attracts lightning is holding or wearing metal, and this is actually false.
According to the National Weather Service, 31 people have died after being struck by lightning so far in 2016. While the number is higher than normal, an odd trend continues: there are six times more more men than women killed.
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the place on Earth that receives the most lightning strikes. Massive thunderstorms occur on 140-160 nights per year with an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute lasting up to 10 hours at a time. That's as many as 40,000 lightning strikes in one night!
The North and South Poles and the areas over the oceans have the fewest lightning strikes.
Not all trees that have been hit by lightning are doomed. Many can survive, especially if only one side of the tree shows signs of damage. However, all trees will be stressed after lightning damage, so prepare to give your tree a little extra care and attention for a while.
If the wood has splintered considerably and large sections of the tree are missing then, you will need to remove the tree from your property. Professional services will safely cut down the tree. Stump removal processes will help remove the whole trunk and ensure all elements of the tree are removed.
Many slender coniferous trees like cedar, white spruce, pines, and older willows are highly susceptible to this type of damage during a storm.
Strikes can be up to a million volts, generating temperatures up to 20,000℃. For a tree unlucky enough to be hit by one of these events, it's all over. The sap inside the tree instantly turns to steam, which can cause it to literally explode, or lose great strips of wood and bark.
literally. A homeowner in Clarkston, Washington, was shocked to discover that lightning can in fact strike the same place twice -- in this case the tree in her garden.
The lake attracts thousands of lightning bolts per night. Lake Maracaibo has a unique geography and climatology ideal for the development of thunderstorms. The lake holds the Guinness World Record for the place with the highest concentration of lightning.
When lightning strikes, most of electrical discharge occurs near the water's surface. Most fish swim below the surface and are unaffected. Although scientists don't know exactly just how deep the lightning discharge reaches in water, it's very dangerous to be swimming or boating during a thunderstorm.
Thunderstorms help transfer the negative charges back to Earth (lightning is generally negatively charged). Without thunderstorms and lightning, the earth-atmosphere electrical balance would disappear in 5 minutes. Lightning also makes ozone-producing chemicals.
What Are The Chances Of Getting Struck By Lightning? So in pure statistics, the odds of any particular person getting struck by lightning are relatively low – around 100 people in Australia are injured by lightning each year, making your odds about 4 in a million.
When You See Lightning, Count The Time Until You Hear Thunder. If That Is 30 Seconds Or Less, The Thunderstorm Is Close Enough To Be Dangerous – Seek Shelter (if you can't see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule). Wait 30 Minutes Or More After The Lightning Flash Before Leaving Shelter.
The taller, more pointed, and isolated a structure, the more lightning will be attracted to it. It's also a myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice – it absolutely does and with greater frequency when the three conditions (height, pointy shape, isolation) are met.
The safest location during a thunderstorm is inside a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. These include shopping centers, schools, office buildings, and private residences.
Stay off corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are okay. Do NOT use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers or other electronic equipment. Stay out of the shower and away from other plumbing.