Latest news with #lightning
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Heat waves bring dangerous and deadly lightning strikes. Here's how to avoid getting struck
Amid the nation's first heat wave of the summer season, lightning killed one honeymooner enjoying the beach in Florida and injured 20 others cooling off on a South Carolina lake. More than 30 people have been injured by such strikes during the course of the past two weeks, according to AccuWeather. Some 20 people are killed by lightning each year in the U.S., and hundreds more are injured. Most of those deaths occur in July and usually over the weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, with the Southeast most at risk. Those who survive strikes can suffer lifelong neurological damage, such as forgetfulness and memory issues, depression, irritability, and personality changes. The result of the build-up and discharge of static electricity in the atmosphere, a strike can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit: a measurement that's five times hotter than the surface of the sun. 'Lightning is a serious summertime safety risk that can injure or tragically kill people who are outdoors,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter warned. With warmer temperatures comes an increased risk of storms that can lead to lightning strikes, and potentially related wildfires. A hotter atmosphere can hold more of the moisture needed for storm formation. So, how do you keep yourself and your loved ones safe this summer? Be weather aware Monitoring the weather is the best way to stay safe! This is especially the case if you're planning any outdoor activities. Lightning can strike up to 30 miles away from a storm, particularly from anvil clouds that are the flat top of a thunderstorm. Whereas, 'cauliflower-looking' cumulonimbus clouds signal a maturing thunderstorm. But, dangerous lightning can happen in any thunderstorm, not just severe thunderstorms. That was the case in South Carolina. 'Conditions went from quiet and calm to a small thunderstorm with multiple lightning strikes within a matter of minutes,' AccuWeather chief on-air meteorologist Bernie Rayno explained. 'As quickly as this storm developed, it weakened and passed by. This was a very small thunderstorm, but it packed a lot of lightning.' If you're outside There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you can hear thunder, you are likely in the range of the storm. Too many people wait too long to get to safety when thunderstorms are approaching. People should have a lightning safety plan, including where to go and how long it will take to get there. Avoid open fields, and hills or ridge tops. Also, stay away from tall, isolated trees and other tall objects. If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members. When lightning strikes the ground, the energy radiates outward. Stay away from water, wet items, and any metal objects. Water and metal are excellent conductors of electricity. Fishing and swimming are some of the deadliest activities for lightning-related deaths. Lastly, don't do the 'lightning crouch', the old recommendation to bend over and curl up into a ball on your toes. The National Lightning Safety Council now says that it only prolongs the risk of being struck. When you're indoors Being inside may not protect you from associated dangers. When lightning strikes a home or building, it often follows the wiring or plumbing, so stay away from anything plugged into an outlet and sinks, showers, and tubs. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe, but do not touch TVs or computers. Lightning generates electric surges that can damage electronic equipment even a distance away from an actual strike. Make sure to stay away from windows or doors. The metal components could provide a pathway for the lightning to enter the home. Lightning can also travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. 'Stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder or flash of lightning, to allow the threat to pass before returning outdoors,' Porter added.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Fireball in the sky over US as suspected meteor rattles Georgia and the Carolinas
A 'fireball' that may have been a meteor burned through the sky on Tuesday just after noon in north Georgia. Reports say the fireball could also be seen from parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. The National Weather Service did not initially recognise what it saw on its radar, said Dylan Lusk, a senior meteorologist at the service's Peachtree City station, as the fireball resembled a lightning strike on the service's global lightning mapper. The Atlanta area has had a spate of strong lightning storms over the last day, which led many to dismiss the boom as more lightning
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
HoneymoonTragedy: Man Dies After Blue Sky Lightning Strike
A honeymoon tragedy. A groom was enjoying a day on the beach with his bride when, out of nowhere, he was hit by lightning in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He was standing in ankle-deep water. 29-year-old Jake Rosencanz fell victim to a phenomenon known as blue sky lightening, a bolt out of a clear blue sky. Rosencanz and his wife Leah lived in Denver. So far this year there have been four deaths due to lightning.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Inside a Florida lab testing how well equipment can withstand lightning strikes
About 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While lightning lasts for less than a second and is only about as thick as a broomstick, it burns hotter than the surface of the sun. Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S., the CDC reports. "So it's a challenge that we have to deal with every single day," said Jack Eble, spokesperson for Florida Power and Light. Inside a lab in Florida, the electric company creates its own bolts. Behind glass, wrapped in a shock-resistant faraday cage and wearing protective goggles, a CBS News crew watched as operator Wiberto Flores tested how many volts three generators could send into a power insulator and still work. "We just put almost 500,000 volts. Three times the rate of the actual insulator," Flores said as he tested how well equipment can withstand the bolts as they become more common due to climate change. Over the past 50 years, Florida has recorded more than 2,000 lightning injuries, the CDC says. "We've seen a lot of things that mother nature has provided FPL over the course of a century now," Eble said. "All these things can happen throughout the year within hurricane season and outside of it." Recent lightning strikes Last week, a lightning bolt killed Jake Rosencraz, 29, on a Florida beach while he was celebrating his honeymoon. "The bolt literally came out of the blue sky and hit this person," said John Gumm, who saw it from his balcony. In New York, a 15-year-old was struck and injured by lightning during a thunderstorm in Manhattan recently. Earlier this week, officials said 20 people were injured when lightning struck Lake Murray in South Carolina. "It was very painful, kind of like a bunch of tasers just go off on you," said Tagen Billiot, who was swimming when she got hit. Safety tips If you're outside, remember this rule: When thunder roars, go indoors. The storm could have given way to blue skies or appear to be far away and still be dangerous. The National Weather Service reminds people no place outside is safe during a thunderstorm and to stay in a safe shelter "at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder." If you are inside, the NWS advises you to stay away from equipment "that puts you in direct contact with electricity." It's also recommended to avoid being near plumbing, windows and doors.
Libya Review
2 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Libya Sends Troops to Italy for Special Operations Training
A new group of Libyan special forces personnel from the Sa'iqa (lightning) and Paratrooper units under the General Staff of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in western Libya has departed for Italy to undergo an eight-month specialised training programme. According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Moral Guidance, the contingent left from Misrata International Airport on Monday. The departure was attended by the Commander of the Special Forces, Brigadier General Mohamed Al-Sadda'i, along with representatives from the Training Directorate, the Libyan-Italian Committee, and Misrata Airbase. This marks the third batch of Libyan special forces to receive such training in Italy, as part of a broader technical agreement between Libya and Italy. The programme focuses on enhancing combat readiness, operational tactics, and airborne capabilities, particularly in special operations and parachute deployment. The Libyan-Italian military cooperation aims to modernise Libya's elite units by providing professional training and logistical support, contributing to the broader goal of restructuring and strengthening Libya's security sector. The training initiative reflects continued collaboration between Tripoli and Rome in areas of defence and capacity building. It also comes amid ongoing efforts by Libyan authorities to professionalise military institutions and align them with international standards, particularly in the wake of years of political fragmentation and conflict.
