000 NOUS41 KBOX 251614 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-261800- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1215 PM EDT MON JUN 25 2012 ...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK... ...LIGHTNING SAFETY OUTDOORS... BASED ON DATA FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS (1982 TO 2011), LIGHTNING HAS KILLED MORE THAN 1600 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, AN AVERAGE OF 54 PEOPLE PER YEAR BASED ON DOCUMENTED CASES. THIS IS LESS THAN THE AVERAGE OF 73 DEATHS PER YEAR CAUSED BY TORNADOES AND MORE THAN THE AVERAGE OF 39 FROM HURRICANES. HOWEVER, BECAUSE LIGHTNING USUALLY CLAIMS ONLY ONE OR TWO VICTIMS AT A TIME, AND BECAUSE LIGHTNING DOES NOT CAUSE THE MASS DESTRUCTION LEFT IN THE WAKE OF TORNADOES OR HURRICANES, LIGHTNING GENERALLY RECEIVES MUCH LESS ATTENTION THAN THE MORE DESTRUCTIVE STORM-RELATED KILLERS. DOCUMENTED LIGHTNING INJURIES IN THE UNITED STATES AVERAGE ABOUT 300 PER YEAR; HOWEVER, UNDOCUMENTED INJURIES CAUSED BY LIGHTNING ARE LIKELY MUCH HIGHER. EACH YEAR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE...AT SPORTS EVENTS...ON THE BEACH...MOUNTAIN CLIMBING...MOWING THE LAWN...OR DURING OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. WHILE 54 PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN A TYPICAL YEAR... SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE ARE LEFT TO COPE WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES. MANY OF THESE TRAGEDIES CAN BE AVOIDED. FINISHING THE GAME... GETTING A TAN...OR COMPLETING A WORK SHIFT ARE NOT WORTH DEATH OR CRIPPLING INJURY. LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES AS MUCH AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM ANY RAINFALL. THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A DOCUMENTED CASE OF LIGHTNING STRIKING 34 MILES AWAY FROM THE RAIN IN THE THUNDERSTORM. SOME LIGHTNING OCCURS WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLOUDS IN THE SKY...JUST BLUE SKY. MANY OF THE LIGHTNING FATALITIES OCCUR AHEAD OF THE STORM BECAUSE PEOPLE TRY AND WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE SEEKING SHELTER. YOU ARE IN DANGER IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...THAT MEANS THAT LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD STRIKE YOUR LOCATION AT ANY MOMENT. ON AVERAGE 20 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS DIE...80 PERCENT SURVIVE BUT 70 PERCENT OF THEM SUFFER SERIOUS LONG-TERM EFFECTS. HERE ARE SOME SAFETY RULES...MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV 1. POSTPONE ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY AND DO NOT WAIT FOR THE RAIN. GO QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING...NOT A CARPORT...OPEN GARAGE...OR COVERED PATIO. IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS AVAILABLE...GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE. THE STEEL FRAME OF THE VEHICLE PROVIDES PROTECTION IF YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING METAL. 2. YOU SHOULD AVOID TREES. IF YOU ARE IN AN OPEN FIELD...LIKE A FARM OR A BASEBALL OR SOCCER FIELD...YOU ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT. DUGOUTS OR GAZEBOS DO NOT AFFORD PROTECTION. WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT...FEAR IT. 3. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY FOR DARKENING CLOUDS AND LISTEN FOR THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT...GO TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS. 4. GET OFF BICYCLES...MOTORCYCLES...AND DO NOT LEAN ON VEHICLES. 5. WATER CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY. GET OUT OF THE WATER IF BOATING OR SWIMMING. GET OFF THE BEACH. DO NOT STAND IN PUDDLES...EVEN IF WEARING RUBBER BOOTS. 6. AVOID METAL. DO NOT HOLD GOLF CLUBS...FISHING RODS...TENNIS RACQUETS...OR TOOLS. LARGE METAL OBJECTS CAN CONDUCT LIGHTNING. SMALL METAL OBJECTS...SUCH AS BELT BUCKLES...CAN CAUSE BURNS. 7. STAY SEVERAL YARDS AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE. DO NOT SHARE A BLEACHER BENCH OR HUDDLE IN A GROUP. 8. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST AND NEXT TO HEAR ANY SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS ABOUT STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. ALSO...TO HEAR IF THE WARNING ALARM TONE IS ACTIVATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL IN ADDITION TO LIGHTNING STRIKES. 9. LISTENING FOR STATIC ON AM RADIO STATIONS CAN ALSO BE A GOOD CLUE TO LIGHTNING IN THE AREA. FINALLY, IN THE UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT A PERSON IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, MEDICAL CARE MAY BE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE THAT PERSON`S LIFE. CARDIAC ARREST AND IRREGULARITIES, AND NERVE DAMAGE ARE COMMON IN CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. HOWEVER, WITH PROPER TREATMENT, INCLUDING CPR IF NECESSARY, MOST VICTIMS SURVIVE A LIGHTNING STRIKE, ALTHOUGH THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BE DEVASTATING. LIGHTNING QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHTNING. ANSWER: LIGHTNING IS A GIANT SPARK OF ELECTRICITY. A TYPICAL LIGHTNING FLASH CONTAINS ABOUT 20,000 AMPS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION VOLTS. THIS COMPARES TO A STANDARD HOUSEHOLD CURRENT OF 15 AMPS AND ABOUT 115 VOLTS. TYPICALLY, A LIGHTNING FLASH IS ONLY 1 TO 2 INCHES WIDE. THE STEP LEADER THAT INITIATES THE LIGHTNING FLASH PROPAGATES DOWNWARD FROM THE CLOUD AT A RATE OF ABOUT 200,000 MILES PER HOUR. THE RETURN STROKE (THE CURRENT THAT CAUSE THE VISIBLE FLASH) MOVES UPWARD AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 200,000,000 MILES PER HOUR (ABOUT 1/3 THE SPEED OF LIGHT). IN COMPARISON, THE SOUND OF THUNDER TRAVELS AT ABOUT 1100 FT PER SECOND OR ABOUT 750 MILES PER HOUR. $$ FIELD 000 NOUS41 KBOX 261422 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-271400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1020 AM EDT TUE JUN 26 2012 ...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES... ...JUNE JULY AND AUGUST TYPICALLY HAVE THE MOST LIGHTNING DEATHS... AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED BECAUSE OF INCREASED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY...THE SUMMER MONTHS HAVE THE HIGHEST RECORDED NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO LIGHTNING. IN A NORMAL YEAR...BASED ON STATISTICS FROM 1982-2011...THERE ARE 12 DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES IN BOTH JUNE AND AUGUST WITH 16 DEATHS IN JULY. AS OF JUNE 26 2012...THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN 4 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR. THIS IS BELOW THE AVERAGE AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS TREND CONTINUES...FROM INCREASED LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS. ON JUNE 8 2012 ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE IN FLORIDA...A 51 YEAR OLD MAN WAS KILLED ON A BOAT WHILE FISHING. ON APRIL 11 2012 IN PONCHATOULA LOUISIANA...A 54 YEAR OLD FATHER AND HIS 33 YEAR OLD SON WERE KILLED WHILE IN A SMALL METAL SHELTER AFTER HAVING BEEN FISHING. ON MARCH 30 2012 IN GREENVILLE ALABAMA... A 12 YEAR OLD BOY WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING WHILE PLAYING UNDER A TREE. LIGHTNING FATALITIES CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE...NOT JUST IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. YESTERDAY...ON JUNE 25 2012...MORE THAN A DOZEN GOLF COURSE EMPLOYEES WERE INJURED IN STONINGTON CONNECTICUT. QUITE FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. AS YOU CAN SEE... THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE IN REAL SITUATIONS. IN MANY CASES...YOU CAN PREVENT BEING STRUCK BY FOLLOWING BASIC LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK. THE ONLY SAFE PLACE IS INDOORS IN A STURDY BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM TREES...FENCES...AND HILLTOPS. IF THERE IS NO BUILDING...THEN TRY TO GET INSIDE A HARD TOPPED AUTOMOBILE...BUT NOT AN UNPROTECTED MOTORCYCLE. IF ON THE WATER...GET TO SHORE WHEN BILLOWING CLOUDS ARE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE...THE STORMS CAN ARRIVE QUICKLY. REMEMBER THESE RULES... WHEN THUNDER ROARS GO INDOORS. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT...FEAR IT. IF YOU CAN SEE IT...FLEE IT. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING OR LIGHTNING SAFETY, VISIT NOAA`S LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEB SITE AT: HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV $$ FIELD 000 NOUS41 KBOX 280350 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-281200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1150 PM EDT WED JUN 27 2012 ...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK - PART 3 - THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING... THE UNITED STATES AVERAGES 73 REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS PER YEAR...WHICH MAKES IT THE SECOND LARGEST STORM RELATED KILLER...EXCEEDED ONLY BY FLASH FLOODS. A LIGHTNING STRIKE CAN RESULT IN CARDIAC ARREST AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY...BUT SOME DEATHS CAN OCCUR A FEW DAYS LATER IF THE PERSON IS RESUSCITATED BUT SUFFERED IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. BECAUSE THIS MAY OCCUR DAYS LATER...THE NEWS STORY MAY NOT MAKE THE NEWSPAPER OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS. THUS...THERE IS AN UNDER REPORTING OF INJURIES AND DEATHS FROM LIGHTNING. THE FIGURES MORE REALISTICALLY ARE ABOUT 100 DEATHS PER YEAR NATIONWIDE. HOW DO LIGHTNING INJURIES AFFECT PEOPLE? LIGHTNING TENDS TO BE A NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY AND MAY AFFECT THE BRAIN AND BOTH AUTONOMIC AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS. WHEN THE BRAIN IS AFFECTED...THE PERSON OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY WITH SHORT-TERM MEMORY...MULTI-TASKING... AND CAN BE IRRITABLE...EASILY DISTRACTED...AND HAVE A PERSONALITY CHANGE. SURVIVORS INITIALLY MAY COMPLAIN OF INTENSE HEADACHES... RINGING IN THE EARS...DIZZINESS...NAUSEA...VOMITING...OR OTHER POST-CONCUSSION TYPES OF SYMPTOMS. IRREGULAR SLEEP PATTERNS MAY OCCUR. SEIZURE-LIKE ACTIVITY MAY OCCUR WEEKS TO MONTHS AFTER THE INJURY. PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP AFTER THE INJURY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND MAY BECOME EMBARRASSED WHEN THEY CANNOT CARRY ON A CONVERSATION. AS A RESULT THEY MAY ISOLATE THEMSELVES AND BECOME EASY TO ANGER. DEPRESSION BECOMES A BIG PROBLEM. SURVIVORS OFTEN BECOME EXHAUSTED AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS OF WORK AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED JOB TASKS. ANOTHER COMMON...OFTEN DELAYED...PROBLEM FOR SOME SURVIVORS IS INTENSE PAIN. THE PAIN MAY NOT BE FROM HEADACHES BUT IN THE BACK...PERHAPS FROM COMPRESSION AND DISC INJURY FROM THE INTENSE MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS WHICH MAY THROW A PERSON SEVERAL YARDS AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY. THE PAIN MAY ALSO OCCUR IN AN EXTREMITY...AS NERVES BEGIN TO SLOWLY REGENERATE. DECREASED LIBIDO AND IMPOTENCE OFTEN ARE REPORTED. ANATOMIC TESTING...SUCH AS AN X-RAY...CT SCAN...MRI...OR BLOOD TEST OFTEN SHOW UP AS NORMAL. SOMETIMES FUNCTIONAL TESTS ORDERED ARE TESTING THE WRONG THING. AN ELECTROMYOGRAM...OR EMG...MEASURES ONLY THE MOTOR FIBERS...WHICH ARE SELDOM AFFECTED BY LIGHTNING INJURY. SMALLER PAIN CARRYING NERVE FIBERS ARE NOT TESTED BY EMG. THUS A NORMAL EMG RESULT CAN MEAN LITTLE FOR SOMEONE WITH PAIN. LIKEWISE... THE STANDARD EEG PRIMARILY MEASURES SURFACE READINGS OF THE BRAIN AND MISSES SEIZURE ACTIVITY IN SEVERAL DEEPER REGIONS. MORE USEFUL IS A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF HOW A PERSON/S BRAIN IS WORKING...NEUROCOGNITIVE OR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. THESE TESTS ARE ADMINISTERED BY A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST FAMILIAR WITH LITERATURE IN THIS AREA...NOT BY A PSYCHIATRIST. THESE ARE PEN AND PAPER TESTS LASTING 6 TO 8 HOURS AND TEST MEMORY...IQ...ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY... ETC. LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS USUALLY HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC PATTERN OF DEFICITS. HELP DOES EXIST FOR LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS AND PHYSICIANS ALIKE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB...GO TO WWW.LIGHTNING-STRIKE.ORG OR CALL 1-910-346-4708. $$ FIELD 000 NOUS41 KBOX 281139 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-291200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 739 AM EDT THU JUN 28 2012 ...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK - PART 4 - INDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY... A HOUSE OR OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING OFFERS THE BEST PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING. IN ASSESSING THE SAFETY PROVIDED BY A PARTICULAR STRUCTURE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE STRUCTURE IS STRUCK...RATHER THAN WHETHER THE STRUCTURE WILL BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. THE SHELTER MUST PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR CONDUCTING THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT FROM THE POINT OF CONTACT TO THE GROUND. THESE MECHANISMS MAY BE THE OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE...MAY BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE STRUCTURE...OR MAY BE A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. ON THE OUTSIDE...LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE OUTER SHELL OF THE BUILDING OR FOLLOW METAL DOWNSPOUTS AND GUTTERS TO THE GROUND. INSIDE...LIGHTNING CAN FOLLOW ELECTRICAL WIRING...PLUMBING...AND TELEPHONE LINES TO THE GROUND. MANY SMALL OPEN SHELTERS ON ATHLETIC FIELDS...GOLF COURSES...PARKS... ROADSIDE PICNIC AREAS...SCHOOLYARDS...ETC. ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM RAIN AND SUN BUT NOT LIGHTNING. A SHELTER THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN PLUMBING OR WIRING THROUGHOUT OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM FOR GROUNDING FROM THE ROOF TO GROUND IS NOT SAFE. THESE SHOULD BE AVOIDED DURING THUNDERSTORMS. SIMILARLY...STAY OFF PORCHES. THERE ARE THREE MAIN WAYS THAT LIGHTNING ENTERS HOMES OR BUILDINGS... 1) A DIRECT STRIKE...2) THROUGH WIRES AND PIPES THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE...3) THROUGH THE GROUND. ONCE IN THE STRUCTURE...THE LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL THROUGH ELECTRICAL...PHONE...PLUMBING...AND RADIO/TELEVISION RECEPTION SYSTEMS. IT CAN ALSO TRAVEL THROUGH ANY METAL WIRES OR BARS IN CONCRETE WALLS OR FLOORING. WHEN INDOORS DURING A STORM...STAY OFF CORDED PHONES. LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES IN BOTH PHONE AND ELECTRICAL WIRES. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS SINCE THESE PROVIDE A DIRECT PATH FOR LIGHTNING TO ENTER. DO NOT LIE ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF A GARAGE AS IT LIKELY CONTAINS A WIRE MESH. IN GENERAL...BASEMENTS ARE SAFE BUT AVOID CONTACT WITH CONCRETE WALLS WHICH MAY CONTAIN METAL REINFORCING BARS. DO NOT DO LAUNDRY SINCE WASHERS AND DRYERS NOT ONLY HAVE CONTACTS WITH PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BUT THEY ALSO CONTAIN AN ELECTRICAL PATH TO THE OUTSIDE THROUGH THE DRYER VENT. DO NOT WASH YOUR HANDS...DO NOT WASH DISHES...DO NOT TAKE SHOWERS...SINCE THEY CONNECT TO PLUMBING. TYPICAL SURGE PROTECTORS DO NOT PROTECT EQUIPMENT FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE. DO NOT UNPLUG ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DURING A STORM. THAT SHOULD BE DONE WELL BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES. IF YOU PLAN TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR HOME WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...BE SURE TO UNPLUG UNNEEDED EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU LEAVE. $$ FIELD 000 NOUS41 KBOX 291436 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-301400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1034 AM EDT FRI JUN 29 2012 ...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES ...THE SCIENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE... AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THERE ARE 1800 THUNDERSTORMS IN PROGRESS SOMEWHERE ON THE EARTH...WHICH AMOUNTS TO 16 MILLION THUNDERSTORMS EACH YEAR! LIGHTNING RESEARCHERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TODAY OF THE PROCESS THAT PRODUCES LIGHTNING...BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOLAR FLARES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE...THE EARTH/S ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD...AND ICE IN STORMS. WE KNOW THE CLOUD CONDITIONS NEEDED TO PRODUCE LIGHTNING BUT CANNOT FORECAST THE LOCATION OR TIME OF THE NEXT STROKE OF LIGHTNING. LIGHTNING OCCURS IN VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS...INTENSE FOREST FIRES... SURFACE NUCLEAR DETONATIONS...HEAVY SNOWSTORMS...AND LARGE HURRICANES...BUT IT IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THUNDERSTORMS. THUNDERSTORMS FORM IN AIR THAT IS MOIST...UNSTABLE...AND HAS A TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THE AIR TO RISE...SUCH AS A COLD FRONT. RISING MOTIONS IN THE STORM BUILD THE CLOUD TO AS HIGH AS 6 TO 10 MILES ABOVE SEA LEVEL. ICE FORMS IN THE HIGHER PARTS OF THE CLOUD. THE ICE PARTICLES VARY FROM SMALL ICE CRYSTALS TO LARGE HAILSTONES. THERE ARE A LOT OF COLLISIONS BETWEEN THE PARTICLES WHICH CAUSES A SEPARATION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES. POSITIVELY CHARGED ICE CRYSTALS RISE TO THE TOP OF THE STORM AND NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES AND HAILSTONES DROP TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER PARTS OF THE STORM. ENORMOUS CHARGE DIFFERENCES DEVELOP. A MOVING THUNDERSTORM GATHERS ANOTHER POOL OF POSITIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES ALONG THE GROUND THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STORM. POSITIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES RISE UP TALLER OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES...HOUSES... AND TELEPHONE POLES. THE PARTICLES CAN EVEN MOVE UP YOU...HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNDER A THUNDERSTORM AND HAD YOUR HAIR STAND UP? IF SO... YOU MAY BE THE LIGHTNING TARGET. THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA IN THE STORM SENDS OUT A CHARGE TOWARD THE GROUND CALLED A STEPPED LEADER. IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE. WHEN IT GETS CLOSE TO THE GROUND...IT IS ATTRACTED BY ALL OF THESE POSITIVELY CHARGED OBJECTS AND A CHANNEL DEVELOPS. YOU SEE THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER IN THIS CHANNEL AS LIGHTNING. THERE MAY BE SEVERAL RETURN STROKES OF ELECTRICITY WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED CHANNEL THAT YOU WILL SEE AS FLICKERING LIGHTNING. THE LIGHTNING CHANNEL HEATS RAPIDLY TO 30000 DEGREES OR MORE AND THE RAPID EXPANSION OF HEATED AIR CAUSES THE THUNDER. SINCE LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND IN THE ATMOSPHERE...THE SOUND IS HEARD AFTER THE LIGHTNING. IF YOU SEE LIGHTNING AND HEAR THUNDER AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME...THE LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! NOT ALL LIGHTNING FORMS IN THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA LOW IN THE THUNDERSTORM CLOUD. SOME ORIGINATES IN THE CIRRUS ANVIL AT THE TOP OF THE STORM WHERE THERE IS A LARGE POSITIVE CHARGE. A STRIKE ORIGINATING IN THIS AREA IS CALLED A POSITIVE FLASH. IT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS. IT FREQUENTLY STRIKES AHEAD OF OR BEHIND A THUNDERSTORM...AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA...THUS CATCHING PEOPLE BY SURPRISE...LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. POSITIVE STRIKES TYPICALLY LAST LONGER...SO FIRES ARE MORE EASILY IGNITED. ALSO...THEY USUALLY CARRY A HIGH PEAK ELECTRICAL CURRENT WHICH INCREASES THE LIGHTNING RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL. $$ FIELD