In honor of Lightning Safety
Awareness week, meteorologists at Environment Canada want to clarify three
common myths about lightning.
·
Myth #1: Lightning never strikes the same place twice. This is completely false. In fact, the CN tower in Canada
gets struck by lightning an average of 75 times per year. So lightning can and
does strike the same place.
·
Myth #2: Lightning only strikes under a storm cloud. Lightning
can strike more than 16 km away from the storm. Its striking distance extends
far beyond the actual lightning storm.
·
Myth #3: Trees are safe hiding places from lightning. They are incredibly unsafe. The safest place to be is
in a fully enclosed building with plumbing and wiring. Another safe option is
in a metal-enclosed vehicle with the windows up.
If thunder is audible, then lightning
is near. It is safest to steer clear of tall objects and seek shelter
immediately. For more information, click here.
To watch Environment Canada’s lightning safety video, click here.
