Lightning!

[John47]

A bolt out of the blue! Ever heard of that saying before??? I like many others get to shelter when a storm is approaching, but how many realised lightning can hit you from a clear blue sky??
I most certainly didn't until this morning, a self employed landscaper was hit in the head by lightning, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! Apparently, this is NOT a rare instance either! Several miles away was a large storm, thats where the "dry strike" came from.
So beware, when there are storms in your area pay attention!

 

[John47]

Here's the story, but I heard it on the weather channel.

________________________________________________________

andscaper killed by lightning strike
The Associated Press
Related Content

* MiamiHerald.com - Miami & Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Dolphins & More

MIAMI --
A landscaper was fatally struck by lightning Thursday, authorities said.

David Canales, 44, was hit while working on the front lawn of a home in the affluent suburb of Pinecrest about 1 p.m., Lt. Elkin Sierra, a spokesman for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

It was not raining at the time.

Canales was taken to South Miami Hospital where he died.
Information from: The Miami Herald, MiamiHerald.com - Miami & Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Dolphins & More

 

[horse7]

There was a lightning strike on bare grassy ground close to a paddock fence line (wooden), about 20-25M from a barn on a rise -- maybe 15M peak to the top of the barn.

Clear open ground, overcast with some thunderstorms in the area but not raining and no obvious cell overhead. Ridges on both sides of the open ground, flat and open maybe 100M wide. Strike left a fused spot with 6 dead grass "points" going out.

I know the NFPA codes, but regardless of that one would think the ridges provide some protection.... nope.

And I used to walk along that fence line any old time!

 

[HappyCPE]

The Weather Underground website has a lightning strike locator associated with the Nexrad radar views. Lots of times it shows lightning strikes in places miles away from a storm front or thunderstorm. I think anyone working outdoors should check the weather as often as they are able, partly to plan your work and partly for safety.
Welcome to The Weather Underground : Weather Underground

 

[LoneCowboy]

I just love being out on the big wide open grass field on a metal tractor and being by far the tallest thing out there when the afternoon thunderstorms roll thru.

Not.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Simple moving air can generate a static charge causing lighting to strike on a clear day (out of the blue).

One unlucky lady living in FLA was struck on two separate occasions out of the blue so she moved to SC. Yep she got hit a third time in SC & last that I read she was recovering.

There are lightning detectors available which are like AM radios that detect distant lightning strikes & are used for safety at outdoor activities.

People who have been near lightning strikes report first the feeling of static electricity like a tingling or their hair standing up. If you can't get to shelter (not under a tree) it is recommended to squat down feet together & hands not on the ground trying to present only one point of contact with the ground. Not much protection but probably better than nothing.

 

[ToadHill]

Cowboy, Take a 1 iron with you on the tractor. As Lee Trovino said, "Even God can't hit a 1 iron"

 

[Redbug]

Here's a neat lightning detector I highly recommend. It's the size of a pager, and will let you know what way the storm is moving.

Strike Alert II Personal Lightning Detector from StrikeAlert - Strike Alert Lightning Detector

 

[Amontilado]

A bolt out of the blue! Ever heard of that saying before??? I like many others get to shelter when a storm is approaching, but how many realised lightning can hit you from a clear blue sky??
I most certainly didn't until this morning, a self employed landscaper was hit in the head by lightning, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! Apparently, this is NOT a rare instance either! Several miles away was a large storm, thats where the "dry strike" came from.
So beware, when there are storms in your area pay attention!

This is why we head to safety when we hear the rumbles. The storm may not be "overhead", but if it's near enough for the leader and step-leader to make contact, completing the circuit, lightning will happen. As for out of a clear blue sky, unless a higher power is involved, there is a thunderstorm in the neighborhood for lightning. Unforetunately, there are those whose "sphere of reality" is a cylinder with a diameter of about 10-20 feet, those are the ones who are hit "out of the blue".

Steve