One of my good friends was struck by lightning several years ago. Getting struck by lightning is one of my biggest trepidations. It's probably in part because I live in Florida, a place many consider the Lightning Capital of the United States. Florida ranks number one in lightning deaths -- where 10 to 13 people are killed by lightning each year and 30 are injured. … [Read more...]
Thundersnow (a.k.a. Snow Lightning & Thunder) – When, Where & Why Does It Happen?
Have you heard of thundersnow? Or, should I say... Have you heard thundersnow? Thunder snow is an alarming phenomena that occurs when lightning (which causes thunder) strikes during a snowstorm. Many people don't usually associate lightning with snowstorms -- which is not surprising. After all, thundersnow is relatively rare. … [Read more...]
31 Deadly Weather Facts + A List Of The Most Dangerous Weather Events
I love finding interesting weather facts. The ones that I'm going to share with you in this post (unfortunately) have nothing to do with pretty rainbows, awesome sun dogs, amazing clouds, or beautiful sunsets. These facts cover some of the most dangerous and deadly weather conditions that many of us face each year. I'm talking about rain, snow, cold snaps, heat waves, lightning, hail, strong winds, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other deadly forces of nature! … [Read more...]
Have You Ever Used A Lightning Map? These Cool Lightning Strike Maps Show You Where Lightning Is Happening Nearby
It was storming one afternoon when I decided to look for something that might help me find out how close the lightning bolts were outside. (They were really close... and the thunder was deafening!) I surfed the Internet on my mobile device and soon found a lightning strike map that gave me virtually real-time information on where the lightning was striking. I was testing the lightning map during the storm just to see how accurate it was. Wow... it was reporting nearby lightning … [Read more...]
Lightning Safety Tips: 5 Ways To Stay Alive When Lightning Strikes
Lightning isn't just a startling light show in the sky. It's a potentially dangerous natural phenomenon that has injured and killed many people over the years. Don't let lightning strikes catch you off guard! The Dangers Of Lightning Strikes Lightning dangers go beyond injuries and death to humans. Animals are also frequent lightning victims. Buildings can be severely damaged by lightning strikes, many times catching on fire. Forest fires are also often sparked by … [Read more...]
What To Do If Lightning Strikes Your Car
Being on the road in a car while lightning is flashing all around me is something I don't think much about when it's happening, given that I was born and raised in Florida, a state historically known as the Lightning Capital of the World. But, I have always wondered what would happen if lightning were to hit my car while I was driving. How do I stay safe in that situation? I have grown up hearing that cars are generally a safe place to be during a thunderstorm, and that lightning really can’t … [Read more...]
Free Online Weather Calculators To Convert Weather Terms And Numbers Into Meaningful Information
Need to convert degrees from Fahrenheit temperature to Celcius -- or vice versa? Are you looking for the Kelvin temperature? Wonder what the wind chill is outside? Or how close you are to lightning? The following online weather calculators are FREE! There are even some fun weather calculators in here -- like the Crickets Chirping Calculator. Did you know that you can tell the temperature by entering the number of cricket chirps you hear, and the season? Simply plug in the … [Read more...]
How Hot Is Lightning Temperature? The Answer May Shock You!
So, how hot is lightning? Believe it or not, lightning temperature readings are nearly off the charts. At around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, lightning is actually hotter than the surface of the sun! Lighting Fun Fact: Around the world, lightning strikes about 1,000 times a second. Still, even if lightning hit your car, you will be safe, as long as you are protected within a fully enclosed vehicle (not a convertible or golf cart). Check out this video to see a single lightning … [Read more...]
What Is Heat Lightning?
You've probably seen heat lightning -- those far off flickers of light miles away up in the clouds. But did you know that heat lightning is really just ordinary lightning that is too far away for you to hear thunder from? True! Lightning doesn't ordinarily travel well beyond 10 to 12 miles, but you can easily see lightning flashes up in the clouds from over 50 miles away. That's why you can't always hear thunder when you see heat lightning. So why do we call it heat lightning? The answer is … [Read more...]
How To Avoid Getting Struck By Lightning Whether You’re Inside Or Outdoors
Getting struck by lightning is no joke. Here's what happens when people and lightning converge. Being struck by lightning is a serious -- and sometimes deadly -- reality for hundreds of people in the United States each year. Don't become a statistic. Protect yourself. … [Read more...]
