.. is nature's circuit breaker. This common atmospheric phenomenon is a flip switch that restores the natural electrical charge. 
At any given moment, a 100 bolts of lightning strike the ground, while cloud-to-cloud strikes happen 10 times more frequently.

Lightning

Lightning occurs when the atmospheric charge between a cloud and the ground or a nearby cloud becomes unbalanced. This process builds up a negative charge on the underside and causes the ground below or cloud to develop a positive charge in response. 
The imbalance of electrical energy increases until a bolt of lightning is released, either from cloud to ground or cloud to cloud, reinstating the electrical balance.

Cause Of Lightning

..that is generated by the bolt of lightning is due to the extreme heat produced, causing the air to super-heat and expand. The resulting sonic wave is heard in a 25-mile radius. Light and sound always go together, with the sound following the light.

The Sound Of Thunder

<ul>
<li>The bolt of lightning is five times hotter than the sun.</li>
<li>It travels in a zigzag pattern at the rate of 200,00 miles per hour.</li>
<li>At about 150 feet before any impact on the ground (or object), the bolt of positive energy (called a streamer) travels upwards at 60,000 miles per second.</li>
<li>About 2000 people are killed every year worldwide by lightning.</li>
</ul>

Facts About Lightning

.. as recommended by the National Weather Service:
<ul>
<li>Seek immediate shelter in a house or a structure with indoor electricity and plumbing. Closed vehicles are also safe.</li>
<li>Do not seek shelter beneath trees or poles.</li>
<li>Avoid metal plumbing or running water</li>
<li>Do not use landline phones or desktop computers, as electricity can travel in the cords. Using mobile phones is safe.</li>
<li>Stay away from doors and windows.</li>
</ul>

Safety Tips During a Thunderstorm

<div>
Lightning is like a giant natural circuit breaker. When the balance in the atmosphere's natural electrical charge becomes overloaded, lightning is what flips nature's switch and restores the balance. These bolts of electricity, which emerge from clouds during thunderstorms, can be dramatic and deadly. 
As atmospheric phenomena go, <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/lightning-warning-signs-3444259">lightning</a> is extremely common. At any given second, 100 bolts of lightning are striking somewhere on the planet. Cloud-to-cloud strikes are five to 10 times more common. Lightning typically occurs during thunderstorms when the atmospheric charge between a storm cloud and the ground or a neighboring cloud becomes unbalanced. As precipitation is generated within the cloud, it builds up a negative charge on the underside.
This causes the ground below or a passing cloud to develop a positive charge in response. The imbalance of energy builds up until a bolt of lightning is released, either from cloud to ground or cloud to cloud, restoring the electrical balance of the atmosphere. Eventually, the storm will pass and the atmosphere's natural equilibrium will be restored. What scientists aren't yet sure of is what causes the spark that triggers the lightning bolt.
When a bolt of lightning is released, it is five times hotter than the sun. It's so hot that when it tears across the sky, it super-heats the surrounding air extremely quickly. The air is forced to expand, causing a sonic wave we call thunder. The thunder generated by a bolt of lightning can be heard as much as 25 miles away. It is not possible to have thunder without lightning.
Lightning typically travels from cloud to ground or cloud to cloud. The lighting you see during a typical summer thunderstorm is called cloud-to-ground. It travels from a storm cloud to the ground in a zigzag pattern at a rate of 200,000 miles per hour. That's way too fast for the human eye to see this jagged trajectory, called a stepped leader.
When the leading tip of the lightning bolt gets within 150 feet of an object on the ground (usually the tallest in the immediate vicinity, like a church steeple or a tree), a bolt of positive energy called a streamer surges upward at 60,000 miles per second. The resulting collision creates the blinding white flash we call lightning.
In the United States, lightning occurs most often in July, typically in the afternoon or evening. Florida and Texas have the most strikes per state, and the Southeast is the region of the country most prone to lightning. People can be struck directly or indirectly. Although the vast majority of people struck by lightning survive, about 2,000 are killed worldwide every year, usually due to cardiac arrest. Those who survive a strike may be left with damage to their cardiac or neurological systems, lesions, or burns. 
When a thunderstorm occurs, you can do some simple things to protect yourself from lightning strikes, whether you're indoors or outside. The <a href="http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/tips.shtml">National Weather Service</a> recommends the following precautions:

<ul>
	<li>
If you're outside, seek immediate shelter. Houses and other substantial structures with indoor electricity and plumbing, which are grounded, are your best option. Vehicles with solid tops (not convertibles) are also grounded and safe.</li>
	<li>
If you are caught outdoors, move to the lowest ground possible. Do not seek shelter beneath trees or other tall objects.</li>
	<li>
Avoid plumbing or running water. Metal pipes for water and sewage are not only excellent conductors of electricity, but the water they carry can be laden with impurities that also help conduct electricity.</li>
	<li>
Don't use landline phones with cords or desktop computers. Electricity can also be transmitted through the wiring of your home. Cordless and mobile phones are safe to use. </li>
	<li>
Stay away from windows and doors. Lightning is a gorgeous sight, especially when arcing across a night sky. But it has been known to strike people after passing through glass or unsealed cracks along doors and windowpanes.</li>
</ul>

</div>

Lightning is like a giant natural circuit breaker. When the balance in the atmosphere's natural electrical charge becomes overloaded, lightning is what flips nature's switch and restores the balance. These bolts of electricity, which emerge from clouds during thunderstorms, can be dramatic and deadly. As atmospheric phenomena go, lightning is extremely common.

What Happens During a Lightning Storm?

Lightning

Cause Of Lightning

The Sound Of Thunder

Facts About Lightning

Safety Tips During a Thunderstorm

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