Why crouch during lightning

At the same time, upward electrical channels rise from the earth Hehehe -- that was funny mainstreeter! I could use more tips on recognizing storm systems from a distance that look to have lightning potential. Once, hiking near Teanaway, we decided to return to the car after having been checking the plants blooming near a fire lookout.

And in the 30 - 45 minutes it took us to drive back down the mtn a torrent of rain and lightning strikes on either side of I90 started booming. I was so grateful we'd left when we had, but sheepish I hadn't made the connection to the weather visible to the West. Cliff, you forgot the most obvious parallel to your story. Forty Years ago - to the day - Joan Baez performed at Woodstock where the Lightening conditions and concerns were identical. Once when I was solo backpacking in the Great Basin a large thunderstorm began to move closer and closer.

I was in flat sagebrush country, no trees, no low places apart from small, shallow, dry gullies. I ended up quickly hiking back to a small meadow along a stream with rock outcrops rising on both sides and crouched in my tent as the storm arrived and boomed and slung large hailstones for Oregon that is. I get really scared when I'm alone backpacking and a storm comes!

I probably shouldn't have been in my tent, but I really did NOT want to see the lightning and get more frightened. What would have been the best place to be in? Between rock outcrops in a tiny "valley"? Crouching in the open? I'm sure it will happen again because it scares me so much. Please make sure your comments are civil. Name calling and personal attacks are not appropriate. My new podcast is out, and I go into detail about the origins of Northwest flooding and describe the VERY active weather that is expected o August 13, Lightning, the "Crouch", and Joan Baez.

I got a call yesterday from one of the organizers of the Joan Baez concert at the Woodland Park Zoo that was held tonight in Seattle. He was worried--the National Weather Service was forecasting showers and thunderstorms during the evening. Thousands of people would be out in the open Sounds like the scene of some disaster movie!

How could he keep these people safe? How could they tell whether lightning was approaching? The National Weather Service forecast was for showers and some lightning rolled in late in the afternoon. Their forecast was excellent and the concert started out on the damp side with lots of showers. Here are some of the things I told him. If you are outdoors in lightning and can't get to safety you need to do two things. First, get away from any tall object--it will attract the lighting.

Trees, towers, hills, you name it. It doesn't have to be metal. Just tall. Get at least ft away if you can. Well if lightning hits an object.. Or the lightning can jump from a branch directly to you. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants.

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Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Reducing surface contact with the ground or object will reduce the power of the strike.

Home Advice Safety Thunder and lightning. Here are some safety tips to reduce the risks: Plan ahead. Always check the weather forecast before starting a walk. If storms are forecast, consider cancelling the walk or altering the route to one at a lower elevation, or on less exposed ground.

Be especially cautious after a prolonged period of high humidity. Monitor the weather. If you don't put your heels together, lightning could go through your heart and possibly kill you. The lightning crouch is not as easy to do as it looks. If you have a back pack on, like in the picture, you might want to slip it off.

I suggest that you practice doing it with your family, friends and teachers.