Lightning facts and myths

Fiction. Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur more than 16 km away from a storm. If you can hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck by lightning and should take shelter immediately. Remain sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.

Partly fact, mostly fiction. Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning. The lightning strike between the cloud and the ground has potentially traveled thousands of meters through thin air, therefore rubber soled footwear or tires are inconsequential.

However, the metal shell of a car provides a pathway for the lightning strike to flow around the vehicle provided the car has a hardtop metal roof (not a convertible). Although such vehicles do not offer you absolute protection from lightning, you and others are much safer inside a car with your hands on your lap, than outside.

Fiction. Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and therefore can and should be attended to immediately.

Fiction. "Heat-lightning" is actually just lightning from a thunderstorm that is too far away for thunder to be heard. This does mean however that the storm may be moving in your direction.

On some occasions, lightning from a line of thunderstorms may remain mostly in the air and not touch the ground, but this situation can change rapidly and you should seek shelter immediately when lightning is present.

Fiction: 20% of lightning deaths occur from people sheltering under a tree or under an open gazebo. While it may provide some relief from the rain, it is a very dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm. A building or a vehicle is a much safer and drier option.