Electrical storms - how dangerous are they?

An electrical storm isn't the most dangerous of disasters, but it can still cause a lot of damage to homes, start fires and even kill people in the right situations.

In an electrical storm (also known as thunder storms), the storm clouds are charged like giant capacitors in the sky.  The upper portion of the cloud is positive and the lower portion is negative.

Thunderstorms can form and develop in any geographic location but most frequently within the mid-latitude, where warm, moist air from tropical latitudes collides with cooler air from polar latitudes. 

Thunderstorms are responsible for the development and formation of many severe weather phenomena.

Thunderstorms, and the phenomena that occur along with them, pose great hazards.

Damage that results from thunderstorms is mainly inflicted by downburst winds, large hailstones, and flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

While thunder itself is not usually dangerous, except in extremely rare circumstances, thunderstorms are, because they are associated with lightning, which can be highly dangerous.

If you see a thunderstorm approaching, try to take cover indoors and avoid using the phone or other electrical appliances while staying well clear of the windows.

What should I do if I am caught outside during a lightning storm?

Move to a low point.  Lightning hits the tallest available object, so get down low in a crouched position if you are in an exposed area.
Stay away from trees.

Avoid metal.  Don't hold onto metal items like bats, golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets, or tools.  Stay away from metal sheds, clotheslines, poles, and fences.

Stay away from water, including pools, lakes, puddles, and anything damplike grass.

Don't stand close to other people.  Spread out.

Don't leave electrical safety to chance Contact Simon Caddy Electrical today by calling 0400 110081 for a no obligation consultation.

We are an electrical business specialising in general electrical, data, communications TV antennas and much more - we service the Upper North Shore area including Berowra, Hornsby, Wahroonga, Pymble, Turramurra, Killara, Lindfield, Roseville, Chatswood, Gordon and down to North Sydney.