What causes an electrical storm?
In an electrical storm, the storm clouds are charged like giant capacitors in the sky. The newly knocked-off electrons gather at the lower portion of the cloud, giving it a negative charge. The rising moisture that has just lost an electron carries a positive charge to the top of the cloud.
What do you do in an electrical storm?
Stay at least a few feet away from open windows, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, electric boxes and outlets, and appliances. Lightning can flow through them and “jump” to a person. Do not shower or take a bath during a thunder or lightning storm. Avoid using regular, land-line telephones, except in an emergency.
How common are electrical storms?
Cloud-to-ground lightning bolts are a common phenomenon—about 100 strike Earth’s surface every single second—yet their power is extraordinary.
Are electrical storms bad?
Positive lightning is particularly dangerous,because it frequently strikes away from the rain core, either ahead or behind the thunderstorm. It can strike as far as 5 or 10 miles (8 or 16 kilometers) from the storm, in areas that most people do not consider to be a lightning-risk area.
What are the dangers of an electrical storm?
Electrical storms may include hail. This type of storm can be potentially dangerous. Damaging winds, heavy rain, snow or hail can cause a lot of damage to property as well as injuries to people and animals. Lightning can strike a person but more often causes fire when it strikes homes or trees.
How is lightning related to an electrical storm?
An electrical storm is more commonly known as a thunder or lightning storm. It may or may not present thunder, but lightning can still occur in the absence of thunder. Thunder is a direct result of lightning and occurs as clouds are separated and rejoin during an electrical storm.
What happens to clouds during an electrical storm?
Thunder is a direct result of lightning and occurs as clouds are separated and rejoin during an electrical storm. In addition to thunder and lightning, this type of storm may also include wind, hail, rain or snow.
How is the intensity of an electrical storm related?
The strength or intensity of the electric field is directly related to the amount of charge buildup in the cloud. As the collisions and freezing continue to occur and the charges at the top and bottom of the cloud increase, the electric field becomes more and more intense — so intense, in fact,…
