“Lightning does not strike a point, it strikes an area,” said John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service. “The physical flash you see strikes a point, but that lightning is radiating out as ground current and it’s very deadly.”

[–] AugustWest@lemm.ee 33 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (18 children)

That's interesting. I have seen lightning split a tree and then follow wires into a house blowing out the wall all long the path of the wires. I have also seen it lift up decking when following underground wires.

But if lightning hits with no lightning rod and ground is equally everywhere I guess I could imagine this result.

[–] pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I read somewhere that the induced electical field shift near a lightning strike is - while orders of magnitude calmer than the strike itself - still powerful enough to burn, maim and kill.

I think it's what Wikipedia calls "side splash" in the article on lightning injury?

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 months ago

i mean there's also the large amount of plasma which is very hot

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