Thunderstorms are here again and Brabant will know that too. As in the rest of the country, code yellow will apply on Thursday due to thunderstorms: the start of the thunderstorm season. Now we all know that we shouldn’t stand under a tree when it’s thunderstorms. But there are many thunderstorm hazards or safety precautions that are much less well known – or just not right at all.
The car, dangerous or not?
If there’s a thunderstorm, you should always go inside – unless you’re on open water, because then you’ll need to get ashore as soon as possible. But what do you do if you are not near a building? Then it is best to sit in your car.
The metal body of a car conducts lightning through the tires to the ground after an impact. This principle is called a Faraday cage in physics. The lightning is then guided around the occupants.
To discharge or not to discharge?
This works best by far if the entire body is made of metal. A convertible often has a plastic roof and therefore conducts the electricity less well. Incidentally, after an impact it is not necessary to unload the car against, for example, the crash barrier.
That is a persistent myth: after the impact, a car is actually discharged almost immediately. There are several videos on YouTube to find of cars that are struck by lightning without the occupants benefiting from it.
To shower or not to shower during a thunderstorm?
This point is sometimes laughed at. As if it’s outdated science. However, the reality is that showering during a thunderstorm can be absolutely dangerous.
The chance that lightning will strike you at that moment is very small (the chance of being struck by lightning in the Netherlands is only 1 in 2 million anyway), but the can well. Since tap water naturally conducts electricity and electricity can travel through pipes, this can have serious consequences.
In fact, that applies to all tap water. It is also best to wait until after the storm to do the dishes in the kitchen or to wash your hands.
Lying down or squatting?
squat. Yes, we’ve all learned that lightning travels the fastest way to Earth. That is why you should never stand near high objects such as light poles or trees. Still, lying down is no better than squatting. When you lie down, your contact surface with the ground is larger.
That is dangerous: when lightning goes through the ground, lightning makes its way through your entire body. Squatting and putting your feet together makes you relatively small and allows tension to work its way through your body more easily.