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Thunderstorms and Lightning
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Thunderstorms – ALL Thunderstorms
are dangerous! The typical thunderstorm is 15
miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30
minutes. Of the estimated 100,000 thunderstorms
that occur each year in the U.S., about
10 percent are classified as severe. |
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A
thunderstorm that either produces tornadoes, hail over 3/4 inch in diameter, or winds of 58 mph or more is
considered to be severe. Structural wind damage to
property as a result of the storm may also imply the
occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. |
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To estimate of how far away a thunderstorm is:
- Count the number of seconds between a flash of
lightning and the next clap of thunder.
Divide this number by 5 to determine the
distance to the lightning in miles.
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If
you can hear thunder,
you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
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Severe
Thunderstorm Watch - A statement issued by
the National weather Service (NWS) that indicates
thunderstorms are possible in your area (i.e.
conditions are more favorable than usual for severe
storm formation). It is recommended that you plan,
prepare, and increase your thunderstorm awareness;
and be alert for changing weather and approaching
storms. Know which other cities or counties are within
the watch area by listening to NOAA Weather Radio or
your local radio/television stations. Keep an eye on the sky,
and think about what to do if a thunderstorm
materializes.
Click here to see current watch information. |
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Severe Thunderstorm Warning - A statement
issued by the NWS local offices that indicates a
thunderstorm is either imminent, has been reported by
spotters, or is indicated by weather radar. A warning
indicates imminent danger to life and property
in the path of the storm, and that there is a need to
take action to protect life and property.
Lightning – Florida is considered to be the
lighting capital of the United States. Florida also has
the most lightning scorched earth in the United
States. The average
lightning bolt is only one inch in diameter but can
carry as much as 100 million volts and pack heat to
50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (e.g. three times hotter than
the surface of the sun). Lightning can strike more than
once in the same place and can strike up to 25 miles
from a parent storm. It can literally strike “out of the
blue.” |
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Lightning intensity on March 9, 1998,
as a line of thunderstorms raked the state. |
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