Where Does Lightning Come From?

According to the science history books, the lightning rod was first invented by Benjamin Franklin way back in 1749. He was able to found out that lightning rod can actually attract lightning. And if used in the right and proper way, it can serve safety purposes. In fact, scientist had already considered lightning rods as the best protection against lightning strikes.

How does a lightning rod work?

A lightning rod consist of a long metallic pole with pointy end projecting straight upward into the sky. The suggested thickness of the rod should be around 2 cm in diameter. As for the length, most commercial products only have 10 to 12 inches long but actually, the longer-the better.

The other end of the rod must be properly connected in to a high-voltage copper or aluminum cable wires. These wires are also connected into a "Conducive Grid" (responsible for dissipating the lightning's powerful electricity) buried deep down the ground.

System of the Lightning Rod

Since lightning rod attracts lightning, its system is well designed by engineers to withstand the highest electrical currents that a lightning can induce. Even the wires are made of specialized conducting materials that won't easily get burned.

Attracting the lightning to strike into the rod is an easy task but the real challenge is that, the electrical current induced by the lightning must follow the safety path provided by the specialized cable wires. Thus, when the rod got struck by a lightning, the electrical current travels into the cable wires down into the conducive grid.

A lightning rod should be setup at the highest top portion of the building or house. By installing it at the top most portion, this ensures that all electrical power induced by a lightning strike will be absorbed by the rod.

Jump Around Characteristic of Lightning

One common characteristic of lightning is that when it strikes a certain spot, there is a very high tendency that it will scatter around. This behavior is known as "Jump Around". The reason why a lightning's electrical discharge tends to jump around is that, it is searching for other nearby objects with the least resistances.

The lightning rod's pole is made out of highly conducive type of material. So if it happens that it has been struck by a lightning, all the electrical currents are entirely absorb preventing it from jumping around.

Franklin Lightning Rod System Design

Today, the majority of lightning rod system design used by tall structures are the traditional "Franklin Design". It's because the fundamental principle of Franklin's design is that, it provides sufficiently "low impedance path" for the electrical discharge to travel and reach the conducive grid without causing any possible damages into the building or house. In short, the protection offered by Franklin's design is similar to the Faraday Cage.

The Tip of a Lightning Rod

In the early 18th century, there was a conflict between the British and American scientists. British scientists claimed that a lightning rod with a ball on its end had a better attraction to lightning strikes. But as for the American scientists, they believed that a pointed tip of the rod was a lot much better.

The controversy finally came to an end back in 2000. According to the United States latest scientific discovery, a moderately rounded or blunt-tipped lightning rod acts as the best strike receptors. Thus, most lightning rods are now designed with rounded tips.

Do you often Experience Lightning Strikes in your Area?

If you are living at an area where lightning strikes often occur then you should consider installing a lightning rod system.


For houses located at an open field or flat area with less or no trees around, a very tall rod is suggested. The length of the rod must be taller than the height of the house.

Anyway, if you really do not have any idea about what you're doing then it's best to hire a professional electrician to do the lightning rod installation for you.

If a certain bad weather condition has been observed by the scientists (on their monitors) especially those with potential threat of causing significant damages, a "Severe Thunderstorm Warning" will be issued to the affected residential areas. Those scientists are more specifically known as the "Storm Spotters". They are actually professionals where they can detect the early stage of development of a severe thunderstorm.

What storm spotters use in detecting a thunderstorm is a sophisticated technology known as the "Doppler Weather Radar". This advance equipment has the capability to analyze and determine any possible formation of a thunderstorm with impressive accuracy. But the most remarkable capability of this technology is that, it can also predict if the storm has the potential to produce dangerous large forms of hails, tornadoes and strong winds.

The organization that issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in the US are the NWS or "National Weather Service". In Canada, it's the "Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada". And at the UK (United Kingdom), they have the "Skywarn".

Criteria of a Severe Thunderstorm

Not all thunderstorm are destructive. In fact, severe thunderstorm rarely occurs. Anyway, here are the following conditions of a thunderstorm before it can be considered as Severe:

Based on the United State's NWS

1. The thunderstorm must have large hails composing of at least 1 inch in sizes.

2. The speed of the surface winds must be at least 58 miles per hour or higher.

3. A combination of the two criteria above.

Based on Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada

1. Wind gusts should be greater than 90 kilometers per hour.

2. Diameter of the hail must be greater than 20 mm.

3. In an hour of continuous rainfall, the size of the rainfall drops must be at least 50 mm. A size of 75 mm is observed after 3 hours (provided that the rainfall didn't stopped).

Based on UK's Skywarn

1. The minimum speed of the wind goes 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).

2. The minim hail size must be at least 20 mm (0.79 in).

Take note: Lightning and floods caused by heavy rainfall is not considered by the United States, Canada and UK as a potential criteria of a severe thunderstorm.

Destructive Tornado of a Thunderstorm

One of the most terrifying aspect of a thunderstorm is it can produce a tornado without warning. Tornadoes had already shown in the history its very destructive force. It causes terrible calamities where countless number of residential homes were completely destroyed. But, did you know that there is even far and much worse force of nature than the tornado that a severe thunderstorm can produce?

It's the "Straight Line Wind Damage". This force of nature is actually far more devastating than the tornado because the damages that it can incur cover wider areas.

Doppler Weather Radar System

Storm spotters don't usually go out in the field and chase tornadoes around just to perform their analysis. It's because through their Doppler Weather Radar system, they can now monitor the formation of the thunderstorm via Satellite View. In most cases, if they notice some kind of large circling rotation of the clouds on their equipment's monitor, they will immediately issue a tornado warning.

The Doppler Weather Radar technology actually detects the formation of a thunderstorm which is the main basis of its analysis. A thunderstorm that is producing weak rotation means that it will yield a hazardous weather condition. On this case, the affected residences are warned about the storm and advised to keep a close observation as it might surprisingly become stronger resulting into a threat.

In the Great Plains or Southeastern Regions of the U.S., Doppler Weather Radar often fails to detect the occurrences of severe thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes. It's because tornadoes can be produced by the terrible storm without warning. Worst, storms in the Great Plains can also produce massive hailstones with sizes of about 2. 75 inches or larger. Just to let you know, there were already several victims of hailstones in which most of them resulted into a condition known as "blunt trauma".


Moreover, storms spotters can be mistaken. At some instances, they even issue the Severe Thunderstorm Warning quite late. Thus, the best method is to make your own observation. Through constant practice and experience, you can easily predict the outcome of the thunderstorm on your own.

It is not actually possible that a lightning can directly strike you inside your own house because you are well protected by your house's rooftop, walls and windows. But not unless, there's an opening that invites the lightning to come inside.

There was one accident that occurred in the past where the victim was struck by lightning while inside her room. The incident occurred during the summer thunderstorm at Chippenham, Wiltshire and the victim was a 49 years-old nurse, "Jennifer Lyons".

According to the report, Jennifer was inside her room having a conversation on her cellular phone. You have to know that any wireless devices that emits microwave signal can attract lightning. In addition to her mobile phone, the window of her room was opened.

A sudden powerful lightning suddenly struck the nearby Satellite Dish outside Jennifer's house but the remaining electrical discharge was diverted to the victim. According to Jennifer, the lightning bolt struck her head but for some reason, she miraculously survived without suffering any serious injury.

Aside from making a wireless phone call near an open window of your house, there are also other possible means that the electrical discharge of the lightning can travel inside. In most cases, the electrical current can find its way through the conducive materials or parts of your house.

Here are some common possible mediums or conductors on how a lightning can penetrate inside your house:

1. Telephone Cable Wires

We are specifically referring about those corded-type of telephones connected to a long cable wire. If you are going to follow the long cable wire, you will find out that its connected from the "Power Lines" nearby your house. You have to know that power lines are an attraction to lightning strikes. So if it happens that you are using your telephone and at an unfortunate event, a lightning suddenly struck the power line. As a result, the excessive amount of electrical current induced by the lightning will travel into the telephone's cable wires where you will end up getting electrocuted.

Thus, the best advice is to avoid using your telephone during a bad thunderstorm. If you really need to make an emergency call, use your mobile phone but stay away from the windows when you use it.

2. Plumbing

Plumbing refers to the pipes, drain fittings, valves and other metallic tubes responsible for the distribution of the water supply around your house. And just like the cable wires, a lightning's electrical discharge can travel through them.

One of the qualities of lightning that has been discovered by the scientists is that, lightning tends to be attracted by the most conducive type of materials. Most plumbing materials are made of metallic elements which makes them a perfect conductor. So if it happens that the water-pipes outside your house (which goes inside your house) are not buried deep enough the ground, the lightning's electrical discharge can reach them allowing the current to travel inside your house. Due to this reason, you should stay away from your bath tub, shower and toilets during a bad thunderstorm.

3. Windows

Most houses today are built with metallic window frames. But as already mentioned above, lightning has the characteristic of being attracted by conducive materials such as metals. Thus, it is highly advised that you should stay away from the windows during a thunderstorm.

4. Electronic Devices

It is not actually just your corded telephone and mobile phones that can possibly attract lightning inside your house but all other electronic devices. Some of them includes your TV, computer, refrigerator and etc...

Common to all of the electronic devices is that you need to plug them into the "Wall-Outlet". You have to know that your house's electrical outlets are also connected into the power lines.


Overall, a lightning cannot directly strike you inside your house but it can possibly get inside through various means such as those that has been discussed above.

There were already countless number of incidents around the world involving people who were unfortunate enough to be accidentally struck by lightning. To tell you, lightning strike incidents can actually be avoided if people would only follow the simple set of rules regarding about "Lightning Safety Tips and Precautions".

Here are the following safety tips and precautions issued by the NWS (National Weather Service) in times of an occurring thunderstorm:

1. Get Inside the House or Take Shelter

The best way to avoid being struck by lightning is to get inside your house before the thunderstorm becomes worse. If you are away from your house and you got caught by a bad thunderstorm, try to seek shelter such as inside the building, restaurants and other places that welcomes ordinary individuals.

Do not stay inside your vehicle. There are some reports of lightning incidents regarding about a victim that got struck by lightning while inside his car.

2. Avoid Using your Telephone

Lightning is a form of electricity which makes it able to travel through cables such as telephone wires. Due to this reason, you should avoid using your telephone (specifically the "corded" type of telephone) during a bad thunderstorm.

If you really need to call because it's an emergency, it's best to use your mobile phone.

3. Do not Stand Under a Post

Scientists had already proven several times that a rod pointing upward do have high chances of attracting lightning. Thus, you should avoid standing under "natural lightning rods" such as tall isolated trees, flag poles and etc...

4. Avoid Projecting in an Open Area

If a thunderstorm is about to occur, you have to stay away from an open area. Some example of an open area are on the beach, football field and at the sea. You have to know that lightning has the characteristics of searching natural lightning rod to strike from the ground. Simply standing or walking around on an open field puts you at a very high risk of being hit by a lightning.

5. Avoid the Open Water Areas

The most interesting fact about lightning strikes is that, this powerful electrical force of nature hits the surface of the water more often than the ground. So if it happens that you are swimming (on the beach or large pool), there are good chances that you will be struck by lightning.

6. Get away from any Metallic Objects

When you are at an open field such as on a land-farm, you have to get away from any of the farming equipments around. On the golf field, you have to put down your golf clubs. If you are on a highway, get away from small vehicles such as motorcycles, scooters or bicycles.

7. Stay away from Conductor Materials

Conductors are type of materials that allows electrical current to flow through them. Some examples of conductor materials are wire fences, clotheslines, pipes and other objects around your surroundings that are made out of metals.

If lightning had struck a conductor materials and it happens that you are holding on it (perhaps at the other end), the electrical current will also flow through your body. As a result, you will be electrocuted.

8. Stay away from Isolated small Structures

Taking shelter in a small isolated shed or structure during a bad thunderstorm is really not a good idea.

9. Take Shelter under Thick Small Trees

If you got caught in the middle of a terrible thunderstorm somewhere in the forest, it is best advised that you should take shelter under thick-growth small trees.

10. Go to Low Places

Assuming that you got caught by a thunderstorm on a certain open field and there are no shelter around nearby, your best chances is to run towards the lowest place such as the ravine or valley. Although, you have to watch out for a flash flood which could possibly occur.

11. Drop Down to your Knees

Still on the situation that you are caught on the open field (above) but this time, running towards the ravine or valley is too late (or there are none of them). Your last option is to drop down to your knees then bend forward putting your hands right on your knees. And perhaps, pray.

According to the experts, if you feel that your hair are standing on their ends, it means that a lightning is about to strike you down (or something nearby). If you suddenly feel such tingling sensation on your hair, it is suggested that you should immediately perform the position describe above.


For any additional advice about lightning safety tips and precautions that has not mentioned on this post, please do suggest them on the Comment Form provided below.

The market has a lot of competing products when it comes to lightning surge protectors. But the question is, it is worth buying and using it or not?

The answer into the question actually depends in the current situation of the area that you intend of using the device. If your place experiences weak forms of lightning and they don't often hit the ground then the answer can be "yes". However, the answer is "no" if powerful lightning do often occur.

What exactly is a lightning surge protector?

A lightning surge protector is an electronic device that is used to protect household equipment such as your television set, computer, microwaves and etc... When a lightning actually hit your house or the power lines connecting into your house, the electric current source from your house's outlet will dramatically increase.

You have to know that all electronic equipment or appliances around your house has a voltage and current limit. When their limit of capacity has exceeded, they will endure serious damages. As a result, you will end up spending money either for the repair or for buying a new replacement.

Lightning surge protector actually works in a way that it detects excess voltage. Once an excess voltage has been detected, the surge protector will divert the extra electricity via a wire that connects down in to the ground (also known as "grounding"). It is for this reason that, all surge protectors must be properly plugged from the outlet and well grounded for them to work.

Appliances Or Equipment That Are Worth Protecting

You cannot buy plenty of surge protector and install them to every electronic devices around your house. This will cost you a lot of money. What you should do is to use surge protectors only to those specific electronic components that are sensitive to surges.

One good example of a sensitive component is a computer. You have to know that a computer is made up of several sensitive electronic parts that can get easily damage from a surge. If your computer got damaged from a powerful surge, there is a possibility that all your saved data will be destroyed and cannot be recovered.

Why lightning surge protector is not worth using?

As already mentioned above, a lightning surge protector is not worth using if you are situated at a place where powerful form of lightning do often occur. An ordinary surge protector won't definitely able to prevent or stop violent and catastrophic burst of current caused by a powerful lightning.

A "Lightning Rod System" is a better option than the surge protector. However, there are still some chances that a lightning rod system will fail to absorbed and divert a direct strike down into its "conducive grid" disposal. Thus, a 100% absolutely guarantee of protection against damages from sensitive electronic components is not always guaranteed.

The Best Method

The only best possible way to protect your expensive electronic components around your house during powerful lightning occurrences is to unplug them all. You have to unplug all the power which is even way much better if you can do it from the main Circuit Breaker. Also, don't forget to include the telephone modem and antenna connections.

In addition to unplugging everything, you should also make sure that you have the insurance that covers lightning damages. Make an effort creating an inventory list of all your insured expensive electronic components that can be replaced.


For computers, you may have the insurance upon its damages but the risk is that, you will probably lose important files or data stored from its hard drive. Thus, you should always consider performing regular backups storing a copy of your most important files or data from an external hard drive or USB.

Overall, there has been a number of individuals who are not satisfied relying on their lightning surge protector for protection. In my own opinion, most lightning surge protectors on the market today has several flaws that still needs a lot of room for improvement. Anyway, maybe sometime in the future inventors can find a guaranteed solutions for protection against lightning surges.