London - It’s a momentary flash that can leave a lasting impression. In the case of two men in the Brecon Beacons last month, tragically, it brought death. Lightning is an electric charge that travels through the air at about 120km a second, and typically lasts a fraction of a second.
And during its brief existence it burns at 30 000°C, or six times hotter than the sun!
In the UK, it is most common in the south and south-east – where temperatures are warmer and there are the most thunderstorms – with East Anglia being the riskiest part of the country and north-west Scotland the safest.
The lightning itself is caused by humid conditions in which hot air rises rapidly, forming a cloud as it cools. The water vapour turns to ice particles which collide violently, causing a powerful electric charge. During the shake-up, lighter, positively charged particles form at the top of the cloud while heavier, negatively charged ones sink to the bottom.
Opposites attract and so the negative charges seek out a positive charge to connect with, resulting in a bolt of lightning or electricity. Sometimes the charges connect within the same cloud and sometimes between clouds – and in these cases the resulting lightning is confined to the sky.
But sometimes they connect with a positive object on the ground, such as a tree, tall building – or person. And that is when they cause trouble for humans.
About 50 flashes of lightning are generated every second across the world. About a quarter of these reach the ground, mostly around the tropics – the mountain village of Kifuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the most struck place, with an average of 158 lightning bolts per km2 a year – and they kill about 24 000 people a year, injuring 240 000 more.
Survivors suffer ailments ranging from minor burns to strokes, brain damage and personality change, which must make Kifuka an interesting place.
As for Britain, while it is relatively shielded, between 30 and 60 people are hit every year, with an average of three dying as a result of being hit by a lightning bolt.
This is considerably lower than the 19 deaths per year in the 19th century, when more people worked outside and the risks were less well understood.
Finally, to bust two myths: rubber shoes don’t help; and the adage that lightning doesn’t strike twice is wrong. It does. Especially if its conductor is a tall structure.
The Independent