Is there such thing as heat lightning and can it strike you?

Question

How do you know if you are safe?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as heat lightning.

What you are seeing is just regular lightning that's far away. Too far to hear it or see the bolt yourself, but not too far to see how it lights up the night sky. I'll bet you've never seen 'heat lightning' in the day time- have you?

Oh- you're safe from 'heat lightning' as it's too far away to hit you.

Answer 2

Heat Lightning

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is there such thing as heat lightning and can it strike you?
How do you know if you are safe?

Answer 4

"WHAT IS HEAT LIGHTNING?

METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY

If a lightning strike is a sufficient distance from the observer, sound from the strike will not be heard. These silent bolts are called heat lightning. Lightning bolts produce thunder, but the thunder sound does not travel all the way to the observer if the observer is too far away.

The movement of sound in the atmosphere depends on the atmospheric properties of the air such as temperature and density. Because temperature and density change with height, the sound of thunder is refracted through the troposphere. This refraction results in spaces of volume in which the thunder does not propagate through.

The sound of thunder often reflects off the earth's surface. The rumbling sound from thunder is partly due to reflections off the earth's surface. This reflection and refraction leaves voids where thunder can not be heard.

The earth's curvature also contributes to people far from the strike from not hearing it. Thunder is more likely to be bounced off the earth's surface before it reaches an observer far from the strike. With this said, the right refraction and reflection can result in people on the earth's surface being able to hear thunder at very far distances from the storm. The reflection and refraction in the troposphere determines who hears the strike and who doesn't.

The term "heat" in heat lighting has little to do with temperature. Since heat lightning is most likely to be seen in association with air mass thunderstorms in the warm season, the term "heat" may have been used because these flashes are often seen when surface temperatures are warm."

Answer 5

There is heat lightning, anyone who says there isn't is retarted. You are typically safe in any type of lightning, but if you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, you should duck because you may be struck. Typically lightning likes to strike the tallest and most conductive object.

Read some of these websites on this link for safety tips

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/science_and_nature/health_and_safety/safety/weather_safety/


WHAT IS HEAT LIGHTNING?


METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY

If a lightning strike is a sufficient distance from the observer, sound from the strike will not be heard. These silent bolts are called heat lightning. Lightning bolts produce thunder, but the thunder sound does not travel all the way to the observer if the observer is too far away.

The movement of sound in the atmosphere depends on the atmospheric properties of the air such as temperature and density. Because temperature and density change with height, the sound of thunder is refracted through the troposphere. This refraction results in spaces of volume in which the thunder does not propagate through.

The sound of thunder often reflects off the earth's surface. The rumbling sound from thunder is partly due to reflections off the earth's surface. This reflection and refraction leaves voids where thunder can not be heard.

The earth's curvature also contributes to people far from the strike from not hearing it. Thunder is more likely to be bounced off the earth's surface before it reaches an observer far from the strike. With this said, the right refraction and reflection can result in people on the earth's surface being able to hear thunder at very far distances from the storm. The reflection and refraction in the troposphere determines who hears the strike and who doesn't.

The term "heat" in heat lighting has little to do with temperature. Since heat lightning is most likely to be seen in association with air mass thunderstorms in the warm season, the term "heat" may have been used because these flashes are often seen when surface temperatures are warm.

(collected from http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/274/ )

There is "ground lightning" but not just the ground. It is called "cg" or "gc" lightning, meaning cloud to ground or ground to cloud lightning.

Answer 6

There is such a thing as sheet lightning. It is lightning that goes from one part of the cloud to another. The reason for the name is that the whole cloud looks lit up.

Answer 7

Heat lightning is a term to refer to lightning in clouds where the arc is hidden by the cloud and only the illumination of the cloud can be seen. Since heat lightning is entirely within the cloud, you cannot be struck by it.

Answer 8

Yes, there is such a thing as heat lighting and no, it cannot strike you.

Answer 9

i always heard that ground lightning was the one that could strike you