Isn't it dangerous to hide under trees during lightning and thunder?

Question

Well, my dad constantly tells me to hide under trees if I ever get caught in lightning and thunder. I know this is wrong. So, give me your input, and I'll show it to him. :~)

Answer 1

In the realm of physics, lightning is in nature attracted to tall or metal objects or a combination of both tall and metallic. I am currently majoring in meteorology and tell your father to please refrain in the future from trying to tell you that he knows best as fact is the advice he has given you to hide underneath a tree is completely idiotic and quite stupid. I dont know what else he has told you but I would not doubt that he has told you to swim near a pack of sharks to protect you from them vicious dolphins.Nuff said

Answer 2

There maybe an exception to this rule of safety. If you are on top of a tall exposed hill. And surrounding this hill is a large forest with thick trees and the exposed hill is taller than any of the trees, I would say the odds are better that you run down the hill and take shelter in the forest. Try to select an area where the trees are not very tall. In this forest, stay as far away from the trunk of any trees as possible. With a thick canopy that covers a large area with nearly uniform height of each tree, your odds are much lower that the area you select will be the spot the lightning bolt will pick. And in a thick canopy, some of energy will follow a different route towards the ground once it hits the canopy. So the bolt that may finally reach your area maybe much weaker than any direct cloud to ground lightning that will hit the exposed hill.

Answer 3

Yes, it is of course certainly dangerous. Lightning strike the highest point from the sky. Or any high points. So that's one disadvantage of being tall ;) Hence if you hide under the tree, not only does it not give you full protection from the rain, there is a very high change of lightning striking the tree and causing you to be affected as lightning passes through the tree to you. So the best way is to go to the nearest sheltered area. Hope this Helps! =)
^^

Answer 4

Check out this image listed below. You will see how the lightning will pass right down the trunk in to the ground. If you are any where around you are microwaved spam.
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~awm22/pic/lightning-2.gif

Palm Beach has this advice;
• IF OUTDOORS... Avoid water. Avoid the high ground. Avoid open spaces. Avoid all metal objects including electric wires, fences, machinery, motors, power tools, etc. Unsafe places include underneath canopies, small picnic or rain shelters, or near trees. Where possible, find shelter in a substantial building or in a fully enclosed metal vehicle such as a car, truck or a van with the windows completely shut. If lightning is striking nearby when you are outside, you should:

Answer 5

True example of how it REALLY is to hide under trees during lightning----- Three weeks ago, two women were out golfing--it was in the local papers---anyway, a thunder and lightening storm brewed up and they ducked under a tree---where within minutes they were BOTH struck by lightening... a tree is one of the WORST places one can go near during lightening.... not sure where your father learned that it WAS safe, but he's NO BOY SCOUT and if he WAS, I just took his NATURE MERIT BADGE away from him.... Safest places to be are IN A CAR not touching anything metal or in your HOUSE away from any windows or open doors.

Answer 6

standing under a tree during a lightning storm is dangerous be-
cause lightning will travel down the tree to reach ground. Even
though wood is an insulator, it's the moisture in the wood the electricity travels through . by standing next to the tree, YOU would be electrocuted.

Answer 7

Getting as close to the ground as possible is the best option, if you are standing in a field without any trees around you can get struck by lightning, it will usually hit the tallest thing, hence lightning rods on the tallest buildings. Under a short tree is better than being in the open.

Answer 8

Hey just check out the news in the Edmonton, Alberta area.

On the weekend seven people gathered under a tree just after putting a boat in the water. (first never go under a tree, second do not gather spread out, stay away from bodies of water).

One man was killed instantly and his wife lost an unborn child. There was help available immediately with CPR yet the man never regained.

Even in hindsight they called themself experienced outdoors people yet unfortunate for them they had done everything wrong or at least had everything going wrong at the worst possible time.

The Canadian weather network states that people caught in sever storms with lightning should seek shelter in low laying areas under bush...

Answer 9

A tree, though neither an insulator nor conductor, provides the path of least resistance for electricity to flow.

It's difficult not to think of seeking shelter during adverse weather, but you'd be better off laying on the ground, than standing under a tree with a direct path to electricity's home; that being ground.

Answer 10

Yes. Stay away from trees and any other tall objects. Lightning strikes the tallest things. Trees are tall.
Best is to find a hole in the ground or put your feet together, squat, and hold your knees. The idea is to make as small of a connection to the ground as possible.