Lightning?

Question

Does lightning strike twice in the same place?

Answer 1

Can lightning strike the same place twice?
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/primer/lightning/ltg_faq.shtml

Lightning does hit the same spot (or almost the same spot) more than once, contrary to folk wisdom. It could be simply a statistical fluke (i.e., with all the lightning that occurs, eventually lightning will strike somewhere near a previous lightning strike within a short period of time). It could also be that something about the site makes it somewhat more likely to be struck. Typically, when lightning strikes something on the ground, the object that is struck sends a faint channel upward that joins the downward developing flash and creates the connection to the ground. Taller objects are more likely than shorter objects to produce the upward channel. But it is also possible that something that locally affects the ability of the ground to conduct electricity (such as the salt or moisture content of the ground at the time, the presence or absence of rock, standing water, pipes or other metal objects in the ground), the terrain shape, the shape of leaves or twigs, or something else might make a particular location more likely than another nearby location to be struck.


http://www.weathermetrics.com/news/weatherFun.htm
The Empire State Building in New York City is struck an average of 23 times a year. During one thunderstorm it was struck 8 times in 24 minutes.

Answer 2

Actually, lightning essentially strikes in the same place every time there is a cloud to ground lightning bolt. If you want to get super technical, a lightning strikes consists of a number of strikes that follow the same weakness in the atmosphere. Like most things in nature/physics, electricity follows the path of least resistance. Positive and negative charges build up between the ground/object and the base of the clouds and when the pressure gets too great, all of this energy is released and there are a number of strikes that follow the same path. You can likely find some good slow motion video of this somewhere, showing numerous flashes in the same place within a fraction of a second.

Answer 3

Actually, it does this all the time. Some of the more frequent places lightning repeatedly strike are the tops of very tall buildings in large cities and the very tall radio and television transmitting antennas. They are the highest object around and often get struck several times during each thunderstorm.

Answer 4

It can, yes but not usually in the same thunderstorm unless the target in question is a fairly large one. The CN Tower for instance or the Empire State Building.

Answer 5

In fact,There is the possibility of frequent lightning attack on the tallest structure in an area .That is why they are protected by installing lightning arresters.Lightning arrestors save them not only from one attack but also from many such attacks.

Answer 6

You think there's a rule on this? Of course it can! In fact, when you consider things like lightening rods, designed to attract lightening, I would think lightening strikes in certain spots quite often.

Answer 7

Yep. I know a guy who was hit three different times in his life. Struck him on the head all three times.

Answer 8

Yes the had a case recently where it was just that it was at a church too ... kinda odd huh ?? ...

Answer 9

yes