Has thunder ever caused damage?

Most people don't realize that the sheer force of thunder can cause property damage. For example, the intense pressure wave from a nearby lightning strike can shatter windows or even crack walls.
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How destructive is thunder?

This air can cause damaging winds in excess of 100 mph. Downbursts are associated with severe thunderstorms and not all thunderstorms produce downbursts. Tornadoes are the most dangerous and damaging aspect of severe thunderstorms.
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What possible damage is caused by thunderstorms?

A downburst can easily overturn a mobile home, tear roofs off houses and topple trees. Severe thunderstorms can produce hail the size of a quarter (1 inch) or larger. Quarter- size hail can cause significant damage to cars, roofs, and can break windows. Softball- size hail can fall at speeds faster than 100 mph.
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Is it possible to get hit by thunder?

Just as heat can cause expanding air in the lungs, the explosive shock wave created by lightning (the cause of thunder) can cause concussive and hearing damage at extremely close range. Other physical injury can be caused by objects damaged or thrown by the lightning strike.
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How bad can thunder get?

Severe thunderstorms are officially defined as storms that are capable of producing hail that is an inch or larger or wind gusts over 58 mph. Hail this size can damage property such as plants, roofs and vehicles. Wind this strong is able to break off large branches, knock over trees or cause structural damage to trees.
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What Happens When You're Struck By Lightning? | The Human Body

Can thunder be damaging?

Most people don't realize that the sheer force of thunder can cause property damage. For example, the intense pressure wave from a nearby lightning strike can shatter windows or even crack walls.
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What is worse lightning or thunder?

Lightning is fast and very hot while thunder can usher in heavy rain and strong winds, but lightning is more dangerous and destructive than thunder.
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What happens if thunder hits human body?

The effects on the body can vary. Eyesight or hearing may be adversely affected, Claypool said, due to the loud clap of the thunder and the bright flash from the lightning. A person could be temporarily blinded or rupture an eardrum. Additionally, the heart could go into cardiac arrest.
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Is it OK to walk in a thunder storm?

Seek safe shelter immediately. Remember this lightning safety rule: WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS...and stay there until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. Do not wait for the rain to start before you decide to seek shelter, and do not leave shelter just because the rain has ended.
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Is it okay to have your window open during a thunderstorm?

Yes, lightning can strike the inside of your home if you leave a window open. While it's not likely lightning will strike you through an open window, your odds of being struck are higher with open windows than closed windows.
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What is the deadliest thunderstorm in history?

The 1970 Bhola cyclone in the Bay of Bengal is considered the deadliest storm in the world, resulting in an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 fatalities due to its powerful winds, storm surges and the low-lying topography of the affected areas.
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What city in the US has the most thunderstorms?

With an annual average of 89 thunderstorms, Fort Myers, Florida, is the thunderstorm capital of the U.S. And that's not some climatic anomaly, either.
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Why is thunder so loud?

The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave that we hear as thunder.
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How to tell if lightning is about to strike you?

  1. Your hair stands on end (as charges from the ground surge to the top of your head)
  2. You hear a distinctive snapping or crackling sound (small discharges of static electricity may occur in an area where lightning is about to strike)
  3. You experience a tingling sensation (electrical charges may be moving through your body)
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What month has the most thunderstorms?

While severe thunderstorms can occur any month of the year, the peak Severe Weather Season is during the spring months of March, April, and May. Alabama, Mississippi, and northwest Florida also have a secondary Severe Weather Season in the fall that typically runs from November through December.
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Should I unplug my phone during a thunderstorm?

Unplug appliances. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. If lightning strikes, telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Leaving electric lights on, however, does not increase the chances of your home being struck by lightning.
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What should you never do during a thunderstorm?

Unplug appliances, air conditioners, and other electrical items like computers to avoid damage from a power surge. Avoid showering, bathing, washing dishes, or doing laundry. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity. Avoid contact with metal objects (yard equipment, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.).
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Why wait 30 minutes after lightning?

Because electrical charges can linger in clouds after a thunderstorm has seemingly passed, experts agree that people should wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming outdoor activities.
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Why are men more likely to be struck by lightning?

Dear Billy, In the United States, males account for about 85 percent of lightning-strike fatalities and females only 15 percent. It's not because lightning prefers to strike men, but because men tend to engage in activities that put them at greater risk. For example, outdoor work being male dominated is a major factor.
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What does a body struck by lightning look like?

These dramatic "keraunographic" marks are sometimes referred to as "lightning flowers" or "lightning trees." They tend to occur on the arms, back, neck, chest, or shoulders of lightning strike victims.
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Is getting struck by lightning painful?

Lightning-strike victims struggle to describe the pain and sensations of millions of volts of electricity passing through their bodies. Many simply say that the experience is unthinkable.
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Should I close my blinds during a thunderstorm?

Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades or curtains. Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
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What does pink lightning mean?

In snowstorms, where it is somewhat rare, pink and green are often described as colors of lightning. Haze, dust, moisture, raindrops and any other particles in the atmosphere will affect the color by absorbing or diffracting a portion of the white light of lightning. How does the Earth benefit from lightning?
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