How to act during a thunderstorm

Being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm can be life-threatening. In Sweden, approximately 5-6 individuals are directly hit by lightning each year, though most incidents involve indirect contact, such as lightning striking another object like a tree.

Lightning is drawn to the shortest path from the clouds to the ground. The electrical current in a lightning bolt is immense, reaching around 30,000 amperes, a stark contrast to the roughly ten amperes found in a standard wall socket. Even a fraction of this current can be fatal, potentially causing unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, and respiratory failure as it travels through the body from one foot to the other.

Severe burns are a common cause of death for those struck by lightning. The extreme heat generated when lightning discharges, reaching up to 25,000 degrees Celsius, causes the air to glow, creating the visible flash we perceive as lightning. This phenomenon occurs as the electrical charge travels in a zigzag pattern from the sky to the ground.

During a thunderstorm, the safest course of action is to stay indoors. While taking shelter in a car offers better protection than being exposed outdoors, modern vehicles contain materials other than metal, which can reduce their effectiveness as a lightning shield.