Ker-POW!

Lightning is one of the most powerful forces of nature. There are some 2000 thunderstorms globally at any one time producing some 100 lightning strikes to earth per second. It is beautiful to watch, but it can also be tremendously dangerous and destructive.

A few years ago, I started to write a piece for IfYouGolf.com on whether or not golfers were more likely to be struck by lightning than normal people. As you can see, I got a bit carried away...

Just as a train crash receives media attention when a car crash doesn't, lightning very rarely makes front page news, yet each year 10,000 people are killed by lightning around the world. More than are killed by floods, hurricanes or tornados - the lifetime risk of an individual being killed by lightning has been estimated at 1:28,500. (NPH Newsletter January, 1992)

In addition, an estimated 100,000 people are injured each year, and around a quarter of these will be left with lasting physiological or psychological damage. Lightning strikes also cause around £2 billion worth of damage each year, either directly or by causing fires.

As with many dangerous phenomena, forewarned is forearmed, so here is a short guide to lightning: what it is and what it does.

Enjoy nature's firework show in safety, and read on!