Beware of lightning

By Gandhya Senanayake

Thunder showers will be prevalent especially during the morning hours in the Western and Southern provinces during the next few days due to a low level disturbance in the atmosphere. (Daily Mirror online)

A few common precautionary measures against lightning –

When a thunderstorm threatens, get inside a home or large building, or inside an all-metal (not convertible) vehicle.
 

When inside a home, avoid using the telephone, except for emergencies, If outside, with no time to reach a safe building or an automobile, follow these rules. Do not stand underneath a natural lighting rod such as a tall, isolated tree.

Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape as you would do if you were standing on a hilltop, in an open field, on the beach, or fishing from a small boat.

Get out of and away from open water. Get off of and away from motorcycles, scooters, golf carts and bicycles. Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes, rails and other metallic paths which could carry lightning to you from some distance away.

Avoid standing in small isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.

If you're hopelessly isolated in a level field of lowland and you feel your hair stand on end - indicating that lightning is about to strike - drop to your knees and bend forward putting your hands on your knees. Do not lie flat on the ground. (Courtesy : United States National Weather Service, Louisville, KY Weather Forecast Office)