August is when you are most likely to be struck by lightning in the UK

you are more likely to be struck by lightning in august
you are more likely to be struck by lightning in august



August is the month people are most likely to be struck by lightning in Britain.

A new report by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) shows that being inside doesn't mean you are safe and a quarter of indoor incidents take place when a person is using or touching their landline phones.

According to The Times, the study revealed that 722 people were hit by lightning between 1988 and 2012. On average, two people are killed each year.

While many believe that being at home with the windows and doors closed is safe, electrical currents from lightning surge through metal wires and pipes.

Derek Elsom and Jonathan Webb, of TORRO, said: "Around one quarter of all indoor incidents happened when the victim was touching or holding a corded telephone, whether in the home, office or telephone exchange."

TORRO says that around 80 per cent of those killed by lightning in England and Wales are men.

There are around 300,000 ground strikes by lightning in the UK each year.

According to the Daily Mail, being sweaty can increase the risk of being struck. Wearing metal objects or earphones do not attract lightning, but do increase the risk of burns.

In July, a woman who was struck by lightning in Wiltshire was saved by the rubber on her flip flops.

Jennifer Lyons, 49, was on the phone when a 300,000-volt strike hit a satellite dish and the electricity was then attracted to the microwaves emitted by her phone and struck her on the head.

Plugs came out of the walls, and the hot water, phone lines and internet were all blown out.

But, luckily for Jennifer, she was wearing rubber-soled flip flops, which probably saved her life by insulating her against the electricity running straight through her body.



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