I see your logic, cave demon, but don’t
agree with your contention that there are so few paddlers out during thunderstorms that no one gets struck.
In fact, summer thunderstorms ride over the Ocoee, the Hiwassee, the Nantahala, the Tuck, and the Pigeon when there are very large numbers of people on the water. Raft services don’t cancel trips because of the possibility of thunderstorms. Private boaters don’t stay home because thunderstorms may come up in the afternoon.
In my 35 years of being in close touch with what happens on these rivers, I know of only one incident where a WW kayaker was stunned by a near miss on the Hiwassee.
I guess if you had any actual statistics, you’d provide them. But don’t argue from the supposed rarity of exposure. There’s plenty of people out on the water during thunderstorms, and given that, the low rate of actual strikes stands in sharp contrast to NOAA’s nanny advice.
“large” is relative
There are very large numbers of paddlers (who are a small percentage of the population) in a relatively small and low population density area. The sum total is a ‘relatively’ low number of people, hence the relatively low number of people struck by lightning.
Companies don’t cancel trips, and private boaters might not stay home, if there is a possibility of a thunderstorm. HOWEVER, when there IS a thunderstorm people seek shelter. Most get off of the water when a thunderstorm is happening in close proximity.
“large” is relative
There are very large numbers of paddlers (who are a small percentage of the population) in a relatively small and low population density area. The sum total is a ‘relatively’ low number of people, hence the relatively low number of people struck by lightning.
Companies don’t cancel trips, and private boaters might not stay home, if there is a possibility of a thunderstorm. HOWEVER, when there IS a thunderstorm people seek shelter. Most get off of the water when a thunderstorm is happening in close proximity.
which of you is the meteorologist?
dude, you’re obsessing hopelessly
The OP was regarding what to do if caught out by lightning while p[addling. The NOAA link provided by dr. disco provides advice on what to do in various situations in a lightning storm. The stats are but a tiny piece. Additionally, the link says quite clearly that in the event of a storm there is very little we can do. But they do have a liability concern.
Your obsessing over the precision of the stats does nothing to answer the question, which I certainly wouldn't say of the NOAA link. You're diluting the topic. Instead of derailing a thread, how about starting with a more relevant post?
People vs. Other lightning targets
First of all, if I read the literature correctly, getting off the water is only an effective deterrent to lightning strike if you get into a substantial structure or enclosed vehicle. Just getting off the water may change your small odds of getting hit, but does not eliminate the risk.
Secondly, I was thinking about this thread the other day while paddling on the Magothy River (Chesapeake trib). There are hundreds of objects sticking out of the water, from pier pilings to trees to derelict boats to random poles. Are they not as attractive a target to lightning as a human? If a kayaker, a 3’ bump on the water, is a prime target, why are all those 10’ targets out there year after year, storm after storm?
Don’t get me wrong. I am scared of lightning and hate to be stuck on the water in a storm. I do not advocate paddling through lightning storms. But why isn’t that other stuff getting zapped all the time, or is it zapped and just doesn’t show any sign of it?
~~Chip
Voltage Gradient
You don’t have to get hit by lightning to get hurt by it.
A lightning bolt is a big static shock. Millions of volts. When it strikes a tree or other object that voltage dissipates to ground through what ever is around it.
At the strike that voltage will be very high. Moving away from the strike the voltage drops. Depending on the conductivity of the media, whether that is earth or rock or water or roots or whatever the voltage will drop faster or slower. There can be a potential of thousands of volts between a few inches of ground. More between the ground and water or the ground and rocks or the ground and roots.
So if you are standing with your feet a foot apart, or with your back against a tree, or one foot on ledge and the other in the water you may be exposed to that very high voltage if lightning strikes nearby.
So if it’s striking all around you, keep your feet together on one medium and minimise your contact with the ground.
In a near miss that might improve your chances.
boats
Boats do get hit by lightning often. I personally know a handful of people whose larger sail and motor boats have been struck by lightening. It really screws things up too. A direct strike can destroy all the electronics on board. A work boat that just got hit here sustained over $15,000 in damage to the electronics. Ouch.
We have been caught several times
in lightning storms in the middle of areas where there is no getting away from it, and the worse case I can remember was on the Nine Mile Pond canoe trail in the Everglades National Park.
We were several miles from the take out and in the middle of water and grass.
We enjoyed the show, and figured if the Man upstairs wanted us he would get us when He deemed the time was right!
Jack L
Thanks
For the reasonable response.
Seriously.
Funny Anecdote
So when the lightening threads come up, I always tell people that I’m far more worried about slipping on a winning lottery ticket on a wet floor than I am about being hit by lightening.
This changed slightly the Sunday before Memorial Day, my wife and I were working on our rooftop garden (rubber roof) as a thunderstorm was approaching. Plenty of tall trees around, taller houses, etc.
It was already sprinkling so we were wearing our rubber boots and Gore-Tex.
“Not to worry,” I told my wife.
Suddenly, the sound of Rice Krispies on steroids caught my attention. I turned towards my wife and saw blueish threads dancing from the garage-house power line towards the tree above (four or five feet from my wife).
A fraction of a second later, the blinding flash and the deafening boom of a lightening bolt struck in the neighbors’ yard.
My wife dashed for the door (presumably for some new panties) while I pondered the event and slowly followed.
I relayed the funny anecdote to my downstairs neighbor / best friend / landlord who told me that as he was grilling burgers (free-range bison) standing on a treated lumber deck wearing leather flops, he felt the hair on his neck and head stand up (smart guy, not one to exaggerate). Meanwhile, we never felt a thing.
My anecdotal lesson: Due to the triboelectric effect, charges build up between the ground and sky. Eventually, the path of least resistance (variational calculus, here) rules. The PoLR is quite fickle
If ever caught in a storm again, I will stay in my boat, near shore, but not go ashore. I believe that being IN the water puts you in one of the paths of least resistance, but being slightly ABOVE the water, away from trees, decreases your risk.
$0.005
Dress