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Richfield - A Sevier County woman beat the odds after getting struck by lightning and surviving. Experts say those odds are 1 in 700,000.
Beijing -- Many of the basics of lightning have been revealed, but scientists admit they don't really understand how lighting gets from one place to another and lightning link to X-rays is still a mystery.
"Nobody understands how lightning makes X-rays," says Martin Uman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Florida. "Despite reaching temperatures five times hotter than the surface of the sun, the temperature of lightning is still thousands of times too cold to account for the X-rays observed.
"It's obviously happening. And we have put limits on how it's happening and where it's happening."
As lightning comes down from a cloud, it moves in steps, each 30 to 160 feet long. In this "step leader" process, X-rays shoot out just below each step millionths of a second after the step completes, the researchers learned.
"Nobody understands how lightning makes X-rays," says Martin Uman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Florida. "Despite reaching temperatures five times hotter than the surface of the sun, the temperature of lightning is still thousands of times too cold to account for the X-rays observed.
"It's obviously happening. And we have put limits on how it's happening and where it's happening."
As lightning comes down from a cloud, it moves in steps, each 30 to 160 feet long. In this "step leader" process, X-rays shoot out just below each step millionths of a second after the step completes, the researchers learned.
MOSCOW -- Lightning has killed and injured more than a dozen people in Russia in the past two weeks, officials say, blaming widespread use of electronic gadgets such as cell phones for an increase in deadly strikes.
Three people, including two teenagers, were killed and five injured, when they were struck by lightning in the Russian Volga Republic of Bashkortostan, a local emergencies spokesman said on Thursday.
Four people were injured by lightning at a Blue Angels air show at Pensacola Beach on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Gulf Breeze Hospital spokeswoman Candy McGuyre said 10 people were taken to the hospital from the show with various injuries, including four people injured by lightning. None of those injuries were considered life-threatening.
Gulf Breeze Hospital spokeswoman Candy McGuyre said 10 people were taken to the hospital from the show with various injuries, including four people injured by lightning. None of those injuries were considered life-threatening.
Five young lives have been ended by lightning in less than a week, a deadly reminder of one of summer's leading hazards.
"Typically, July marks the peak in lightning activity. It's also the time when people are vacationing, so they are outside and they are vulnerable to lightning," said John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert at the National Weather Service.
But why so many young people in a few days? "I don't have an answer for that," Jensenius said, "It's all very sad."
"Typically, July marks the peak in lightning activity. It's also the time when people are vacationing, so they are outside and they are vulnerable to lightning," said John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert at the National Weather Service.
But why so many young people in a few days? "I don't have an answer for that," Jensenius said, "It's all very sad."
Crews rushed to a home on School Street in Belmont Monday night after it was struck by lightning. The strike sparked a fire on the roof. Fire crews quickly put the flames out and no one was hurt.
Cool and unsettled weather will continue through the rest of this work week. Temperatures will slowly moderate by this weekend but there will be a continued threat for showers and thunderstorms into early next week.
Cool and unsettled weather will continue through the rest of this work week. Temperatures will slowly moderate by this weekend but there will be a continued threat for showers and thunderstorms into early next week.
Lightning hit a house and sparked a fire that badly damaged the home on Chesopeian Trail early Tuesday. The fire raced through the attic and tore apart most of the roof.
The owners of the house are away, but a friend who was house sitting was inside when the lightning hit.
Neighbors told 13 News they heard the lightning hit, but didn't realize it had caused a fire until the woman staying at the house started knocking on doors yelling for help. Though she wasn't hurt, the woman was shaken up.
The owners of the house are away, but a friend who was house sitting was inside when the lightning hit.
Neighbors told 13 News they heard the lightning hit, but didn't realize it had caused a fire until the woman staying at the house started knocking on doors yelling for help. Though she wasn't hurt, the woman was shaken up.
Shortly after noon today, dispatch received a cell phone call reporting three people had been struck by lightning near Mills Lake in the Glacier Gorge area of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Mills Lake is approximately 2.8 miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Park rangers responded and contacted three people who were reportedly struck by lighting. Initial reports indicate three males and one female were struck. After investigating, park officials confirmed there was not a fourth victim, according to e-mails from Kyle Patterson, Public Information Officer for Rocky Mountain National Park.
Two males and one female were walking down the trail when they were contacted.
Eight people were standing near Mills Lake when the lightning strike occurred, Patterson wrote.
Three out of this group were apparently struck by lightning. The Park Service hopes to have ages and hometowns confirmed later today.
Mills Lake is approximately 2.8 miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Park rangers responded and contacted three people who were reportedly struck by lighting. Initial reports indicate three males and one female were struck. After investigating, park officials confirmed there was not a fourth victim, according to e-mails from Kyle Patterson, Public Information Officer for Rocky Mountain National Park.
Two males and one female were walking down the trail when they were contacted.
Eight people were standing near Mills Lake when the lightning strike occurred, Patterson wrote.
Three out of this group were apparently struck by lightning. The Park Service hopes to have ages and hometowns confirmed later today.
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| ©Chronicle photo by Dee Camp |
| Fire erupts near Okanogan after lightning storm passes through at 7 p.m. |
A brief, fierce lightning storm touched off a fast-moving fire that is threatening structures, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office's communications system and crops in the Cameron Lake Road area near Okanogan.
The fire began around 7 p.m. July 1 as a lightning storm moved through the valley. It brought scattered rain showers to the mid-valley area and hail to the south end of the county.
