Dear Tom,
While coaching a soccer game recently, many of the girls noticed their hair standing on end. And while we witnessed no lightning in the area, we could hear thunder overhead. Just how close do you think we were to being struck by lighting, and was it wise to continue play under these conditions?
Gary Main, Morton, Ill.
Dear Gary,
You failed to heed warning signs that a potential lightning strike was imminent, and it was not a good decision to continue play. Fact: Lightning produces thunder, and lightning is close enough to be a threat when its thunder can be heard. Fact: A tingling sensation or hair standing on end is an indication of an imminent lightning strike.
Proper action in the situation you described would have been to evacuate the field as quickly as possible. You were fortunate that your soccer event did not end tragically.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
