Dear Tom,
Is it possible for airplanes to be struck by lightning?
Julie Ruth, New Lenox
Dear Julie,
It is possible and it does occur. Florida is the nation’s most lightning-prone state, and University of Florida lightning expert Dr. Vladimir Rakov says, “On average, lightning strikes a commercial jet once for every 10,000 hours in the air, but most strikes cause no significant damage because the lightning current flows harmlessly across the metal skin of the aircraft.” The power surge associated with a lightning strike obviously poses a threat to the electronic equipment of jet aircraft, but Rakov also adds that all sensitive equipment on an aircraft is specially shielded, thereby eliminating that potentially dangerous situation.
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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.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
