February 6, 2012- February 11, 2012 "When Thunder Roars Go Indoors"

In light of me having FOUR tests this week... I thought I would give you some interesting information that I've learned from my "Natural Hazards" class. It was rather enlightening and also interesting how much lightning does effect us as human beings.

Lightning:
Lighting causes an average of 85-100 deaths per year and also an average of 300 injuries. Lightning also causes on average $200 million per year in damages. Lightning contributes to 15,000 forest fires, usually out west.

The ratio of Male vs. Female in who gets stuck by lightning more is 84:16. The place most people get struck at is in open fields.

The highest number of deaths due to lightning strikes is in Florida- at a record 455.

Those who get stuck by lightning usually suffer chronic illnesses:
Depression (32%) Memory Loss (52%) Attention deficit (41%) Inability to sit long (32%) Sleep disturbance (44%)
Physically: External burns (32%) Numbness (36%) Severe headaches (32%) Dizziness (38%) Fear of crowds (29%)

You are more likely to get struck by lightning then to win the power ball.


Lightning could extend 10 miles out from a cloud.


Lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun (5,500° Celsius)-- 50,000° Celsius.


There are 16 million thunderstorms a year- 18,000 thunderstorms at any given moment.


LIGHTNING MYTHS:
-Never strikes in the same place twice- the Empire State Building get struck 22-25 times per year.
-Rubber tires are isolated- lightning can jump 10-20 feet.
-When boating...you need to seek shore- Tress on shore might be more dangerous.
-Caves are safe- Not if shallow
-Injured people carry a charge- no, they can be handled immediately after strike.


LIGHTNING SAFETY:
You need to learn the "lighting safe position" aka "LSP"

(Sad video of a girl who got stuck by lightning and is completely changed forever.)

(This is the position you should take!)

Well I hope you all learned a valuable lesson about lightning. It is nothing to take lightly. So next time there is a thunderstorm definitely be AWARE.

STARKVILLE, MS- 5 DAY FORECAST:

-We will be cooling up a bit from what you have seen the past few weeks. The winds are now starting to come more from the North- bringing in colder temperatures.

Monday: high 56- partly cloudy

Monday Night: low 35- clear

Tuesday: high 59- chance of rain in the afternoon- partly sunny

Tuesday Night: low 39- mostly cloudy- chance of rain most likely after midnight

Wednesday: high 56- mostly sunny

Wednesday Night: low 36- partly cloud

Thursday: high 56- sunny- with a few clouds here and there

Thursday Night: low 35- partly cloudy

Friday: high 55- cloudy

Friday Night: low 32- cloudy

I hope you all enjoy the weather this week! It'll be pretty out it looks like for most of the week. But make sure to watch out for the temperature lows. Have a great week!