Lightning is unpredictable, deadly
Meteorologists can forecast the general conditions that cause lightning but no one can predict exactly when or where lightning will strike. Lightning strikes the ground about 25 million times each year and continues to be among the top weather-related killers in the United States. With an average of 1.2 million cloud- to-ground lightning strikes each year, no other state experiences more lightning strikes per square mile than Florida. Contrary to popular belief, lightning can strike the same place twice and rubber shoes or tires donโt protect you from lightning strikes. You can determine how far away a flash of lightning is by counting the number of seconds that pass after observing a lightning bolt.
Virus concerns hit Dallas, Columbus as NHL season looms
The NHL said Friday that six Dallas Stars players and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in a development that will push back the opener for the defending Western Conference champions by nearly a week. The Columbus Blue Jackets also held a number of players off the ice โout of abundance of cautionโ in another reminder that the pandemic will likely play havoc with the season opening next Wednesday. Dallas had been set to open the season Jan. 14 at Florida. The Dallas players and staff are self-isloating and the teamโs training facilities were closed for the next several days amid contact tracing. The NHL has shortened the regular season to 56 games for each of its 31 teams, who will play only division foes and sometimes multiple times in a matter of a few days.
Lightning bolt the length of Florida sets new world record
The United States recently handed the world record for longest lightning flash over to Brazil. A separate megaflash set a record in Argentina for the longest reported single lightning bolt duration. The previous record for the longest detected distance for a single lightning flash was 199.5 miles on June 20, 2007, across Oklahoma. The previous record for duration was for a single lightning flash that lasted continuously for 7.74 seconds over Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur, France, was broken after experts confirmed a 16.73-second-long single lightning flash 16.73 that developed continuously over northern Argentina on March 4, 2019. Satellite image of record duration of lightning flash, Argentina, March 4, 2019.