On: Bonneville can be a tough place (2008)

[MisterTea]

> I was surprised that it struck a completely flat part, rather than our metal SUV, since we were definitely the tallest things around.

Given that a lightning bolt is anywhere from about 1-20km long, the ~1.5 - 2m height differential of your vehicle is background noise.

[distant_hat → MisterTea]

It isn't about the height, it is that spikier conducting things concentrate charges.

[paulcole → MisterTea]

Does this mean the people are pretty much safe, too? Can’t imagine many of them are over 2m.

[ableal → paulcole]

A few years ago a young woman jogging on the beach near Lisbon was struck and killed by lightning.

I wouldn't bet my life against those natural shortest path algorithms ...

[rob74 → paulcole]

I wouldn't bet on it - the lightning might strike the ground directly sometimes, but I imagine that a taller object still has a much higher risk of being struck...