Tampa thunderstorms are no joke.
Florida has an average of five people who die each year from lightning. A motorcyclist was struck last week and died. Two giraffes were killed in May. When I was growing up, I was told that the rubber tires on your car would protect you from a lightning strike, but is that true? No, it’s not true and here are some other Myths about lightning from the National Weather Service.
Myth: If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm, you should squat down.
Fact: Squatting down low doesn’t make you any safer during a thunderstorm, you are not safe anywhere outdoors. Look for a building or a structured hard top.
Myth: Rubber tires protect you from lightning.
Fact: Most cars are safe from lightning, but it’s the metal frame that protects you, not the rubber tires. motorcycles, open top vehicles and fiberglass vehicles are not safe in lightning. When your car gets struck, the lightning travels through the medal to the ground, so don’t lean on your car door during a thunderstorm.