How a lightning strike can kill, even when it misses you.

[journeyman713]

A bolt of lightning coming to the ground, isn’t much unlike the static shock you get after shuffling your feet on the carpet then touch something grounded. An imbalance of electrical potential just trying to find the easiest path to neutralize.

In summary,
When a lightning bolt hits the ground, there is so much power to dissipate, it can take a large area to absorb it. Let’s say a 50 feet diameter, before the ¼ billion Volts goes into the ground. So, if you are 30 feet away from impact, you might have one foot in 10 million Volts, and the other foot in 9 million Volts. A million-volt differential between your feet, it will pass through your body in an instant. Theoretically, you’d have a much better chance, if you were standing on one foot. So think small, cover less space, don't lie down.

There’s more than just Volts that defines the potential of power, it’s called Amps. Lightning has a lot of it, over 100k amps.

A Static shock – it’s maybe 10k volts, but the amps are millionths of an Amp.
A lightning bolt – can have ½ billion volts and ¼ billion Amps.
FYI: Less than 1 amp can stop your heart.

This is the exact same for a downed Power line, an incredible amount of power racing across the ground to neutralize. If you get close, a differential of power between your feet. Stay away! Or hop away.

 

[Mr. October]

People tend to be way too casual about lightning. It is not something to be messes with. I had the unfortunate experience to see someone get hit by lightning many years ago in North Wildwood, NJ. Dude was standing at a bust stop. We were in the car passing by and there was a violent t-storm. There was literally a blinding flash where you could see nothing but white and then the guy was laying on the ground . . . . smoking! He didn't make it.

A few years ago now at a registered trapshoot, there was an afternoon thunderstorm rolling in. I moved from station 5 to 1 and, in doing so, looked west and watched a bolt of lightning streak to the ground. I walked off the line. The scorer told me if i didn't continue he'd mark the rest of my targets "lost". Fine with me. I'd rather be alive. The rest of the squad quit then too.

 

[mntnguide]

Well said. Hard to explain Step Touch potential to someone with no electrical knowledge, I think you outlined it pretty well there

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Was talking with another parent at a sports event and the guys that got hit by lighting in CO came up. He said he doesn't mess with lighting, he was on a golf course in the front range where the hole they were on the green was the highpoint in the area when a storm came in. They walked off the course and warned the group behind them not to go up there, who scoffed at them about it. That group subsequently got hit by lightening and the ambulances were headed to the green while the other was loading up in the parking lot.