Camping and Electrical Storms (Lightning!)

your car - you are very safe.

i was caught in a massive 4 hour thunderstorm near plumridge lakes in the GVD a few years back. Everytime i thought the thunderstorms had passed and i could hear the thunder moving off a new set would move overhead.

yea i got a bit scared pulled down the HF ariel and sheltered in the 4by

Didnt get much sleep that night

Sheepie,

Funny you should mention it - I was reading an interesting study not long ago that posed the very question to which you refer.

Given the situation you describe, it appears the best place to be is in your car, followed by your camper, and least of all standing outside.

Apparently, if you're in the car and lightning strikes, the car's body will effectively earth the charge - and since you're inside on a nice padded seat surrounded by (these days) by plastic trim, you should be fine.

Similar deal in the tent.

However, if you're on your lonesome outside, you'll become the conductor (albeit, not a great one) if the lightning decides to strike.

In 2005 I had a lightning strike only about 15 metres from my shed at home. I was inside the shed at the time, and was ok, but it was the most eerie feeling I have felt in 43 years. The air around me was cracking - and my ears felt like they were ringing. That was close enough for me, and I headed inside for a stiff drink and into bed. Will never forget it.

I'm not about to test the theory again, but being inside anything beats being outside, and that makes sense to me.

Cheers, Matt

Gidday

I’d be more concerned about a stampeding Wombat breaking your shins than a lighting strike.

LOL

Regards

Kim

I suppose a spare tentpole - stuck "IN" the ground several metres from campsite in the open might also help ... act as a lightning conductor ?

Hmmmm - sounds a bit dodgey doesnt it !!

Cheers

Mandrake