MINISTRY OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Department of Meteorology
29th June, 2011

Preamble Nature is full of all kinds of amazing and interesting phenomena that has fascinated human beings over the centuries right up to this very day. One such phenomenon is lightning. The bolt of a lightning takes the appearance of a zigzagging pattern that usually takes less than half a second to produce a light that is so bright that it lights up its surrounding in the blink of an eye. While this is a fascinating sight it also drives fear in humans. With its burst of intense energy it could cut down a tree, start a fire and even cause death, if struck by humans or living organisms on the ground. Fear and shock can be created even be greatly intensified by the loud frightening sound of thunder which adds to this effect, depending how close one is to the origin of the sound. Today, though lightning phenomena is fascinating and dangerous, with the advancement of our knowledge in science this can now be explained, thus removing the mystery about this natural phenomenon. What causes lightning? When the air is sufficiently moist and warm, it is forced to rise into the atmosphere by convection. As this warm air rises, cold air moves in and meets the warm moist air which causes the warm air to rise rapidly forming large, dense, tall towers of anvil shaped cumulonimbus clouds commonly known as thunderstorm clouds. During the thunderstorm, precipitation particles (water droplets and ice crystals) in the higher region of the clouds will then collide with each other as they rub against each other in strong currents of air. This strong air current here is due to the ascending (rising) and descending air in the updrafts and downdrafts of the storm. As a result, this colliding and rubbing of many water droplets and ice crystals creates a static electrical charge, causing areas of negative and positive charge to develop within the thunderstorm. Some of the ice (snow) crystals and water droplets will therefore become positively charged (+ plus sign), while others become negatively charged (- minus sign). The positive and negative electrical charges in the cloud then separate from each other where the positively charged particles moves to the upward top section of the storm cloud while the heavier negative charge particles and water droplets drops to the lower section of the cloud. When the difference in the charges at the lower section of the cloud becomes large enough, reaching threshold strength to cause a discharge, a giant "spark" occurs 1
Department of Meteorology, June June 2011 Lightning Statement

causing the flow of electricity (electrical energy) to be released through the air to a point that has an opposite charge. This release of electrical energy is called a lightning stroke which may three different forms; (i) From one cloud to another leading to Cloud-to-Cloud Lightning. (ii) One section of the cloud to another leading In-Cloud Lightning (iii) From cloud to the ground leading Cloud-to-Ground Lightning The cloud to ground lightning is the most dangerous form to human beings and their property. Once a connection is made and the path is complete, a surge of electrical current moves in the opposite direction back to the cloud and produce a flash of light which we call lightning. This process is called the main lightning stroke.

THE OUTLOOK FOR JUNE TO AUGUST 2011 SEASON The forecast period (June August) is generally part of the dry season over most parts of western, central, Lake basin and eastern regions but a major rainfall season for much of the northern region. However due to unusual serge of the moist air from the Atlantic Ocean and Congo air mass, most parts of the country has been receiving outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms accompanied by lightening. Overall, there is an increased likelihood of near normal conditions over much Uganda with a slight tendency to above normal rainfall Current Weather condition causing the Frequent Lightning strikes The last two weeks have experienced unusual surge of moist air flow from the Congo basin into the country. This huge influx of moist air coupled with dry spells experienced in late May and Early June has created development of thunderstorms clouds are unusual rainfall during the normally dry month of June in Western, Central and Eastern Parts of the country. Consequently, the development of the thunderstorm clouds has resulted into frequent incidents of lightning over most parts of the country. General precautionary measures within the vicinity of Thunderstorms and Lightning Lightning by its nature and evolution is a very unpredictable event. Over 2000 lightning episodes occur every day worldwide. It can strike in the most unexpected places and do the most unexpected damage. As a consequence, trying to provide a standard guide that the people can use is very tricky. Lightning strikes any object at anytime as long as there is a connection between that object and the base of a thunder cloud. This may include structures like houses, human beings, trees, animals etc. It is advisable that all buildings and electrical installations must be safeguarded against lightning strikes by construction of lightning arresters. Buildings are protected from lightning by metallic lightning rods extending to the ground from a point above the highest part of the roof. These rods form a lowresistance path for the lightning discharge and prevent it from travelling through the structure itself. 2
Department of Meteorology, June June 2011 Lightning Statement

On electrical installations lightning arrester is used to protect the insulation on the system from the damaging effect of lightning. When a lightning surge travels down the power system to the arrester, the current from the surge is diverted around the protected insulation to earth. Advice: There should be stricct adherence construction guidelines regarding instalation of lightening arresters on buildings and electrical installations. It is well documented that standing under a tree during a thunderstorm is very dangerous in the vicinity of a thunderstorm cloud because lightning strikes the tallest object around any open ground. Advice: If a person is caught out in the open during a thunderstorm, they need to lie down and touch as little surface of the ground as they can. Lightning will hopefully not choose this person since you may not be the tallest object on the ground. Advice for motorists: In a car you are fairly safe as the metal body of the car is a better conductor of electricity and you are protected by the metal skin of a car. But avoid touching the metal of the car in any way (i.e. the gear lever, steering wheel, seat belt catch etc.), since you may be struck, although this is not likely to be a huge electrical shock and is unlikely to harm you significantly. It should advisable that standing on open places like sports grounds, beaches, open gardens etc is more dangerous than being in the car park. In our homes, the telephone, electrical appliances and the water taps (shower, wash basins, kitchen sink etc.) are the places/things to avoid when a thunderstorms are raging within the environment. All of these things have one property in common, copper. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity this is why they are used in these appliances in the first place. If lightning strikes your house then electricity travels along all the different conducting paths in the house. Metal water pipes and copper wiring take those roles unless you have a lightning protection system installed to protect your property. The Government must ensure that all colonial time lightning arresters that were installed on top of hill all over the country are re-installed. Most of these instruments were vandalised since they contained red mercury which is a valuable commodity in the market. Lightning Safety Tips If you are by chance caught in the open during lightning strikes, then follow these lightning safety rules and tips and minimize the risk.

If you are in a group, each person must stand at least 50 feet apart, in order to minimize group injuries. Sit on the heels of your feet with toes touching the ground so as to lower your height. Tuck your head between your knees; doing this will minimize any chance of a strike on your head, so that your chances of survival are better. Keep your ears covered to protect against hearing damage and close your eyes to minimize blindness due to close strikes. 3

Department of Meteorology, June June 2011 Lightning Statement

Remove your jewelry, watches and other metal items as these might cause severe burns if you are struck by a lightning. You should stand on a plastic sheet, sleeping pad, rubber soles, saddles or any such thing which will help you isolate from the wet ground. This should be done to minimize the conductivity. Try to hold your position till the storm passes.

In Conclusion Never think lightning will do any of all what is in the statement above as a matter of a standard rule. Although lightning follows the rules of electricity, they are impossible to predict with precise accuracy. The Department of Meteorology will continue to issue weather forecasts and guidance about the frequent lightning. The public must be vigilant and take precaution especially when storms are approaching with little drizzle and violent winds. The public should also note that taking the precautions above will not stop you getting struck, but will reduce the chance of a lightning strike.

Michael S.Z. Nkalubo FOR: PERMANENT SECRETARY

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Department of Meteorology, June June 2011 Lightning Statement