Lightning Strike

Mother Nature has been making her presence known very forcefully this spring and summer.  Not only here in Northwestern PA, but across the United States (including the recent earthquake at one of the Alaskan islands!).  The incredible force and speed with which she strikes is worthy of respect and awe.  During one of our recent and numerous storms, we apparently hosted a lightning strike within the Park that left fascinating damage.

Let's debunk a myth about lightning strikes.  They CAN strike twice in the same place.  It's more likely to happen if the item is tall, a great conductor, and/or stands alone.  Think conductor rods on tall towers, lone trees in a field, or fire towers on a mountain.  They may sustain multiple strikes in one storm.  Focusing on trees, there are two main ways that a tree can be affected by a strike:  a strike may be noticed by a stripping of the bark down to bare wood, or it may go unnoticed as it is a systemic strike through the tissues of the tree.

One of the hemlock branches blown off in the strike

This particular strike on our Eastern hemlock along Mill Creek sustained the strike along the outside of the tree.  It blew several branches off, which were located 20-40 meters away.  The force of the strike caused some of the splinters to become embedded within the earth.

Perhaps most fascinating (in the safety of this sunny afternoon) was observing the curled bark pieces that had also been blown off with intense force.  

A few safety reminders in this season of enjoying the outdoors when sudden weather can appear:

• Lightning can strike up to 9 miles ahead of a storm.  
• If a storm moves in, find shelter immediately in a safe building or car.  Wait at least 30 minutes before heading back to your activity.
• If you cannot get to shelter in time, get off of a hill/mountain and out of any body of water immediately.  Do NOT use trees or rocky overhangs as shelter.  Crouch down in a low spot and hug your knees until the storm breaks or you are otherwise able to find shelter.

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No matter her mood, Mother Nature is a neverending source of wonder for those that take the time to observe their surroundings...