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Tornado Myths

MYTH:	A funnel cloud needs to touch the ground to be a tornado, OR the visible funnel is the tornado.

MYTH:	Wearing an Ipod and headphones will attract lightning.

MYTH:	A Surge Protector will protect against all lightning strikes.

MYTH:	Small metal objects attract lightning, and I'm safer outside without any metal nearby.

MYTH:	Lightning never strikes in the same place twice.

MYTH:	The "world record lightning strike" means that lightning can strike 200 miles away from a thunderstorm.

MYTH:	During a recent videotaped lightning storm, a strike showed up only inches/feet from my camera.

MYTH:	"Catatumbo lightning" is a unique type of lightning created by swamps.

MYTH:	Lightning only strikes very tall objects / Lightning always strikes the tallest object.

MYTH:	Lightning only strikes good conductors (such as metal).

MYTH:	Wearing jewelry, wearing shoes with metal cleats or carrying metal objects such as tripods, golf clubs and umbrellas will attract lightning and make me more susceptible to a strike.

MYTH:	Lightning rods 'discharge' a cloud and prevent a lightning strike / It is possible to 'drain' the charge from a storm.

MYTH:	Lightning rods attract lightning.

MYTH:	Lightning doesn't strike water.

MYTH:	Lightning could be used as a power source.

MYTH:	Rubber shoes or boots insulate and therefore protect against a lightning strike.

MYTH:	'Heat Lightning' is a strange phenomenon caused by hot weather.