Latest local news, weather and sports for Syracuse and Central New York

Friday, June 29, 2012  Lightning kills an average of 59 people and injures more than 300. While any death is tragic and devastating to the family, injuries can be equally tragic and even more devastating.

Thursday, June 28, 2012  Even if you are inside your house, you are still in danger from lightning. Read more for all of the details.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012  While no one can completely eliminate the risk of being struck by lightning, by using some basic safety rules you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a lightning victim. Read more for details.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012  As lightning passes through the air, it rapidly heats the air to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Reading this story will describe how electrical charges form and discharge.

Monday, June 25, 2012  Because lightning only claims one or two victims at a time and does not leave massive destruction behind, it usually receives much less attention than the more destructive storm related killers.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011  Check out tips prepared from the National Safe Boating Council on how to keep your pleasure and safety to a maximum.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011  Important safety tips to remember, even when inside during thunderstorms.

Thursday, June 24, 2010  A house or other substantial building offers the best protection from lightning.  To determine the safety provided by a structure, it is more important to consider what happens if the structure gets struck by lightning rather than whether it will be hit.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010  While outdoors, minimize your risk of being struck by lightning by getting to a safe place before the threat of lightning becomes significant.  Stay there until the threat ends.  In general, the threat begins well before most people think it does and ends well after most people think it ends.  Unfortunately, this lack of understanding accounts for many lightning casualties.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010  By definition, all thunderstorms contain lightning.  Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that occurs within the atmosphere or between the atmosphere and the ground.  As lightning passes through the air, it rapidly heats the air to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, considerably hotter than the surface of the sun.

Monday, June 21, 2010  Lightning can strike up to 25 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. Seek shelter immediately if you hear thunder.   During the last 30 years, lightning has killed an average of 59 people per year in the United States. By comparison, 55 people are killed by tornadoes, on average during a given year.

Thursday, June 25, 2009  Here is a quick summary of lightning safety tips inside the home:       1.  Stay away from windows and doors.    2.  Avoid contact with corded phones and with electrical equipment and cords.    3.  If you plan to unplug any electrical equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.    4.  Avoid contact with plumbing.  This includes washing your hands, taking a shower or bath, washing dishes or doing laundry.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009  While no one can completely eliminate the risk of being struck by lightning, by using some basic safety rules you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a lightning victim.  First, plan ahead!  If thunderstorms are forecasted, postpone or cancel outdoor activities so that you can avoid a potentially dangerous situation.  Second, monitor weather conditions.  Third, if the sky looks threatening or you hear thunder, immediately seek shelter inside a substantial building.  Remain there for at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning is seen or the last rumble of thunder is heard.  And fourth, if you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, you should try and minimize your risk of being struck.  Stay away from tall objects such as trees and poles.   Stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as metal bleachers or metal fences.  Also, try to make yourself as small a target as possible and minimize your contact with the ground.

Monday, June 22, 2009  Education and awareness are important to reducing the number of people struck by lightning.  This includes informing the public on what behavior puts them at risk and knowing what to do to reduce that risk.  Those involved in outdoor activities, especially those in charge, should have and follow a specific lightning safety plan to minimize dangers to participants and spectators.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009  When one you see lightning or hear thunder approaching, you need to protect yourself.