Storm Struck!

Last July, 13-year-old Edward Whalen was riding in a pickup truck with his dad and two sisters. Outside the window, inky-black clouds were swelling in the Florida sky. Edward had seen big storms before, but never one as fierce as this.

Then . . . Crack!

A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky. With a sizzling boom, it hit Edward’s car. 

Would he and his family be OK?

Last July, Edward Whalen, 13, was riding in a pickup truck. He was with his dad and two sisters. Outside the window, dark clouds were swelling in the Florida sky. Edward had seen big storms before. But he’d never seen one as fierce as this.

Then . . . Crack!

A lightning bolt shot down from the sky. It hit Edward’s car with a sizzling boom. 

Would he and his family be OK?

Lightning is a sudden flow of electricity, either within clouds or between clouds and the ground. A bolt of lightning is thin—about as wide as a marker. But it packs a punch. One bolt is potent enough to power a small city for about a minute.

Lightning strikes are common. Every second, about 50 lightning bolts hit somewhere on Earth. But it’s very unusual for a person to get struck. (You’re actually more likely to get hurt while using a toilet than to be hit by lightning.)

Still, these mighty bolts are dangerous. So you should be careful. If you hear a thunderstorm developing, it’s best to stay indoors. If you’re outside when the storm begins, you should take shelter inside the closest building—or a car.

Lightning is a sudden flow of electricity. It moves either within clouds or between clouds and the ground. A bolt of lightning is thin—about as wide as a marker. But it packs a punch. One bolt is potent enough to power a small city for about a minute.

Lightning strikes are common. Every second, about 50 lightning bolts hit somewhere on Earth. But it’s uncommon for a person to get struck. (You’re more likely to get hurt while using a toilet than to be hit by lightning.)

Still, these mighty bolts are dangerous. So you should be careful. If you hear a thunderstorm developing, stay indoors. If you’re outside when the storm begins, take shelter inside the closest building—or a car.

So what happened to Edward, his dad, and his sisters? Luckily, their car acted as a shield against the lightning—protecting them from harm.

The bolt did some damage. It fried the electronics inside the car, causing it to break down. Edward, his dad, and his sisters also suffered some headaches and bruises. 

The experience was frightening, says Edward. But it also left him in awe of nature—and its most shocking power. 

So what happened to Edward, his dad, and his sisters? Luckily, their car was a shield against the lightning. It protected them from harm.

The bolt did some damage. It caused the car to break down. Edward, his dad, and his sisters also suffered some headaches and bruises. 

The experience was frightening, says Edward. But it also left him amazed by nature—and its most shocking power.