Around the world there are 44 lightning strikes per second! Each one is different, but they share a common trait: power. You hear us on the air talk about the difference between positive and negative lightning strikes. Negative strikes are the most common, only 5% of all strikes are positive, but they typically do the most damage. A positive strike often generates from the top of the cumulonimbus cloud and can carry 300,000 amps and 1 billion (that's with a B) volts. They are at least 10 times more powerful than a negative stroke and typically cause major damage.

Check out the power of this positive stroke recently in Newton County. A Channel 2 viewer Jerry Simpkins sent me these photos. This was an oak tree off Bethany Rd. near Covington. When the bolt hit the tree with 50,000 degrees, the sap boiled and exploded the cells. That much energy splinters the wood and strips the tree of all bark. I have seen lightning splinters before, but nothing like this. Check out how the top of the tree split the trunk. Can you imagine the noise this made?

If you ever seen strange and unreal weather events, send your photos my way. Peace