"A Month's Worth of Lightning in One Night: 1,642 Strikes in Gwangju and Jeonnam"

317 Lightning Strikes in Gwangju, 1,325 in Jeonnam
Meteorological Administration: "Unstable Atmosphere... Indoor Shelter Recommended"

During the night of August 3, when extreme heavy rain fell, a total of 1,642 lightning strikes were observed in Gwangju and Jeonnam in a single day. There were 317 strikes in Gwangju alone and 1,325 in Jeonnam, surpassing the total number of lightning strikes recorded in Gwangju for the entire month of August last year in just one day.

This photo is for illustrative purposes only and is unrelated to the article content. Pixabay

According to the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration on August 4, lightning is a discharge phenomenon that occurs between thunderclouds and the ground, commonly referred to as a 'bolt of lightning.' The Meteorological Administration identified several independent causes for the frequent lightning during this period: strong updrafts caused by hot air at the surface, the inflow of water vapor from a typhoon lingering near the Korean Peninsula, and atmospheric instability. When updrafts intensify, clouds develop to greater heights, and as large amounts of water vapor are supplied in this process, positive and negative charges separate within the clouds, leading to frequent lightning strikes.

The Meteorological Administration advised, "On days when lightning is forecast, it is best to refrain from going outside and to take shelter indoors." They added, "If you are outdoors, stay away from tall structures such as utility poles or trees, as well as bodies of water." If there is no place to take shelter, it is relatively safer to put down any metal objects and crouch down low. Indoors, avoid using electrical appliances such as landline phones and TVs, and do not stand near windows.

If there are casualties due to lightning, there is no residual electricity in the victim's body, so you should immediately move the person to a safe location and perform CPR.