Shocking times: Grinning Michael McQuilken (right) and his little brother Sean (left) had no idea that this hair-raising effect meant that they were in serious danger of a lightning strike
Posted on 01/11/2015 5:22:14 PM PST by Coleus
This frightening picture of two brothers with their hair on end was snapped just minutes before they were struck by lightning at Moro Rock, California, leaving the younger boy with third-degree burns and another man dead. Electrical charges in the atmosphere just before a strike can lift hair into the air, providing nature's last warning of a bolt from the blue.
These boys, 18 and 12, didn't know that, and the image has spread rapidly across the web this month. The story behind the classic 1975 picture has come to light on the blog of Michael McQuilken, the teenager on the right who had no idea that they were in terrible danger.
Shocking times: Grinning Michael McQuilken (right) and his little brother Sean (left) had no idea that this hair-raising effect meant that they were in serious danger of a lightning strike
As reported by NBC, John Jensenius, NOAA's lightning safety specialist, has publicized McQuilken's account of that fateful day on August 20, 1975. McQuilken, now 56, remembered that he hiked to the top of Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park with his brothers Sean and Jeff, sister Mary, 15, and her friend Margie.
At the summit the group noticed the weather had worsened and their hair had started standing on end, something they all found greatly amusing. Mary, 15, shot some snaps of the phenomenon with a Kodak Instamatic camera, not knowing they would become famous.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Here’s hoping that everybody in Washington DC has the frizzies.
Why we shoul pay attention in science class
WOW - I’ve never seen anything like that!
We were at the top of Admiral Way in West Seattle (a roadside lookout) watching that amazing lightning storm hit downtown Seattle about 20+ years ago when everyone’s hair started standing on end. Shortly after that a bolt hit the ground about a hundred feet from us. It looked like it was 15 feet wide. The guys sitting on the railing apparently got a “side shock” because they all jumped off the bar, uncontrollably, when it struck.
I never had much experience with lightning in Ohio but when we moved to South Louisiana, locals always said that if your hair stands up, drop to the ground immediately.
My daughter had very fine hair when she was young, and sometimes when she was on our trampoline her hair would do exactly that. It was caused by static build up from the mat (this was in New Mexico, where it's VERY dry).
apparently neither were seriously injured and thats a good thing.
At the tsunami in Thailand, there was one little girl who had paid attention in class. When the water receded, she told her family and everyone around her what was about to happen, and they all fled.
I have read that too.
If your hair does that, immediately lie down on the ground.
“leaving the younger boy with third-degree burns and another man dead.”
The hair on end is created when the channel/path for the return strike is created.
There is much about this world that we do not know.
Or perhaps not - if you are lying on the ground and there is a nearby lightning strike, the potential difference between your head and feet could be enough to kill you. It might be better to crouch down low rather than lying down.
If you feel a tingling sensation or your hair stands on end, lightning may be about to strike. Do not lie down. Instead, crouch down, tuck your head, and cover your ears.
Know the feeling.
I used to work high voltage (138KV thousand volts)in “cable pits”. Some of these cables were 20+ years old. When you would go in the pit you were required to put a welders cap on so that your hair would not stand on end. You did not want your hair touching the energized cables while you worked on the one that was down.
I remember putting a piece of Scotch 88 electrical tape over the cap and under my chin to make sure the cap stayed on. Real safe conditions
Ah, the good ol days....where men were men and the sheep were scared.....
Or maybe start jumping up as high as possible so as not to be grounded when the event takes place .
Also when the monofilament fishing line you're fishing with starts floating a foot or two above the water, you're in big danger.
Have seen that occur several times, either get down flat in the boat or jump in the marsh, no joke.
This hair-standing happened to my wife while watching her kid’s football practice. She and the boy left right away. No one was hurt.
Good luck with that.
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