28 August 2023 , 09:59
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One British woman posted a photo online, not realising just how close she was to disaster until strangers pointed it out.
Natalie Stevens had been walking her dog along the La Rocque beach, Jersey, when her hair began sticking on end. It shot up into the air, sticking on end, and she captured the moment, taking a picture. She also felt a “tingly feeling” in her head as thunder roared in the distance.
Sharing the picture in a Facebook post, Natalie said: “My hair!! Dog walking at La Rocque around 07:30 felt a very tingly feeling in my head/forehead & hair going static for around 10/15mins. Could hear the thunder on the French coast”.
But Natalie’s hair standing on end was actually a chilling warning sign for what can potentially be a fatal event. The Brit was unaware just how close she was to disaster. A meteorological society warns that hair standing on end can be a sign of a lightning strike. It's so severe a danger, that they warn you need to “move immediately”.
Well-meaning locals also took to the Facebook post to warn Natalie just how close she was to disaster. One wrote: “Just an FYI, if this happens again it's a signal that lighting is going to strike you. I find it bizarre that it's not more widely known/talked about in lightning safety. Glad you were ok”.
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Another added: “You are very lucky, as this is a very sure sign that you are potentially about to be struck by lightning!”
The US National Weather Service warns that: “If your hair stands on end, lightning is about to strike you. Drop to your knees and bend forward but don't lie flat on the ground. Wet ground is a good conductor of electricity.”
The strange phenomena occurs because any thunderstorm brings electrical charges with it - this is how lightning forms - and when lightning is about to strike the atmosphere is electrically charged. It’s this that makes your hair stand up. If this ever happens, other advice includes:
Removing metal objects from your head and body
If far from shelter, crouch, with your feet together
Avoid flood waters, including if driving
If you can seek shelter in a hard-top (metal) vehicle or solid building do so
Avoid sheltering in small open structures or fabric tents