Answers to the Lightning weather quiz

Thank you for participating in the Canadian Lightning Quiz!

Here are the correct answers.

Question 1: Where is the lightning capital of Canada?

1. Windsor, Ontario
2. Drumheller, Alberta
3. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
4. Elie, Manitoba
5. Rimouski, Quebec

Correct Answer: A - Windsor, Ontario however the CN Tower in Toronto is the object that gets struck by lightning the most in Canada.

Question 2: Where can you get severe weather warnings from?

1. Weatheradio broadcasts
2. Environment Canada’s Weatheroffice website
3. Other media outlets
4. All of the above

Correct Answer: D - All of the above.

Question 3: How long do you have to stay in a safe place after the last rumble of thunder?

1. Until the sky clears
2. 10 minutes
3. 20 minutes
4. 30 minutes
5. When the rain stops

Correct Answer: D - Take cover for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.  Lightning has been recorded to have struck over 30 km from its parent cloud, even as the sound of thunder diminishes with distance. Thunder can be heard from a storm as far away as 20 km, however depending on the state of the atmosphere, thunder from storms as little as 8 km away might go undetected.

Question 4: What should you do when you hear thunder?

1. Continue playing outside until it starts to rain
2. Take cover under a tree
3. Take cover only when the thunder is less that 30 seconds away
4. Immediately take cover in a safe place

Correct Answer: D - Immediately take cover in a safe place. Remember: when thunder roars, go indoors! It has been found that even preschool children can remember this simple action plan. From M.A. Cooper, R.L. Holle “Mechanisms of lightning injury should affect lightning safety messages.”

Question 5: Where is a safe place to hide when there is thunder and lightning outside?

1. Under a tree
2. In a convertible car/jeep with it's roof on
3. A building with plumbing
4. A hard topped car
5. An open sided camping shelter
6. All of the above
7. a and b
8. c and d

Correct Answer: H - Both c and d, a building with plumbing and a hard topped car.

If lightning strikes the building you are in, the current can travel through pipes and electrical wiring. It's best to avoid anything with a cord, such as phones and computers. If you expect a storm, you can also unplug electronics like computers and stereos to prevent damage. Other things to avoid are plumbing, such as sinks, toilets and showers.

If no buildings are available, then an enclosed metal vehicle such as an automobile, van, or school bus makes a decent alternative. If you are inside a vehicle, roll the windows up and avoid contact with any conducting paths leading to the outside of the vehicle (i.e. radios, ignition, etc.). 

Question 6: How often does lightning strike in Canada during an average summer?

1. Once every 3 seconds
2. Once a minute
3. Once an hour
4. 4 times a day
5. 12 times a day

Correct Answer: A - Every three seconds in an average summer.

Question 7: Keraunophobia is the fear of:

1. Thunder
2. Lightning
3. Corn
4. Empty spaces
5. Rain or being rained on

Correct Answer: B - Lightning. Brontophobia is the fear of thunder.

Question 8: In recent years, about six times more men are killed by lightning than women. Besides spending more time outdoors, what is said to be the reason?

1. They are generally taller
2. Men are more inclined to take greater risks
3. The type of shoes they wear
4. The activities they are involved in

Correct Answer: B - Men are more inclined to take greater risks.  See the Fatalities and Injuries web page.

Question 9: Which weather element is likely to be of most interest to professional golfers?

1. Wind speed
2. Wind direction
3. Air pressure
4. Temperature
5. Proximity of lightning

Correct Answer: E - Proximity to lightning. While all of these factors can affect the game, lightning can end a player’s career. For example, golfer Lee Trevino’s career almost ended when he was struck by lightning and severely injured during a tournament in 1975.

Question 10: What percent of lightning deaths have occurred after the thunderstorm has passed over?

1. 1%
2. 5%
3. 10%
4. 20%
5. 50%

Correct Answer: E - More than half of all lightning deaths happen after a storm appears to have passed. That is why it is important to remember to wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. Also, because lightning can strike from as far as 8 km to 16 km from the storm, people can be struck even before the storm hits. Therefore remember that, “When thunder roars, go indoors.”

Question 11: What is the longest measured lightning flash ever recorded in the world?

1. 25 km
2. 50 km
3. 125 km
4. 190 km
5. 350 km

Correct Answer: D - 190 km

Question 12: If you are planning a large outdoor event i.e. an outdoor concert or festival, when should you prepare a lighting safety plan?

1. The day before the event
2. When you see thunderstorms in the forecast
3. The morning of the event
4. The week before the event
5. During the initial planning stages of the event

Correct Answer: E - During the initial planning stages for the event.

Question 13: What should be included in a lightning safety plan?

1. How many people will need to be evacuated
2. Where will they find a safe shelter
3. How long will it take people to get to a safe shelter
4. The latest weather forecast
5. How long before they can return to their seats
6. All of the above

Correct Answer: F - All of the above.

Always remember to get the latest weather forecasts and warnings.

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