4. The Misconception of Lightning Never Striking Twice
Though this popular wisdom is basically a fallacy, we have all heard the proverb “lightning never strikes the same place twice.” Actually, especially big buildings and natural lightning-attracting geographical characteristics, lightning can and usually does strike the same spot several times.
One outstanding illustration of this phenomena is the Empire State Building in New York City. It strikes lightning on average of twenty-three times year! About ten times a year, lightning strikes the Paris Eiffel Tower as well. These tall buildings function as preferred strike places, therefore acting as huge lightning rods.
One can also often strike natural features. For example, some mountaintops or exposed sites in places prone to lightning may be struck hundreds of times in a single year. This is basic: lightning usually follows the path of least resistance to the ground, hence once a path has been created, it becomes simpler for next strikes to follow the same path.
Safety grounds depend on an awareness of this fact. Just because an area has lately experienced lightning does not indicate it is safe from next strikes. Seeking appropriate cover is generally advisable during a thunderstorm independent of local recent lightning activity.