Do lightning rods ATTRACT lightning?
Dear Tom,
I was planning on having lightning rods installed on my house to ward off lightning,
but someone told me they attract lightning. Now I'm having second thoughts. What is
the real story?
Ron White
Dear Ron,
Lightning rod protection is a wise investment.
It is commonly believed lightning rods will prevent a lightning strike by discharging the
overhead thundercloud or by deflecting the bolt. Both thoughts are incorrect. A
lightning rod protects the structure on which it is mounted by attracting to itself
the descending lightning bolt and then conducting its electric charge harmlessly into
the ground via a suitable wire system.
A downward-striking bolt is not affected by surface-based objects like buildings until
it is within less than 300 feet of them, and only then will it usually, but not always,
strike the highest object.