Lightning strikes over Lake Obabika, Ontario. (Provided photo — Tyler Chase)

We get occasional thunder and lightning in the Adirondacks, but this isn’t anything like the Midwest. One friend used to tell me his dating ritual was to bring his date to watch the thunder and lightning roll over the plains while sitting on the hood of his car. I question his sanity then and now, thinking of him sitting on a metal vehicle surrounded by lightning. Don’t be like Jim.

There are quite a few myths and legends about lightning. Let’s find out what is truth or fiction.

Greek mythology gifts the gods with weather elements. Zeus, the king of gods, is given a thunderbolt to send rain, wind, thunder and lightning down to earth. Thor is the Norse equivalent, as he controls thunder with his hammer. (No, people. Marvel did not invent these characters, and Chris Hemsworth isn’t Thor. Don’t get me started.) Whether you hear angels bowling or the Incan god Apocatequil launching rocks, lightning storms are not all fun and games.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, lightning can strike in the same spot more than once, especially if the object is tall and isolated. (Bolts strike the Empire State Building’s antenna at least 25 times a year.)

Lightning can happen independently, but thunder is a byproduct of lightning. The air around the lightning bolt heats up quickly, causing an explosion. The temperature of lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun, sometimes reaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. To estimate how close lightning is, divide the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder, then divide by five. For example, if there are 10 seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder, the lightning is 2 miles from your location. Counting the distance is a fun pastime to do with children when you are safely tucked inside a house or a nerve-wracking activity while running on a trail to get to safety.

No matter how close or far away the lightning is, try to get inside as soon as possible. Please stay away from open areas because you become the tallest object. Even though lightning isn’t attracted to metal, it can travel through it for long distances, so don’t be like Jim. Administer first aid immediately if lightning strikes someone. It is a myth that victims carry an electrical charge.

Whether it’s Thor’s hammer or angels bowling, I hope you’re counting the seconds between the lightning and thunder from a safe area.