the rain front. The first big drops to land on the ground generally accompany the greatest risk of being struck. I mention generally because nothing is certain when it comes to lightning (remember 10 kilometres!). Standing on a beach is more dangerous than being in the car park. I have seen lightning travel out of its way to strike the waterline where land and water meet. You think it would strike the headland as it is higher but it is quite common that it strikes the beach. I can't be sure why lightning does this but in anycase, don't stand on a beach during a thunderstorm. In the home, the telephone, electrical appliances and the water taps (shower, wash basins, kitchen sink etc.) are the places/things to avoid while a thunderstorm rages outside. All of these things have one property in common, copper. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity (this is why they are used in these appliances in the first place). If lightning strikes your house then electricity travels along all the different conducting paths in the house. Copper water pipes and copper wiring take those roles unless you have a lightning protection system installed (I don't). For the short time that this electricity is traveling, any thing attached to them, also becomes part of the circuit. Taking a shower is the most dangerous thing to do. Water and electricity don't mix. Talking on the telephone is well known no no but is much safer these days because