It may even be harmful to be close by when lightning strikes. Lightning is the cause of many forest fires each year. Since a bolt of lightning can be up to almost five times hotter than the sun, the intense amount of heat caused by lightning can be very damaging. The occurrence of lightning is associated with thunderstorms. Other types of lightning can occur during snowstorms, sandstorms, and during volcanic eruptions.
Lightning can also occur on a clear day.
The Red Cross offers helpful hints about what to do in a thunderstorm if you are caught outside, what you can do before lightening strikes or if someone is struck, and helpful hints about what to do after the storm passes.