Blitzortung – real time lightning strikes around the world

Post by spdustin » Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 11:20 PM UTC

refibrillator wrote: post #41

spdustin wrote: post #36

For my kids, I have a virtual light switch in HomeKit called "Shower Is Safe". It's pinned to the top of the Home app. I use the Home Assistant integration to fetch this data and run some calculations on the past few minutes of lightning activity. Since the API returns lightning strike time and bearing from a given location, I can (in combination with wind direction) determine if the lightning is approaching or reced…

Nice, what are the odds though? I searched around but couldn’t find any hard stats. Is this like nuclear bunker in my basement type of precaution?

Post by progbits » Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 11:31 PM UTC

the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #34

yreg wrote: post #17

I use their service ( https://www.lightningmaps.org/ ) often, it is perfect for getting an impression about the scale and distance of an incoming storm. It's a bit of a shame, that their detector system project seems to be frozen/dead. Last version (2014, unavailable for orders): https://www.blitzortung.org/en/cover_your_area.php Forum thread (last post 2019): https://www.blitzortung.org/en/forum.php?tid=1656

They just released a new detector so I don't think it is necessarily true that the detector system project is dead. I'm not sure how you get one of those boxes though: https://www.blitzortung.org/en/whats_new.php

Post by mercwear » Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 11:50 PM UTC

spdustin wrote: post #36

For my kids, I have a virtual light switch in HomeKit called "Shower Is Safe". It's pinned to the top of the Home app. I use the Home Assistant integration to fetch this data and run some calculations on the past few minutes of lightning activity. Since the API returns lightning strike time and bearing from a given location, I can (in combination with wind direction) determine if the lightning is approaching or reced…

Post by phoronixrly » Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 11:56 PM UTC

spdustin wrote: post #43

phoronixrly wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, why would showering in a lightning storm not be safe? Do you expect the lightning to discharge in the pipes of your house? How? Or is it that your children would be scared if the power goes out when they're showering? That I understand.

Yes, especially in older homes or homes with poor grounding. Lightning can discharge through water supply lines[0]. There are even cases of toilets exploding due to lightning strikes[1]. (Google for more) Sure, it's exceedingly rare. But it's also exceedingly easy to avoid. I've taught my kids that some decisions are easier when defined as binary rules; judgment calls in cases like this just don't offer any tangible…

Post by greentext » Wed, Aug 28, 2024, 12:26 AM UTC

owenmarshall wrote: post #45

I’ve had a Blitzortung Blue sitting in a box just waiting to be soldered up - maybe this post kicks me into finally believing in my soldering iron skills and doing it.