---
title: "Why You Shouldn’t Hide From Lightning Under a Tree"
description: "As a child, you were probably told not to stand under a tree during a lightening storm. This breathtaking lightning video from Saratoga Springs, New York reveals why this is sound advice. It shows the incredible power of lightning, and why you don't want to be standing under a tree when it is about. This..."
date: "2014-06-08"
modified: "2014-06-08"
authors:
  - name: "Jolene Creighton"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jolene-creighton.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/why-you-shouldnt-hide-from-lightning-under-a-tree"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# Why You Shouldn’t Hide From Lightning Under a Tree

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/lightning-strike-tree.png>)

[![lightning hits tree](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/lightning-hits-tree.gif>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/lightning-hits-tree.gif>)

As a child, you were probably told not to stand under a tree during a lightening storm. This breathtaking lightning video from Saratoga Springs, New York reveals why this is sound advice. It shows the incredible power of lightning, and why you don't want to be standing under a tree when it is about. This video was taken June 3 in Saratoga Springs, New York, and it comes courtesy of Saratoga Springs State Park.

As awesome as this video is, it is also a reminder that the beautiful storms that dance across our sky can be rather dangerous. So far in 2014, there has been 5 lightning fatalities: 3 in Florida, 1 in Texas and 1 in New Mexico. Between 2006 and 2012, 127 Americans died from being struck by lightning. Given that the United States is a rather populated country, these numbers are not too alarming, but it's still probably a good idea to keep them in mind.

## Watch: Amazing Lightning Strike

### Author social links  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/jolene.creighton>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolenecreighton>)  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/sciencejolene>)

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