A strike of lightning can kill a human being and have a major negative impact on especially electric installations. In addition, lightning may start a fire.
The chance of being struck by lightning is, however, very small
In Denmark, less than two people get killed every year from lightning. In most cases, lightning does not strike at all, but jump between or inside clouds.
In Denmark, lightning strikes 0.23 times per km2 a year. This means that a square kilometer of land is struck once every fourth year. Statistically, this means that the average Danish family house will be struck by lightning every 285,000 years. The ordinary soccer field will be struck by lightning every 6,000 years.
In other words, you have to be unusually unlucky to be struck by lightning.
How far away is the thunderstorm?
You can monitor the distance between yourself and the thunderstorm by counting the seconds from you see the lightning until you hear the thunderclap.
Sound moves at almost 1,000 km per hour, which is about 300 m per second. Therefore, it takes any sound one second to move 300 meters. If you count to three, the lightning was almost 1 km away.
When the lightning is some 3-4 km away, we recommend that you go inside.