This Is Why You Don't Hide Under A Tree During A Lightning Storm

Via the US National Weather Service comes this staggering footage of a lightning bolt making matchsticks of a tree in Upstate New York.

The footage was captured Tuesday by a surveillance camera at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Between 2006 and 2012, 127 Americans died from being struck by lightning. To avoid joining their ranks, follow this handy advice from the National Weather Service: "When thunder roars, go indoors." Failing that, avoid tall objects (like trees) and get as close to the ground as possible without lying down. Basically, you want to crouch and cower – which should come more or less naturally if you find yourself out of doors during a raging thunderstorm.

ht Mika!