I have read that lightning can strike up to 10 miles ahead of the storm. So you can have clear sky overhead & be at risk. Saw a strike in my neighbour's yard over the back fence while I was racing to finish mowing the lawns with a storm about 8 miles away at best guess. Needless to say, I packed up PDQ & the lawn waited until another day!
The lightning was quite small, like a piece of cord or small diameter rope & there was no thunder associated with it. I understood then how people get struck & seriously injured or killed while on golf courses or beaches with clear sky's above them & the nearest storm miles away. Personally I think 5 miles is not enough & aprons should be cleared when an approaching storm is 10 miles away.
Last edited by Oakape; 11th Aug 2017 at 17:58.