Returning to lightning , this news report from yesterday - perhaps there
should be a return to thermionic valves for safety reasons

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8087964.stm
Page last updated at 14:44 GMT, Sunday, 7 June 2009 15:44 UK

Fishermen rescued in thunderstorm
Poole lifeboat Sgt Bob Martin
The new Poole RNLI inshore lifeboat took part in the rescues

Two fishermen had to be rescued after they became cut off and were unable to
return to shore during a thunderstorm off Dorset.

Relatives of the men, who had been out fishing all day, alerted the
coastguard when they had not returned by midnight.

The Poole RNLI lifeboats located the men's motorboat and dinghy in the
harbour. Their radio, phone and mobiles had been put out by the electric
storm.

They were transferred to the lifeboat and taken back to shore unhurt.

Gavin McGuinness, volunteer helmsman, said: "They did the right thing
staying put. It was the worst conditions I have seen for some time.

"The visibility was poor, the rain was hitting us like ball bearings out of
a machine gun, sheets of rain interspersed by bolts of lightning made
conditions horrendous".

"Huge bolts of lightning bouncing of the water all round the harbour,
lighting up the night skies, it was very close to the boats."

He said the torrential rain had also blanked out the radar.