"Andy Wade" wrote
| The conductor(s) can carry strike current easily. The danger, and
| damage, come when the current leaves the conductor and forms an arc
| - in a 'side flash'. The peak power in the arc can reach 100 MW/m,
| heating the surrounding air to 30,000 K and initiating a shock wave.
| It's the shock wave that blows tiles off roofs, etc ...
| Finally the earth system design is not trivial. BS 6551 requires an
| earth system resistance not exceeding 10 ohms. 200 kA through 10
| ohms will drop 2 MV, so voltage gradients at the ground surface
| (between someone's feet, for example) become an important consideration...

Memo to self: Do not pee against a church tower during a thunderstorm.

Owain