Is it dangerous to stand near windows in a thunderstorm

[SharkSip]

I was always told when I was small to stay away from Windows when there was thunder and lightening. Also to unplug devices.

Currently going through a thunder storm. I am at home with my mother. She usually gets a fright and starts shaking a bottle of holy water around the home and blessing the home with it.

The thunder storm was well and truly underway and I was wondering where she was and she was in the sitting room spraying the windows with windowlean and wiping them down and I asked her what she was doing and she was saying she was bored and she has to be doing something.

I think she might have the onset of dementia but it's behavioural issues and this could be another one.

Is it dangerous to stand near windows and should I catch this on camera and document it to show a doctor in the hope it helps me with a diagnosis. If not now but later on down the line. There's stuff that's happening that's now quite right.

Why is everyone determined to miss the point here? Yes I would document it. Not because there’s an issue with standing by windows, but because your mum believes that this is dangerous and doing so is out of character for her.

lightning can’t strike glass because it’s er, glass not metal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgurite

🤣

Apparently lightning can travel through the plumbing, as well as the electrical system.

I was literally just telling my husband about this!! Crazy! So lucky to be wearing rubber soled shoes!

@SerendipityJane Indeed. But the frame can be metal and absolutely can conduct electricity.

I grew up in Florida in the 70s and we couldn’t go near water when a thunderstorm was approaching. No pools, no showers or baths. Get out of the ocean. Hunker down in your house and lie low. I’m terrified to this day.

Dont stand under a tree. A great x several generations grandfather of mine did that and died when it was struck by lightening

My mother used to put the scissors and knives in drawer, and cover the mirrors.

Throwing around Holy Water doesn’t seem so bad if she’s a Catholic, more of a worry if she was a life long atheist.

My gran used to unplug the telly and the radio, turn all the mirrors round, open the front and back doors and cover the cutlery with a tea towel 😁. I love a good storm x

When I was small I was also told to stay away from Windows and use Linux as it’s much safer.

I’m sorry people are more interested in your spelling and laughing at your mum’s religious beliefs.
The fact that your mum used to be so frightened of thunder and lightning and now seems oblivious is definitely strange behaviour for her.
I wouldn’t film her but maybe jot down your concerns in a book that can be referenced later 😊

I don't know where it actually hit but a few years ago both ours and next doors' Sky box went out in the thunderstorm. It was so loud, even my husband woke up.

I'm from EE and I avoid the windows. Don't know why.

My Grandma used to turn off the TV, shut the curtains, turn the mirror around and make us lie under the sideboard 🤣

When I was reading this thread, an advertisement appeared with appropriately sinister advice, as per the attached image. Clearly, one should stay away from windows at all times…

Depends if you have metal pipes and cast iron sainitaryware which may not be common now but is most likely where these superstitions come from.

These days metal water mains are earthed and all new houses have surge protection built into the fuse boxes.

Our elderly neighbours opened all the doors and windows because they reckoned if lightning got in, it had to get out again!!

Erm... Ball lightning is extremely rare, but it does happen.

Very very frightning!

If lightning strikes sandy soil, the sand can fuse together and turn to glass.

Lightning isn't attracted to glass per se, but I wouldn't want to be standing the other side of a window from a tree that gets hit by lightning. The sap in the tree boils and makes the tree explode, so bits of tree would hit the window and smash it.

Funnily enough earlier today I actually did a Google search on thunder & lightning and was surprised to learn that not only should you stay away from windows, doors & porches during thunder storms you should also refrain from using the bathroom 😬

🤣🤣🤣 I was thinking @DrGoogleMD was joking too up til this was posted

Oh yes, the mirrors! Think my gran used to cover them with a towel!

No.

Holding a golf club aloft whilst standing on the roof of the highest nearby building? possibly.

My mother still does the turning all electric off and covering mirrors. She's a walking old wives tale encyclopaedia, zero scientific basis.