lightning strike or lightning bolt is an electric discharge between the atmosphere and an object. They mostly originate in a cumulonimbus cloud and terminate on the ground, called cloud to ground lightning. A less common type of strike, called ground to the cloud, is upward propagating lightning initiated from a tall grounded object and reaches into the clouds. About 25% of all lightning events worldwide are struck between the atmosphere and earth-bound objects. The bulk of lightning events are intra-cloud or cloud to cloud, where discharges only occur high in the atmosphere. Lightning strikes the average commercial aircraft at least once a year, but modern engineering and design means this is rarely a problem. The movement of aircraft through clouds can even cause lightning strikes.

Are Metal Roofs Susceptible to Lightning?

The most perpetuated myth, by far, about metal roofing is that it leaves your house susceptible to lightning strikes.

Before we cover why metal roofing absolutely does not increase your home’s risk of being struck by lightning, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what standing seam metal roofing is.