Wow. Another good reason never to paddle with cows.

Seriously, I'm not aware of the whole range of danger from lightning.
I do know that 1. it is rare, 2. it hits a significant number of people every year with significant damage and death
3. I'm pretty sure lightning kills and injures more people than sharks, but not as many as traffic accidents.

Yesterday in the Southern California area, especially the high desert (north of LA city) we had some very weird and unpredictable weather.
Here's what NOAA said yesterday afternoon in its Special Marine Warning:

"PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MARINERS CAN EXPECT GUSTY WINDS...HIGH WAVES...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAINS. THIS STORM MAY ALSO PRODUCE HAIL
SHOWERS. BOATERS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY...UNTIL THIS
STORM PASSES.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF CAUGHT ON THE
OPEN WATER STAY BELOW DECK IF POSSIBLE...KEEP AWAY FROM UNGROUNDED
METAL OBJECTS.

: Better off the water with lightning about. A strike doesn't just
: effect the spot it hits (actually jumps from), it has a
: "blast radius" which is variable. Same happens on
: land. I've seen cows gone down from a near strike. It's a hell
: of a lot of energy to dump, it ain't going into a tiny spot. And
: I don't think the neo electricians gloves would cut it at
: megavolt levels. ;)

: Mike Savage
: South West Cork