thunderstorms?
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Why what's the difference apart from touching the floor? Wouldn't the bolt still potentially kill you either way?
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Started by Discodee in Ski Chatter 20-Jan-2012 - 19 Replies
Discodee posted Jan-2012
What happens if there's a thunderstorm? Do they close the piste? And will snow melt with all the rain or will piste become too icy? There is thunderstorm forecast where we are next week!
Iceman
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
Thunder does not necessairly mean rain. Thunder is simply warm air meeting cold air, so it can thunder and snow. You won't have problems with pistes closing. I have just been out in a 100kmh wind....they stayed open
The Northern Monkey. Jan'23 Les Arcs
Jbakes87
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
We had a thunderstorm in Courchevel just before Christmas one afternoon and they didn't close the pistes
Trencher
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
Thunder during snowstorms happens occasionally. I think I have heard thunder twice while it has been snowing.
I wouldn't be too worried about using a chair lift, but you wouldn't catch me on a drag lift.
I wouldn't be too worried about using a chair lift, but you wouldn't catch me on a drag lift.
because I'm so inclined .....
Crispyapplepie
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
Trencher wrote:Thunder during snowstorms happens occasionally. I think I have heard thunder twice while it has been snowing.
I wouldn't be too worried about using a chair lift, but you wouldn't catch me on a drag lift.
Why what's the difference apart from touching the floor? Wouldn't the bolt still potentially kill you either way?
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Far Queue
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
OK, trying to remember my physics here. I am pretty sure that lightning simply wants to ground itself to earth following the easiest path. If on a drag lift, you will offer it a route to earth and there is a strong chance you will take a big hit. However, if suspended from a chairlift, unless you are hit directly (in which case all bets are off) the cable itself will act like a giant conductor and run the charge to earth via the suspension poles or the motors at each end.
You may get some issues if it does earth out through the motors, as I suspect that will cause the lift to stop running and may involve a full evacuation.
Equally if you are in a cable car, and the car gets hit, I suspect it will act like a faraday cage and pass the charge round the occupants of the lift and up to the cable to seek a path to earth.
Hope that is correct, I'm sure someone will correct me if it is wrong.
You may get some issues if it does earth out through the motors, as I suspect that will cause the lift to stop running and may involve a full evacuation.
Equally if you are in a cable car, and the car gets hit, I suspect it will act like a faraday cage and pass the charge round the occupants of the lift and up to the cable to seek a path to earth.
Hope that is correct, I'm sure someone will correct me if it is wrong.
Andymol2
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
If it's nearby I wouldn't want to be in the midde of a wide piste wafting my pole in the air.
Far Queue is pretty much spot on with his assessment of the different lift to get caught on!
Far Queue is pretty much spot on with his assessment of the different lift to get caught on!
Andy M
Trencher
reply to 'thunderstorms?' posted Jan-2012
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=lcjhjna9jZE[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=lcjhjna9jZE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=lcjhjna9jZE
because I'm so inclined .....
Edited 2 times. Last update at 20-Jan-2012
Topic last updated on 21-January-2012 at 14:16