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There's a widespread belief among most of the people I know that all windows should be closed during a storm as having them open is supposed to attract lightning (or, according to some people, can allow the lightning to 'strike inside').

I'm highly sceptic about all this and Googling for those risks was unsuccessful. Does anyone have any light to shed on the matter?

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Are you sure the belief is about lightning? The reason I was always told was to protect the windows from being broken by the wind, or to protect the rain to rain into the window. – Suma Aug 29 '11 at 13:22
Yes, I am sure - also, the reasons you've given are totally plausible, while the lightning theory is strange enough to make me wonder.. – Gregor Aug 29 '11 at 13:31
It could have something to do with minimizing damage if a fire breaks out inside the house. Less air less fire. – Nostrum Aug 29 '11 at 13:42
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Can you please give some source to the claims where they try to explain why is that? – Daniel Iankov Aug 29 '11 at 20:24
How many people do you know? Can you tell them to show up here, to support your claim? What do your friends tell you about the reasons? Is the lightening transported via air, and stopped by glas? – user unknown Aug 30 '11 at 11:14
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1 Answer

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No, open windows do not increase the chance of lightning striking a house--however it DOES allow lightning to more easily strike an object inside the house.

From a USAToday chat transcript with John Jensenius, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service and expert on lightning safety:

Warren, Ohio: They say don't stand near a window when it's lightning outside. Does it make a difference whether the window is open or closed? Can lightning go through the glass? Isn't glass an insulator?

John Jensenius: It's better to be a few feet away from windows and doors. Glass is an insulator, but so is air. You're probably a little better off with the window closed, but it's more important to put a couple feet of air between you and the window. Both windows and doors can be made of or contain metal, so the glass may not make much difference. I know of several incidents of people being struck with their hand on the doorknob while peering outside at the storm.

Although there is always a chance that lightning travels through the closed window, with lightning strikes you are always playing in the realm of probabilities and the best thing you can do is keep your body out of the potential path of any nearby lightning strikes. You could be injured by shards of glass from a shattering window but it is preferable to being part of a closed circuit between a thundercloud and the earth.

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