What happens when lightning strikes the Eiffel Tower?
What happens when lightning strikes the Eiffel Tower?
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The heatwave that’s seen much of northern Europe melting in the past week, is moving eastwards, with Germany and Hungary reaching or exceeding 40 degrees in the past 24 hours.
Here in France, we finally saw a break to baking temperatures and the tropical nights, the cooler Atlantic air coming in from the west.
And it was momentous moment, a barrage of lightning flashes and storms for more than an hour. I watched tables sent flying from the terraces of restaurants, plates and food with it, crashing to the floor and people ran in to take cover and watch.
If you scroll your socials, you’ll notice the Eiffel Tower was struck by lightning.
Which leads to the many questions about Why Lightning doesn’t damage the Eiffel Tower, is it safe for people to be within the tower, on the observation deck, in the restaurants with the tempest ongoing. Turns out the Eiffel Tower is struck several times a year by lightning. And if we go back to 1889, when it was the centre piece of the World Fair in Paris, Gustave Eiffel has designed it not only as a spectacle, and not only withstand lightning, but to act as a scientific data station.
To explain, Michael Troubat joins in the studio, the President of France Paratonnerres, the company that handles lightning protection for the Eiffel Tower.
And we’re also joined by Marie Segura, the co founder of My Private Paris, running curated luxury tours of the capital.
