Electric Fields in the Vicinity of Lightning Strokes

New data have been added to the information available on the electric fields during thunderstorms. The new data consist of records of the potential gradients that exist on the earth's surface in the vicinity of lightning strokes. Records have been obtained within 150-200 feet of known stroke locations. To the best of the authors' knowledge this has not been accomplished before. Based on the information obtained, a relation has been derived between the estimated gradient and the distance from the stroke. Also, an estimate is made of the potentials induced by nearby lightning strokes in a conductor at the height of a typical distribution system.