Refer to figure.
LIGHTNING is a huge electrical discharge that flows between clouds, from a cloud to air, or from a cloud to the ground. It is most likely to occur within about 5000 ft of the freezing level. Temperature between +10°C and -10°C.

Lightning typically strikes a relatively sharp edge of a plane, like a wingtip or nose, and the current exits via the tail - becoming part of the lightning trajectory. This happens because an aircraft's fuselage, or body, acts as a Faraday cage (a container that blocks electromagnetic fields). In short, lightning strikes are not a severe problem from a safety standpoint. When air operators route around stormy areas, it is to prevent turbulence or possible external damage caused by things like hail rather than to avoid lightning.

While flying through air that is electrically charged the aircraft is likely to become a charge carrier itself and can initiate a lightning discharge

The main effects of a lightning strike are:

• Temporary blindness of the pilots
• Minor airframe damage
• Magnetic compasses may be seriously affected (errors of 10s of degrees have been recorded) and their information should be used with caution until they can be checked
• Disruption to electrical equipment