It works by detecting electromagnetic pulses, signaling how close cloud-to-ground lightning is. You'll know it's approaching when you see the lights on the device go from green to yellow to red.

So if you suffer from Astraphobia, pick up this lightning detector for $69 on WeatherShop.com..

Update 7/12: Why lightning and your iPod are not a good mix, after the jump.

Speaking of lightning, walking to the bus station on my way home yesterday, it was ironic that lightning was striking, as well as raining. People were screaming and ducking for cover, like NYC was going to blow up or something! I was also stunned when I saw people still talking on their cell phones and listening to their MP3 players when it was lightning. Not that I really thought it could be that harmful until I saw a report on Fox News last night that showed a 37-year-old man from Vancouver who was jogging with his iPod when lightning hit a tree a few feet away and jumped to his body. (Yes, lightning can strike an object and then jump to a person if he or she is near that object, even over 100 yards.) He was then thrown about 8 feet and suffered second-degree burns on his chest and leg, not to mention two linear burns along his neck and sides of his face, including his ears, from where his earbud cords lay. "It ruptured both ear drums, dislocated tiny ear bones that transmit sound waves, and broke the man's jaw in four places," said Dr. Eric Heffernan, an imaging specialist at Vancouver General Hospital.

So be careful out there during those nasty summer thunderstorms!