During a lightning storm, it is best not to be the highest pointaround (like standing up in a flat open area) or standing nearsomething tall (like a tree). Why not?
Because the voltage is largest between the clouds and the tall object.
Because the E-field up to the clouds is strongest from the tall object to the clouds.
Because tall objects gather charge from the ground due to their curvature (talland lean objects).
Because the electric field changes most rapidly around the tall object.