Lake Charles Woman Leaves Lighter at Front Windshield, Explodes

We may forget from time to time that things we leave in our cars during the summer can really get to cooking if you leave your vehicle parked in direct sun for some time. I've seen some people literally bake cookies in the rear windshield of a car while it was sitting in the sun.

A Lake Charles woman left a simple lighter between the front windshield of her car and the dash while it was parked. The temperature inside the car caused the fluid in the lighter to expand and ultimately blow up, cracking the windshield. I would have instantly peed my pants if that would have happened to me while I was driving. Luckily, she was parked and not in the vehicle.

This story made me start questioning exactly how hot can a car get while it is sitting in the car. Apparently, there is a website for that. I found Good Calculators. They have a ton of various calculators you can use to figure things out, including how hot your car gets in the summer based on outside temperature and how long it sits not running.

85 degrees outside for 30 minutes - 119 degrees.

95 degrees outside for 30 minutes  - 129 degrees

90 degrees outside for 60 minutes - 133 degrees

85 degrees outside for 60 minutes - 128 degrees

We know when we get in our vehicles during the summer, it's gonna be hot in there. I personally never thought of exactly how hot it could get. Sometimes I am guilty of leaving my laptop in my truck in the summer. This little tidbit of info has just changed my mind totally! Just be mindful of what you leave behind during these hot months, your vehicle is literally almost an oven!