Lightning is a reoccurring phenomenon that often interferes with outdoor activities. You are not safe anywhere outside when lightning strikes. Run to a safe building or vehicle when you first hear thunder, see lightning or observe dark, threatening clouds overhead. Stay inside until 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder. Do not shelter under trees. Below are scenarios you may find yourself in when lightning strikes, as well as more precautions and actions you can take to reduce your risk of getting struck by lightning.
Plan ahead
Always keep at least one device on you that provides accurate, updated weather data. Stay up to date via portable radio, Internet, smartphone or TV. The National Weather Service advises the best source of up-to-date weather information is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio. If you’re in a group, make sure the group has a lightning safety plan and is ready to use it.
Boating
Listen to the weather information when you are boating. If thunderstorms are forecasted, do not go out. If you are out and cannot get back to land and safety, drop anchor and get as low as possible. Large boats with cabins are relatively safe. Remember to stay inside the cabin and away from metal surfaces.
Coaching outdoor sports
Your baseball team has an evening game at the local recreational park. The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a chance of thunderstorms by early evening. When you arrive at the park, you notice the only safe buildings are the restrooms. Shortly after sunset, the sky gets cloudy and you see bright flashes in the sky. What should you do? Get every-one into vehicles or the restrooms. Do not stay in the dugouts; they are not safe during lightning activity.
At the beach
Your family plans to go to the beach today. The weather forecast calls for a nice morning followed by a 30-percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms. When you get to the beach, you see the only nearby structures are open-sided picnic shelters. The parking lot is a five-minute walk from the beach. By early afternoon skies are darkening and you hear distant thunder. What should you do? Go to your car. Do not seek shelter under the beach picnic shelters.
Camping
You are cooking dinner on the camp stove when you hear distant rumbles of thunder. Your tent and a large open-sided picnic shelter are nearby. Your vehicle is about a quarter mile away parked at the trail head. What should you do? Go to your vehicle. The tent and picnic shelter are not safe places.
Safe location not nearby
Remember, there is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm. If you absolutely can’t get to safety, follow these actions to slightly reduce your risk of being struck by lightning:
- Avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top.
- Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, staynear a lower stand of trees.
- If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine or other lowarea. Remember, a tent offers no protection from lightning.
- Stay away from water, wet items including ropes and metal objects such as fences and poles.
For more information, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.
