Lightning Safety When You're Stuck Outdoors

If you are outside during a thunderstorm, there is little you can do to substantially reduce your risk. The only completely safe action is to get inside a safe building or vehicle. Planning and staying prepared for lightning will help keep you and your family safe.

Before you do an outdoor activity, make sure you know the weather patterns of the area you plan to visit. For example, thunderstorms in mountainous areas typically develop in the early afternoon, so plan to hike early in the day and be down the mountain by midday. Listen to the weather forecast for the outdoor area you plan to visit. The forecast may be very different from the one near your home. If there is a high chance of thunderstorms, stay inside!

If you are headed outdoors, make sure you have a way to get up-to-date weather information. A NOAA Weather Radio, the WeatherBug App, smartphone or a portable radio or TV can all be used to communicate current weather conditions.

Make sure there is a lightning safety plan, and you are ready to use it whether by yourself or in a group. If you are in a large group, you will need extra time to get everyone to a safe place.

If you absolutely cannot get to safety, you can slightly lessen your risk of being struck with the following tips.

• 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, stay near a lower stand of trees.
• If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between the group members.
• If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine or other low area. Remember, a tent offers NO protection from lightning.
• Stay away from water, wet items and metal objects. Water and metal do not attract lightning, but they are excellent conductors of electricity. The current from a lightning flash will easily travel for long distances.
• If you are on a baseball field, do NOT stay in the dugouts. Get everyone into vehicles or a fully enclosed building, such as the restrooms.
• If at the beach or lake, do NOT seek shelter under open-sided picnic shelters. Get everyone into vehicles or a fully enclosed building, such as the restrooms.
• If you are on a motorcycle or bike, go to a safe, fully enclosed building nearby.
• If your plans involve going out on the water, do NOT go out if thunderstorms are in the forecast. If you are out and cannot get back to land and safety, drop anchor and get as low as possible. Large boats with cabins, especially those with lightning protection systems properly installed, or metal marine vessels are relatively safe. Remember to stay inside the cabin and away from any metal surfaces. Stay off the radio unless it is an emergency!
• If the boat you are in does not have a cabin you can get into during lightning activity, then you are safer diving deep into the water for the duration of the storm or as long as possible.
• Cave entrances are dangerous during thunderstorms. Small overhangs can allow arcs to cross the gap. Even caves that go well into the ground can be struck, either via the entrance or through the ground. Going well into a cave increases your safety somewhat. Once as deep into the cave as possible, avoid touching metal, standing in water and touching both the cave ceiling and floor.
• Always wait 30 minutes until the last rumble of thunder before leaving your safe place.

When it comes to lightning, remember “when thunder roars, go indoors!” This is the safest way to avoid being struck by lightning.
 
Source: NWS
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Image: Fire at sea Lightning Storm (Shane Ocean via Shutterstock).