By Bill Fortune
It is that time of year when outdoor activities conflict with hazardous weather. Working with the National Weather Service, we thought it would be helpful to provide some discussion about outdoor lightning risk reduction.
Being outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm. Each year, nearly all people in the United States injured or killed by lightning were involved in an outdoor activity. They were struck while working outside, were at or participating at an outdoor sporting event, or were boating or fishing. Other examples include people struck while they were hiking, mowing the lawn or simply going to or from their car. Quite a few were on their own property when they were struck.
Unfortunately, there is no place outside that is safe from lightning.
The only safe place to be when lightning is occurring is either inside a substantial building, or an enclosed automobile. Here are some important things to remember before venturing outdoors:
- An informed decision will help you avoid being in an area where lightning is expected to occur. Before heading out, get an updated forecast.
- Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, check National Weather Service web sites, go to your favorite broadcast or print media, or access your favorite weather apps on your cell phone for the latest forecast.
- In Wyoming, it is important to remember that thunderstorms typically develop in the mountains after 11 am. So it is best to plan your climbing or hiking trip so that you are coming down the mountain by late morning. If thunderstorms are in the forecast, consider planning an alternate indoor activity or, if you still plan to be outside, make a plan which will allow you to quickly get to a safe shelter if a storm should develop.
- Once you are outside, keep up-to-date on the weather via your smart phone or portable NOAA weather radio receiver. Check for updated forecasts. Check if storms are near you by checking the latest radar imagery on your cell phone. There are now several smart phone apps you can purchase that show you real-time lightning activity in your area.
- Do not forget to simply look around you to make sure storms are not developing in your vicinity.
Two outdoor lightning scenarios
- Outside and shelter is nearby. If you are outside, such as a park, a lake, or an outdoor sporting event, know where the nearest safe location can be accessed.. A safe location is any substantial building (A substantial building is a structure which is fully enclosed and has electrical wiring and plumbing). Examples of substantial buildings include a business, a home, or a church. In addition, any enclosed hard-topped car or truck also offers excellent protection from a lightning strike.
- Once you hear thunder or see lightning, immediately stop what you are doing and quickly get to the safe shelter. Do not wait until the rain starts to seek safe shelter.
- Once inside a safe shelter, it is recommended you stay there for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. Past history has shown that most people who were outdoors and were injured or killed by lightning had access to a nearby safe shelter.
- Do not wait to seek safe shelter when lightning threatens.
- When you hear thunder or see lightning, it is important for you, and your family, to act quickly.
- It is critically important to avoid shelters that are not safe from lightning, such as picnic shelters, bullpens, any type of tent, or any other small buildings that are open to the elements.
- NEVER…NEVER…get under a tree when a thunderstorm is nearby or overhead.
- It is important that all sports leagues and other outdoor groups have a lightning response plan that is understood and consistently applied for the safety of the participants. Part of the plan would include a designated weather watcher at each outdoor event with the authority to postpone or cancel the event due to the threat of lightning. It is also important that people know where to seek safe shelter if a storm should threaten.
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- If no safe shelter is nearby. This situation typically occurs to people who are hiking or camping in the back country. Unfortunately, in this scenario, there is not much you can do to reduce your risk from being struck by lightning.
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- The best thing to do is move away from tall isolated objects, such as trees.
- Stay away from wide open areas.
- Stay as low as possible with your feet close together if lightning is nearby.
- If you are with a group of people, spread out, that way if someone is struck by lightning, the others can offer first aid.
- If camping in the back country, place your tent in a low area away from tall isolated trees.
Much of the material and the graphics for this article were provided by the National Weather Service. For more information about lightning safety visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. For information about preparing for emergencies visit www.redcross.org. For detailed weather information anytime visit www.weather.gov.