Lightning on the horizon: Smart safety steps during thunderstorms
Every year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these bolts flashing across the sky in summer. Each one poses a serious risk, tragically resulting in around 20 fatalities annually. The threat increases dramatically as a storm closes in, reaching a critical point when it’s directly overhead, and then gradually fades as the system moves out of range.
Here’s how to stay safe when the sky crackles with danger.
Have a lightning safety plan
Before stepping outside, it’s essential to create a lightning safety plan. Always observe the sky for ominous cloud formations and listen carefully for thunder—if you can hear it, lightning is already a risk.
As soon as signs of a thunderstorm are evident, seek shelter immediately. The safest place is always indoors or inside a fully enclosed vehicle.
Safety indoors during a lightning storm
Once indoors, stay clear of corded phones, electrical appliances, and plumbing fixtures, including sinks and bathtubs. Keep a safe distance from windows and doors. Lightning can travel through conductive materials such as wires, pipes, and metal frameworks.
Know when it’s safe to go back outside
Even if the thunder seems to have stopped, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before resuming any outdoor activities. Lightning can strike well after the storm has seemingly passed.
Caught outside? Here’s what to do
If no indoor shelter is available, take these precautionary actions:
Avoid open fields, hilltops, or exposed ridgelines, which leave you vulnerable. Do not shelter beneath tall or isolated trees. In wooded areas, stay near smaller trees or lower canopy sections.
If you’re in a group, disperse so lightning doesn’t jump between individuals.
Avoid camping in open terrain during a storm. If unavoidable, choose a valley, ravine, or low-lying spot, although remember: tents offer no protection from lightning.
Stay away from water, wet items, and metal objects. While they don’t attract lightning, they conduct electricity extremely well.
Rainy roadways ahead: Crucial safety tips for heavy rain
Heavy rain can cause flash flooding, especially when the ground is already saturated or when rain falls intensely over a short time. Be prepared to drive and navigate these conditions safely with these strategies.
Stay clear of swelling waterways
Never park or walk near culverts, drainage ditches, or fast-moving water. These can become deadly with even modest rainfall.
Drive cautiously in wet conditions
Follow the two-second rule, but double it during heavy rain. This gives more time to react due to reduced traction and longer braking distances.
Slow down—remove your foot from the gas pedal and let your speed drop naturally. Avoid braking abruptly, as it may lead to skidding.
Stay toward the center lanes, where water pools less often.
Make sure you’re visible
Turn on your headlights, and be mindful of vehicles behind and beside you, which may be hidden behind a curtain of spray. The first 30 minutes of rainfall are the slickest, due to oil and grime mixing with water.
Avoid large vehicles and use your wipers wisely
Keep extra space between you and trucks or buses—their tire spray reduces visibility. If you need to pass, do so quickly and safely.
If your wipers can’t keep up, pull over in a rest area or somewhere protected. Never stop on the shoulder unless there’s no alternative—if you do, move far from traffic, turn on your emergency flashers, and keep your headlights on.
