Caught outside in a storm, inside during a thunderstorm, or in a car there are steps you can take to protect yourself from the dangers of lightning
Outside in a lightning storm
There is no safe place outside with lightning, however these actions may reduce your risk of being struck.
- Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top
- Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects
- Stay away from water, wet items, and metal objects
- A tent or open air building will not protect you from lightning
Inside during a lightning storm
- Don’t touch electrical equipment or electronics plugged into the wall
- Stay off corded phones and avoid plumbing
- Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
- Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls
Inside a car during a lightning storm
You are safe from lightning inside a car as long as you do the following.
- Roll up the windows so that they are closed
- Don’t touch metal objects inside the car
- Pull over on the side of the road ad put your hazards on
Related Articles:
- How tornadoes form
- Tornado facts
- Tornado Safety
- Lightning Safety
- Flood Safety
- Tornado Myths
- Lightning Myths
- Life cycle of thunderstorms
- Criteria for a tornado warning
- Criteria for a severe thunderstorm
- Difference between “flood” and “flash flood”
- Sign-up for Proximity Lightning Alerts by email and text message
- Get Severe Weather Alerts by email and text message
