Lightning Safety

  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