According to the National Weather Service (NWS), summer brings an increase in lightning strikes.
While the warm weather invites many outside activities, if you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Take a moment during National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 24-30) to learn how to stay safe in a thunderstorm with tips from NWS.
Outdoors:
- When thunder roars, go indoors - move inside a sturdy building or hard top vehicle with the windows up as soon as you hear thunder.
- Do not take shelter in small sheds, gazebos, dugouts, bleachers, under isolated trees, or convertible automobiles.
- Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
- Stay away from water, wet items, such as ropes, and metal objects, such as fences and poles. Water and metal do not attract lightning, but they are excellent conductors of electricity.
Indoors:
- Stay indoors. Stay inside at least 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.
- Do not touch anything plugged into an electrical outlet.
- Use a corded telephone only for emergencies; cordless and cellular phones are safe to use.
- Avoid contact with plumbing; do not wash your hands, and do not take a shower or bath.
To learn how to prepare for a thunderstorm, visit the Ready Campaign’s Thunderstorms page. For more lightning safety information, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. Remember: lightning can strike any time of year.
