By Boltwatch ·
Caught Outside in a Thunderstorm? What to Do Now
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck. Stop what you are doing and head for a proper building or a hard-topped car straight away. Nowhere outdoors is safe during a thunderstorm, so the goal is to get inside, not to find a better spot outside.
Check lightning near youGo to a building or a hard-topped car
A safe shelter is a building with wiring and plumbing, such as a house, shop, school or office. A car, van or lorry with a metal roof and the windows closed is the next best option. Move as soon as you hear thunder. Many people are struck because they wait for the rain, finish a game or think the storm is still far off.
Lightning can strike well away from the rain. The US National Weather Service says flashes often land more than 3 miles (5 km) from the centre of a storm, and some strike 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24 km) away. Blue sky overhead does not mean you are out of reach.
Places that look safe but aren't
Don't shelter under a tree. The National Weather Service lists standing under trees as the second leading cause of lightning casualties. Lightning can jump from the trunk to a person nearby, and the current spreads through the ground around it.
Tents, picnic shelters, bus shelters, sports dugouts, sheds and beach huts give no real protection. They keep you dry but have no wiring or plumbing to carry the current to ground. If the car park is a few minutes away, walk to the car rather than waiting under an open-sided roof.
If you really can't reach shelter
Keep moving towards a building or vehicle. While you go, stay off hilltops, ridges and open fields, and keep away from tall, isolated objects. In woodland, a lower stand of trees is better than the tallest one. Leave water as quickly as you can, and keep away from metal fences, poles, railings and wet ropes, which can carry current a long way.
Older advice told people to crouch or lie flat. The National Weather Service now says crouching doesn't make you safer, and lying flat increases your exposure to current travelling through the ground. If you are in a group, spread out so that one strike is less likely to injure everyone.
Plan before you go out
Check the forecast for the place you are visiting, not just your home town. In hills and mountains, storms often build in the early afternoon, so start early and plan to be off exposed ground by midday. Know where your nearest building or car will be at each stage of the walk, ride or match.
Before you set off, open the live lightning map to see whether storms are already active in the area. Remember that reports take time to arrive and some lightning is missed, so an empty map is not a promise of a dry, quiet afternoon. Once you are out, thunder is your signal to move.
If someone is struck
Call the emergency number straight away. A person who has been struck does not carry an electrical charge, so it is safe to touch them and give first aid. If they are not breathing, start CPR if you know how, and use a defibrillator if one is nearby.
The storm is still a danger to you and the injured person. Move to a safer place as soon as you can do so without delaying care.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it safe to shelter under a tree in a thunderstorm?
- No. Standing under a tree is one of the most common ways people are hurt by lightning. Get to a building or a hard-topped car instead.
- Should I crouch or lie down if I'm caught in the open?
- No. Crouching doesn't make you safer, and lying flat increases your exposure to current through the ground. Keep moving towards shelter.
- Does a tent protect you from lightning?
- No. A tent offers no protection. If you are camping, go to your car or a building when you hear thunder.
- Is it safe to touch someone who has been struck by lightning?
- Yes. The body does not store electricity. Call for help and start first aid straight away.