Much of the United States is in peak summer thunderstorm season, and while it can be exciting to watch a storm roll in (safely from your home), it can be dangerous if you’re caught outside during a big storm.
“The summer months of June, July and August are … the highest risk for lightning fatality,” said Aaron Treadway, the National Weather Service’s severe weather program coordinator.
According to Chris Vagasky, a lightning safety specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council, nearly 500 people have died from lightning strikes since 2006, and many more have been injured.
To protect yourself from lightning and other storm-related problems, there are habits (some of which you’re probably already doing) that you should avoid. Here’s what meteorologists never do during a thunderstorm:
1. They don’t stay outside during a thunderstorm.
“The biggest point to remember is that there is no safe place outside from lightning during a thunderstorm,” Treadway said. “The safest place to be is inside either a sturdy building, like a home or a place of business, or actually in your car.”
There is a major reason why cars and sturdy buildings are the safest.
“You want to be somewhere that is fully enclosed with electrical and plumbing in the walls or in that fully enclosed metal vehicle, because then the electricity travels through the metal shell of the car or it travels through the plumbing and the electrical, and it avoids you,” Vagasky said.
2. They don’t ignore thunder.
“If you’re close enough to hear thunder, you’re actually close enough to be struck by lightning,” Treadway said.
That means it’s not advisable to do things like stay in the pool for an extra few minutes as you watch a storm in the distance or sit outside at a baseball game until the rain starts.
“Lightning can strike 10 to 15 miles away from the core of a thunderstorm — so where all of the heavy rain is falling,” Vagasky said.
These lightning strikes are called “bolts from the blue” and can strike an area that isn’t even seeing rain yet, Treadway explained.
“Let the storm pass, and then we say to wait for half an hour after you hear that last clap of thunder before going back to your summertime activity … so that you are ensuring that that thunderstorm is far enough away,” he said.
Experts say lightning can strike from up to 15 miles away from the core of a thunderstorm.
3. They don’t handle corded electronics during a storm.
“If you are inside during a thunderstorm, you are safe as long as you are not in contact with something that’s connected to the outside,” Vagasky said.
So you don’t want to be talking on a corded telephone, using a computer that’s plugged into the wall or playing video games using a corded setup.
“Those are all incidents where people have been injured or killed by lightning in spite of being inside,” Vagasky said.
This applies to more than just the electronics mentioned above. It also goes for at-home workout equipment, blow dryers, vacuums and whatever else you can plug into an electrical socket.
“Really, anything plugged into the wall has the opportunity to provide that shock,” Treadway said.
However, he noted items such as cellphones and wireless gaming controllers are fine to use because “you’re not plugged into the wiring of your home.”
4. They don’t seek shelter under trees or unstable structures.
It may feel natural to escape the rain by standing under a tree, but it isn’t going to protect you from the storm at all. In fact, it’ll do the opposite.
“That tree is actually going to attract the lightning as being one of the taller targets in the area,” Treadway said. “So trees are definitely unsafe.”
Hiding out under a gazebo, covered porch or pavilion isn’t a good idea during a storm, either.
“As long as you’re exposed on the outside, even though you have something over your head, you’re still at risk of getting struck by a lightning strike that is nearby,” Treadway said.
5. They don’t wade through standing flood water.
“Wading through flood waters could increase a risk of a lightning strike similar to being in a pool or the ocean during a thunderstorm,” Treadway said.
Not to mention there are other dangers of wading through flood water, which can be contaminated with human and livestock waste, rodents, debris and other contaminants that can lead to illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
6. They avoid using running water — like showers, baths and dishes — during a thunderstorm.
During a thunderstorm, you’ll also want to avoid using running water, whether you’re in the shower, bath or doing the dishes.
“The electricity could travel through the water in the plumbing and then enter the house or the building that way,” Vagasky said.
What to do if you or someone you know has been struck by lightning.
Most summer storms don’t last too long, so avoiding these habits won’t inconvenience you for an extended period of time.
“That’s the nice thing about the summer pop-up thunderstorms ― not to get into the nerdy meteorology ― but usually they don’t stick around that long,” Treadway said. “The springtime is when we see those bigger, long-track supercells that can persist for a long time.”
If you or someone you know does get struck by lightning, it’s important to act quickly. An estimated “90% of people who are struck by lightning actually survive, so it’s really important if you see somebody that is struck by lightning … to call 911 and provide first aid immediately,” Vagasky said.
You don’t need to be afraid to touch someone who has been struck either, since “they don’t hold that electric charge,” he noted.
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Lightning injuries are scary, but by following the rules mentioned above, you and your loved ones can stay safe from summer storms.
