Lightning Awareness — Know the Risks, Stay Safe

It's summertime, and those rainy days are officially here! There's nothing quite like the reprieve of some afternoon rain after a scorching hot summer day. We want to make sure that when those clouds roll in, you're prepared to face inclement weather threats with safety at the forefront.

Typically, as Floridians, we rely on our inherent instincts when dealing with thunderstorms. However, even with what we know to be safe or unsafe, we can still find ourselves caught in a potentially dangerous situation. In recent weeks, several people in Florida have been struck by lightning, either directly or indirectly. Let's review some important lightning safety tips for the season. 

Chief Meteorologist, Dennis Phillips, shared in a recent Facebook post, "If you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck. Lightning can travel over 10 miles from the cloud it came from. Most of the time, it's not raining where a person is struck. (That's probably why they are still outdoors.) It's called a "bolt from the blue."

If you find yourself uncertain of the truths vs. the myths of lightning safety, check out this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) webpage that breaks down many common misconceptions. Two popular misbeliefs from the list are:

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it's a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building is hit an average of 23 times a year. 

Myth: If outside in a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter under a tree to stay dry.
Fact: Being underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning casualties. 

As you enjoy the sunshine and happy days of summer, make safety part of your plans:

1. Listen to the forecast and make plans accordingly.
2. If thunderstorms are predicted, consider changing your plans, especially if getting to a safe place quickly isn't doable.
3. While outdoors, monitor weather conditions.
4. If the sky looks threatening or you hear thunder, go to a safe place immediately. Don't ignore any signs of a developing or approaching storm.
5. Remain inside the safe place for 30 minutes after the last thunder.
6. And remember, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!