Thunderstorm Safety: What to Do When Thunder Rolls In

Thunderstorm safety is something most people think they understand until they are caught outside with lightning cracking overhead and no plan. Thunderstorms kill more people in the United States each year than hurricanes and tornadoes combined, mostly through lightning strikes, flash flooding, and wind-driven debris. The Honest Weatherman wants you to know exactly what to do before, during, and after a thunderstorm so that a routine afternoon storm does not turn into a life-threatening situation.

How to Know When a Thunderstorm Is Coming

The first rule of thunderstorm safety is awareness. Most thunderstorm injuries happen because people are caught off guard. But thunderstorms rarely appear out of nowhere. There are clear signs that one is building, and technology makes it easier than ever to track them.

Watch the sky for towering cumulus clouds, especially on hot and humid afternoons. If you see a darkening sky, increasing wind, or distant flashes, a storm is likely approaching. The old rule of counting seconds between lightning and thunder still works: every five seconds equals roughly one mile of distance. If you count fewer than 30 seconds, the storm is close enough to be dangerous.

Better yet, let technology do the watching for you. The Honest Weatherman app provides real-time radar and storm tracking so you can see thunderstorms developing and moving toward your location. Download it from the App Store and check radar before heading outdoors on days when storms are in the forecast.

Signs that a thunderstorm is imminent:

• Rapidly darkening skies, especially to the west or southwest
• A sudden drop in temperature
• Increasing wind with gusty, shifting directions
• The sound of distant thunder
• A greenish tint to the sky, which can indicate hail

Thunderstorm Safety Indoors

If you are inside a sturdy building when a thunderstorm hits, you are in the safest place you can be. But being indoors does not mean you are completely out of danger. Lightning can enter your home through wiring, plumbing, and even concrete floors that contain metal rebar.

Stay away from windows and doors. Do not lean against exterior walls. If lightning strikes nearby, the shock wave can shatter glass and send debris flying inward.

Avoid using corded electronics. Landline phones, desktop computers plugged into wall outlets, and anything connected to an external antenna can conduct a lightning strike into your hands. Laptops and phones on battery power are fine to use.

Do not shower, bathe, or wash dishes during a thunderstorm. Water conducts electricity, and lightning striking your home's plumbing can send current through the pipes. This is not an old wives' tale. It is documented by the National Weather Service.

Stay off concrete floors and away from concrete walls if possible. Concrete often contains metal reinforcement that can conduct lightning. If your basement has a concrete floor, stand on a rubber mat or wear shoes.

Thunderstorm Safety Outdoors

Being caught outside during a thunderstorm is far more dangerous than being inside, and your response needs to be immediate. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning. Period.

Get to a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle immediately. A picnic shelter, tent, or open-sided structure does not count. You need four walls and a roof, or a car with the windows rolled up.

If you cannot reach shelter, avoid high ground, open fields, isolated tall trees, and bodies of water. Lightning tends to strike the tallest object in an area, and standing in an open field makes you that object.

Crouch low if you are completely exposed. Get into a ball position with your feet together, head tucked, and hands over your ears. Do not lie flat on the ground. The goal is to minimize both your height and the amount of your body in contact with the ground, since ground current from a nearby strike can be lethal.

If you are in a group, spread out. Multiple people standing close together increases the chance of multiple casualties from a single strike.

What to Do After the Storm Passes

Thunderstorm safety does not end when the rain stops. Many lightning deaths occur after a storm has seemingly passed because people rush back outdoors too soon. The National Weather Service recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside.

After the storm, watch for downed power lines. Never touch or approach them, and assume every downed line is live and dangerous. Report downed lines to your utility company immediately.

Check your property for damage. Look for broken tree limbs hanging overhead, structural damage to your roof, and any signs of water intrusion. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave the area and call your gas company.

If someone near you has been struck by lightning, call 911 immediately. Lightning strike victims do not carry an electrical charge, so it is safe to touch them. Begin CPR if they are not breathing. Quick action dramatically improves survival rates for lightning strike victims.

Thunderstorm Safety for Outdoor Activities

If you spend time hiking, camping, golfing, fishing, or doing anything outdoors regularly, thunderstorm safety planning should be part of every outing. Check the forecast before you leave, and have an exit strategy for every location you visit.

For hikers and campers, the biggest risk is being caught at elevation or in exposed terrain. Start hikes early in the day during storm season, and plan to be below treeline by early afternoon when convective storms typically develop. If you are camping, never set up your tent under the tallest tree or on a ridgeline.

For boaters and swimmers, get off the water at the first sign of a storm. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity, and being in or on a lake during a lightning storm is one of the most dangerous places you can be.

For athletes and coaches, establish a lightning policy. Many youth sports leagues now require a 30-minute delay after the last lightning flash before play can resume. Do not override this for the sake of finishing a game.

The Honest Weatherman app lets you set custom alert zones so you get notified when storms are approaching your favorite trail, golf course, or lake. That kind of advance notice gives you time to pack up and get to safety.

Get Real-Time Thunderstorm Alerts on Your Phone

Thunderstorm safety starts with knowing what is coming. You cannot prepare for a storm you do not see, and you cannot take shelter if you do not know one is approaching. That is exactly why The Honest Weatherman exists: to give you clear, honest weather information without the sensationalism.

No storm should catch you unprepared. Download The Honest Weatherman from the App Store and get real-time radar, lightning tracking, and severe weather alerts sent straight to your phone. Your safety is worth the 30 seconds it takes to install.