Staying Safe in the Outdoors During Storms: Q&A with NOAA Lightening Safety Expert John Jensenius
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Lightening in New Mexico. Image courtesy of the NWS. |
According to the National Weather Service, about
34% of lightening strike victims are outside far from safe shelter engaging in popular
summertime activities such as bicycling, hiking, camping, and fishing. Most lightning victims are close to safe shelter but wait too long to get there. Summer storms can be both stunning displays of Mother Nature's power and incredibly scary if you're caught in one outdoors. NOAA lightening safety expert John Jensenius has a number of tips and thoughts about how to stay safe when we're playing outside during storm season.
Is there any sort of pattern to lightning strikes
nationwide?
Yes, areas with high levels of heat and humidity tend to get
the most lightning as these are two of the ingredients needed to produce a
thunderstorm. In the U.S., Florida and
the Gulf Coast tend to get the most lightning.
The U.S. Southeast Coast and Mississippi Valley also receive quite a bit
of lightning. A map of the average
yearly lightning strike density can be found here.
If I'm outside in the summer and hear thunder, how can I
tell how far away it is?
In order to tell how far away the lightning is, you must first
see the flash of lightning. Count the
number of seconds between the flash and thunder, divide by 5, and that tells
you the distance (in miles) to the lightning (10 seconds equals 2 miles). Thunderstorms also have in-cloud lightning
which typically develops shortly before the cloud-to-ground lightning. Unless it is dark outside, you probably won't
see the actual flash. However, a
crackling or rumbling aloft is a sure sign of a charged atmosphere and the
imminent threat of cloud-to-ground lightning.
More information can be found here.
At what point should
I start seeking shelter? Can I tell how fast storms are moving or if they'll pass me? (from @cdnrockiesgirl)
You can only hear the sound of thunder about 10 miles from a
storm. And...lightning can strike 10
miles from a storm. So, if you hear
thunder, you're likely within striking distance of the storm and need to get to
a safe place immediately. "When
thunder roars, go indoors!"
Depending on the situation, you may need to head toward a safe shelter
much sooner, especially if you need extra time to reach the safe shelter. If you know thunderstorms are possible on a
particular day and the sky starts to show signs of a developing storm, don't
wait for the first lightning strike because the first flash is just as deadly
as all the other flashes.
Where are the best places to seek shelter from lightning?
What are the worst?
There are only two good places -- in a substantial building
that has wiring and plumbing throughout or a hard-topped metal vehicle. If lightning strikes a substantial building,
it will usually follow wiring and plumbing to the ground. Since it follows wiring and plumbing though,
you don't want to be connected in any way to either (or anything plugged into
the electricity). If lightning strikes a
hard-topped vehicle, it will follow the metal shell around you.
Being outside is very dangerous. If you're outside and can't get to a safe place, we
tell people to avoid situations that would increase the risk of being struck.
Lightning tends to strike the tallest object in the immediate area -- so, you
don't want to be the tallest object, nor do you want to be near tall objects. People continue to be killed every year
taking shelter under tall trees.
There are no "good" options as there is little you
can do to protect yourself from a nearby lightning strike. Because lightning would tend to strike the
ridge lines or peaks more often than other areas, you'd want to avoid those.
However, being in this situation is very dangerous and your life is at the
mercy of the random nature of lightning strikes. If at all possible, you should plan your
mountain hikes early in the morning and be off the mountains before thunderstorms
develop. Thunderstorms develop very
rapidly over the higher peaks in Colorado and once they start to develop, there
is little time to get to safety.
Am I more likely to get struck by lightning if I'm hiking at
elevation?
Elevation is a factor in thunderstorm development, but there
are other factors (such as heat, humidity, and atmospheric stability) that also
factor into thunderstorm development and the amount of lightning. If you take another look at the map of lightning strikes,
you will notice an increase in lightning over the higher peaks in
Colorado. However, you don't see an
increase in the mountains along the Pacific Coast or even along the
Appalachians Mountains near the East Coast.
In addition, the most lightning in the U.S. occurs in relatively low
areas.
I've never experienced a thunderstorm or lightning in the
winter. Why? Are there places that do?
Yes, very well developed winter storms can produce lightning
in the central and eastern United States.
The reason that you don't see lightning very often in the winter is that
the atmospheric conditions needed to produce a charged cloud are relatively
rare and only occur with very well developed winter storms. Lightning in winter storms is just as
dangerous as lightning in summer storms.
I generally see lightening as scary and dangerous. Are there
good things about storms?
Dangerous and scary - yes, especially if you’re not in a
safe place. If you're in a safe place
though, it can be interesting and fascinating to watch. I have always been interested in science of
lightning, but also work very hard to make people understand this dangerous and
potentially deadly killer. In my mind,
being scared of lightning equates to a healthy respect for something that can
kill you. Always be careful and always
plan your activities to avoid the threat.
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Interviewee John Jensenius. Thank you! |
Huge thanks to John for taking the time to answer questions about lightening and lightening safety in the outdoors!
Do you have anything else you'd like to know? Have you had an experience with lightening or storms during an outdoor adventure? Leave a comment!
Do you have anything else you'd like to know? Have you had an experience with lightening or storms during an outdoor adventure? Leave a comment!
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