Lightning & Thunderstorm Safety
With summer heat, comes summer thunderstorms and outdoor activities which increases our risk for being caught outside during thunderstorms. Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills an average of 49 people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured. Every year, lightning causes forest, grass, and house fires across the U.S. According to the National Fire Protection Association, lightning causes an average of about 24,600 fires each year and costs about $407 million in damages.
While most fires occur in outdoor areas, lightning starts about 4,400 house fires each year, costing somewhere around $283 million in damages. In addition, wildfires caused by lightning burn an average of 5.5 million acres annually. About 16 fire deaths are attributed to lightning-caused fires each year, most of which are the occupants of houses that ignited by lightning.
WHEN THUNDER ROARS - GET INDOORS!
- NO outdoor place is safe when thunderstorms are near. If you hear thunder you can be struck by lightning! Don't wait for rain, lightning can strike out of a clear blue sky!
- If you hear thunder, move to a substantial shelter immediately! This is a building with electric and plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with the windows up.
- Stay in the safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you heard the last thunder sound.
- Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical devices.
- Avoid all plumbing including faucets, sinks, and baths.
- Stay away from doors and windows. Do NOT watch the storm from your porch, patio, or garage with the door open.
- Do not lie or lean on concrete floors and walls.
- If you are caught outside with NO shelter, get off hills and mountains and never lie flat on the ground. Do not seek shelter under an isolated tree, cliff or rocky overhang.
- Get out of ponds, pools, lakes, rivers and the ocean immediately.
- Stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as barbed wire, chain link fence, and power lines.
- Lightning OFTEN strikes the same place more than once if it a tall, isolated object.
- Dugouts, sheds, shelters, tents, picnic pavilions, and bleachers are NOT safe shelter locations.
- If you are driving, try to exit the road, and put your emergency flashers on until after the heavy rain passes.
- Consider postponing outdoor activities if thunderstorms are in the weather forecast.
- Bring in your pets! Dog houses are not safe shelters for thunderstorms. Dogs chained to trees or on metal runners are also vulnerable to being struck by lightning.
- If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 immediately and start CPR if the victims heart or breathing has stopped. Lightning strike victims do NOT carry an electrical charge!
- If your home is struck by lightning, evacuate the home immediately and call 911.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
A thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50knots), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter. Structural wind damage mayimply the occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. A thunderstorm wind equal to or greater than 40 mph (35 knots) and/or hail of at least 1" isdefined as approaching severe. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people some years than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding. High winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Every year people are killed or seriously injured because they didn't hear or ignored severe thunderstorms warnings.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch This is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm by definition is a thunderstorm that produces one inch hail or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour. The size of the watch can vary depending on the weather situation. They are usually issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours. They are normally issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. During the watch, people should review severe thunderstorm safety rules and be prepared to move a place of safety if threatening weather approaches.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Prior to the issuance of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, SPC will usually contact the affected local National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO) and they will discuss what their current thinking is on the weather situation. Afterwards, SPC will issue a preliminary Severe Thunderstorm Watch and then the affected NWFO will then adjust the watch (adding or eliminating counties/parishes) and then issue it to the public by way of a Watch Redefining Statement. During the watch, the NWFO will keep the public informed on what is happening in the watch area and also let the public know when the watch has expired or been cancelled.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning This is issued when either a severe thunderstorm is indicated by the WSR-88D radar or a spotter reports a thunderstorm producing hail one inch or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour; therefore, people in the affected area should seek safe shelter immediately. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning. Lightning frequency is not a criteria for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning. They are usually issued for a duration of one hour. They can be issued without a Severe Thunderstorm Watch being already in effect.
Like a Tornado Warning, the Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued by your National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO). Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will include where the storm was located, what towns will be affected by the severe thunderstorm, and the primary threat associated with the severe thunderstorm warning. If the severe thunderstorm will affect the nearshore or coastal waters, it will be issued as the combined product--Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Special Marine Warning. If the severe thunderstorm is also causing torrential rains, this warning may also be combined with a Flash Flood Warning. If there is an ampersand (&) symbol at the bottom of the warning, it indicates that the warning was issued as a result of a severe weather report.
After it has been issued, the affected NWFO will follow it up periodically with Severe Weather Statements. These statements will contain updated information on the severe thunderstorm and they will also let the public know when the warning is no longer in effect.
While most fires occur in outdoor areas, lightning starts about 4,400 house fires each year, costing somewhere around $283 million in damages. In addition, wildfires caused by lightning burn an average of 5.5 million acres annually. About 16 fire deaths are attributed to lightning-caused fires each year, most of which are the occupants of houses that ignited by lightning.
WHEN THUNDER ROARS - GET INDOORS!
- NO outdoor place is safe when thunderstorms are near. If you hear thunder you can be struck by lightning! Don't wait for rain, lightning can strike out of a clear blue sky!
- If you hear thunder, move to a substantial shelter immediately! This is a building with electric and plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with the windows up.
- Stay in the safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you heard the last thunder sound.
- Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical devices.
- Avoid all plumbing including faucets, sinks, and baths.
- Stay away from doors and windows. Do NOT watch the storm from your porch, patio, or garage with the door open.
- Do not lie or lean on concrete floors and walls.
- If you are caught outside with NO shelter, get off hills and mountains and never lie flat on the ground. Do not seek shelter under an isolated tree, cliff or rocky overhang.
- Get out of ponds, pools, lakes, rivers and the ocean immediately.
- Stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as barbed wire, chain link fence, and power lines.
- Lightning OFTEN strikes the same place more than once if it a tall, isolated object.
- Dugouts, sheds, shelters, tents, picnic pavilions, and bleachers are NOT safe shelter locations.
- If you are driving, try to exit the road, and put your emergency flashers on until after the heavy rain passes.
- Consider postponing outdoor activities if thunderstorms are in the weather forecast.
- Bring in your pets! Dog houses are not safe shelters for thunderstorms. Dogs chained to trees or on metal runners are also vulnerable to being struck by lightning.
- If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 immediately and start CPR if the victims heart or breathing has stopped. Lightning strike victims do NOT carry an electrical charge!
- If your home is struck by lightning, evacuate the home immediately and call 911.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
A thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50knots), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter. Structural wind damage mayimply the occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. A thunderstorm wind equal to or greater than 40 mph (35 knots) and/or hail of at least 1" isdefined as approaching severe. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people some years than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding. High winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages. Every year people are killed or seriously injured because they didn't hear or ignored severe thunderstorms warnings.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch This is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm by definition is a thunderstorm that produces one inch hail or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour. The size of the watch can vary depending on the weather situation. They are usually issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours. They are normally issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. During the watch, people should review severe thunderstorm safety rules and be prepared to move a place of safety if threatening weather approaches.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Prior to the issuance of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, SPC will usually contact the affected local National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO) and they will discuss what their current thinking is on the weather situation. Afterwards, SPC will issue a preliminary Severe Thunderstorm Watch and then the affected NWFO will then adjust the watch (adding or eliminating counties/parishes) and then issue it to the public by way of a Watch Redefining Statement. During the watch, the NWFO will keep the public informed on what is happening in the watch area and also let the public know when the watch has expired or been cancelled.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning This is issued when either a severe thunderstorm is indicated by the WSR-88D radar or a spotter reports a thunderstorm producing hail one inch or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour; therefore, people in the affected area should seek safe shelter immediately. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning. Lightning frequency is not a criteria for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning. They are usually issued for a duration of one hour. They can be issued without a Severe Thunderstorm Watch being already in effect.
Like a Tornado Warning, the Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued by your National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO). Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will include where the storm was located, what towns will be affected by the severe thunderstorm, and the primary threat associated with the severe thunderstorm warning. If the severe thunderstorm will affect the nearshore or coastal waters, it will be issued as the combined product--Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Special Marine Warning. If the severe thunderstorm is also causing torrential rains, this warning may also be combined with a Flash Flood Warning. If there is an ampersand (&) symbol at the bottom of the warning, it indicates that the warning was issued as a result of a severe weather report.
After it has been issued, the affected NWFO will follow it up periodically with Severe Weather Statements. These statements will contain updated information on the severe thunderstorm and they will also let the public know when the warning is no longer in effect.
