Thunderstorms can be unsettling for many, and for good reason—lightning and strong winds pose real dangers. Knowing how to stay safe when severe weather hits is crucial to avoiding unnecessary risks. To help you navigate these stormy situations safely, here’s a guide on what actions to avoid during a thunderstorm, ensuring you and your loved ones stay out of harm’s way.
Leaving Open or Standing By Windows
CNBC notes that you should not stand near windows during thunderstorms. This is because, in severe cases, strong winds, hail, or lightning could break the glass or harm you or your property. It’s also important to ensure all windows are closed for added protection.
Seeking Cover Under Tall Outdoor Shelters
Like trees, other tall outdoor shelters such as sheds, gazebos, and picnic shelters do not make safe spots to take shelter from the storm. Their tall height can attract lightning, and they provide no protection from ground currents.
Ignoring Weather Alerts
Weather alerts are incredibly important to pay attention to, especially in certain parts of the world where dangerous storms and hurricanes are frequent occurrences. Always make sure you’re up to date with any upcoming warnings to give yourself ample time to prepare.
Using Wired Electronic Devices
According to the National Center for Environmental Health, you should not use any electrical devices connected to outlets during thunderstorms. This is because lightning can travel through these systems and cause damage to you and your devices.
Walking Through Floodwaters
It can be tempting to walk through floodwaters when they’re preventing you from getting where you need to go. However, they can be deceptively deep, contain dangerous debris, and have surprisingly strong currents. As such, it’s important to avoid them as much as possible.
Flying Kites or Drones
Flying objects, such as kites and drones, can easily attract lightning during a thunderstorm. So while you may be tempted to make the most of the strong winds, you should wait until the storm passes to fly your kites.
Golfing or Engaging in Outdoor Sports
The Met Office warns that metal objects, such as golf clubs and other sports equipment, can conduct electricity, making them especially hazardous during a thunderstorm. As such, it is recommended to avoid these objects and activities until the storm passes.
Camping Without Proper Precautions
Thunderstorms can be very dangerous for campers who don’t have the right setups to deal with treacherous conditions. Tents and similar shelters provide no protection from lightning, and you could be putting yourself at greater risk of being hit by falling trees or branches.
Jogging, Hiking, or Cycling
It’s important to stay inside your home when you know a thunderstorm is likely to hit. Participating in outdoor activities such as jogging, hiking, or cycling during a storm can make it harder to find proper shelter once the storm hits.
Using Umbrellas in Open Areas
If you’re caught out in a storm, it can be tempting to take out your umbrella to shelter from the rain. However, doing so will increase your height and could make you more likely to be hit by lightning as a result, especially when you’re in wide-open areas.
Hanging Laundry Outside
If there’s a storm in the area, you don’t want to be outside hanging your laundry when it hits. Metal clotheslines can conduct electricity, and it could take you some time to bring all your clothes in and get out of the storm.
Leaving Pets Outside
If a storm is on the horizon, it’s important to make sure you bring any pets indoors to protect them from the violent winds, hail, or lightning. If you cannot bring them inside, give them a suitable outdoor shelter that will protect them from the elements.
Ignoring the 30-30 Rule
The 30-30 rule states that if the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is less than 30 seconds, you should go indoors and stay there for at least 30 minutes after the final clap of thunder. Ignoring this rule can put you at a greater risk of getting caught in dangerous conditions.
Taking Shelter Under Trees
As mentioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, you should never stand under an isolated tree during a thunderstorm. Trees often act as natural lightning rods, meaning they could put you at a greater risk of being struck by lightning or getting injured by falling branches.
Parking Under Trees
As we mentioned previously, trees can be especially hazardous during thunderstorms. Because of this, you should always avoid parking your car under trees if a storm is on the way. Falling branches can easily damage vehicles or even cause injuries.
Standing on Open Fields or High Ground
Because lightning usually hits the tallest object in the area it strikes, standing in a flat, open space during a thunderstorm can be very dangerous. You always want to avoid being at the highest point of an area to prevent yourself from being targeted by lightning strikes.
Staying in or Near Water
Because water conducts electricity, being close to or in water during a thunderstorm is never a good idea. It can put you at greater risk of being hit and harmed by lightning. For this reason, it is recommended to get away from water as soon as you see lightning or hear thunder.
Taking a Shower or Bath
You should never take a shower or bath during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing and water, putting you at significant risk if it were to strike your home. It’s better to use wipes or hand sanitizer if you need to clean yourself during a storm.