Lightning
Lightning Safety
- Go inside a building or all-metal vehicle
- Avoid water (swimming pools, lakes & rivers), beaches & boats
- Stay away from doors, windows, metal indoor fixtures & electrical devices
- Stay off the telephone
- Avoid open high ground and isolated large trees
- Do not lean on vehicles. Get off bicycles & motorcycles.
- Use the 30-30 rule for outdoor activity
The 30-30 rule: Count the seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or less, then the lightning is close enough to be a threat. Seek shelter immediately. After seeing the last lightning flash, wait 30 minutes before leaving shelter. More than half of all lightning deaths occur after the thunderstorm has passed. Stay in a safe are until you are sure the threat has passed.
Lightning Facts
- All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous
- Wisconsin averages over 30 days each year with thunderstorms
- Lightning bolts can travel 20 miles before striking the ground
- Most lightning deaths occur when people are caught outdoors
- Lightning often strikes as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall
- High winds, rainfall and a darkening cloud cover are the warning signals for possible cloud-to-ground lightning strikes