Don’t make this deadly mistake when waiting out a storm
You don’t have to be in a storm to be in danger from lightning.
“When thunder roars, go indoors.” Each year, up to 180 Canadians are injured by lightning, with 2-3 people being killed. But did you know that one-third of those lightning-caused injuries happen when people go outside too soon after a storm?
Even if a storm isn’t right over you, you can still be in danger from the lightning. Lightning can strike up to 19 km away from the storm cloud. That’s why Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recommends you stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder you hear. Lightning is faster than the speed of sound, so we see it before we hear it.
Thunder is the sound created by the around the lightning quickly heating and spreading out. You can actually tell how far the lightning is from you by counting the time between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder. Every three seconds that pass equals one kilometre between you and the lightning.
If you can hear thunder, even if it’s in the distance, you are still at risk of lightning strikes. Due to the large distance lightning can travel, though, you don’t even need to be within earshot of the storm to be at risk.
Also, the water that pools on the ground from heavy rainfalls associated with thunderstorms can further carry the electric current from nearby lightning strikes.
Staying sheltered for 30 minutes after the storm allows the storm time to pass a safe enough distance away to lower the risk of you or nearby tall objects being struck by lightning.
ECCC advises that there is nowhere safe outdoors to shelter from a thunderstorm.
If caught outdoors during a thunderstorm:
Avoid being the highest point in the area
Stay away from water
Don’t seek shelter under tall trees; instead, lay low under small trees or shrubbery