At a glance
Which places should you avoid during a thunderstorm to protect yourself from lightning? What's the best thing to do?
After a few days of intense heat, it's not unusual to run into thunderstorms that can sometimes be violent. Besides the gusts of wind and the (large) amount of rain that can fall locally, there's also the risk of lightning.
Which places should you absolutely avoid during a thunderstorm?
Which places are safest and what's the best thing to do?
Risky places
- "Tall" objects: Lightning more easily strikes structures, objects or people that stand taller than their surroundings. It's therefore important to avoid being near any vertical structure such as an isolated tree or the edge of a forest, a metal structure (crane, mast, pylon, wire fencing), high-voltage cables, tents, … and even umbrellas!
- Elevated areas: Avoid places that sit on high ground: hills, mountain tops, viewpoints and lookouts…
- Open areas: Lightning also more easily strikes any body or object standing in an open, exposed area. So avoid: fields and meadows, sports grounds, plains, …
- Bodies of water: Avoid being on or near water (swimming pool, pond, lake, river, sea, …). If you're swimming, boating, canoeing or diving as a storm approaches, get out of the water as quickly as possible and find shelter.
Risky behaviour
- Avoid moving around in a group, especially if you're in a risky spot. Find shelter or spread out.
- Don't ride a motorbike, moped or bicycle, and don't ride a horse during a thunderstorm.
- Don't touch running water pipes or electrical wiring in your home, and don't take a bath or shower.
- Stay away from fireplaces and windows.
- Bus shelters, tents and other open shelters (e.g. carports) offer no protection against lightning!
The safest places
- Solidly built buildings.
- Cars and caravans whose interior is fully enclosed by a metal shell. A convertible therefore offers less protection!
- In a forest: a group of trees lower than the tall trees around them
Good practice
- If possible, unplug "heavy" or sensitive electrical appliances: computer, landline phone, home appliances, television, …
- If you're caught out in the open when the storm breaks, make yourself as small as possible: crouch down with your legs and feet pressed together, protect your head with your hands while keeping it as low as possible. Above all, don't lie down on the ground. Warning: a camping tent offers no protection against lightning!
(Source: RMI)
Read also: "Protecting your home against storms"
