Flash & Bang in the Outdoors

Although lightning is a common and spectacular weather phenomenon, its power is extraordinary. I was reminded of its awesome power when a storm suddenly formed while hiking the summit of the Mount Mitchell mountain range. Fortunately, I swiftly descended to lower ground and took cover before the cloudburst was unleashed. Within minutes of descending, the jagged bolts rapidly lit up the sky.

Tragically, we later learned that a fellow backpacker was struck and killed by lightning that same day. The following week, a 20′ tree branch collapsed in a strike, narrowly missing my head by a few seconds. These close calls serve as a stark reminder of the potential danger of lightning.

How to reduce your chance of getting struck by lightning when you are outdoors during a storm

1. Seek a safer area

Move away from high ground, water, open spaces, metallic objects, and tall exposed objects (even if they offer shelter from the rain) as soon as you see lightning or hear thunder. Do not seek stay in trenches, shallow caves, ledges, hollows, or valleys containing water. The best place to seek shelter is underneath a group of short trees or shrubs of uniform height.

• Avoid lakes, rivers, and ponds, as water is a good conductor of electricity.
  
• Avoid solitary trees and open areas. You do not want to be near the tallest object as lightning strikes the tallest object in its path.
• If you are in an area with many tall trees, know which species of trees are “safer” than others. Large trees without a taproot or those containing a high-biomass root (several times the trunk’s width) offer better protection. When lightning strikes trees with complex root systems spread out into the earth, the expansive root structure quickly dissipates the lightning charges.
• Avoid standing under Pine, Oak, and Elm trees — these are the most frequently struck because they tend to stand taller than other trees. When a tree is struck by lightning, the water and resin within the tree turn into gas. As the gas tries to escape within the structure, it creates high pressure, which explodes the timber and bark. These shards of wood can create high-velocity projectiles.
  

2. Assume the lightning crouch (squat) position.

Keep your feet together and crouch down on the balls of your feet. Do not allow your hands or other body parts to touch the ground. Keep spread out from others, with 10-20 feet of space between each person. Crouching reduces the surface area of your body, making you a smaller target. Any current ricocheting off a nearby object is more likely to travel over your body versus the vital organs through your body. Remove any metal objects from your body.

• Squatting keeps you safe because trees, poles, and other tall objects are all conductors of lightning. If lightning strikes an object, the electric current will often travel across the ground, impacting other objects in its path before being discharged. Squatting down on your feet reduces the surface area of your body, so the impact of the electric current traveling through your body is lessened. In other words, don’t lie down during lightning storms! Laying flat on the ground provides more contact points for a strike, equating to more burns and other injuries.

3. Recognize the signs of an imminent lightning strike

If lightning is about to strike you, you may experience a tingling sensation on your skin, and your hair might stand on end. You may also hear a high-frequency crackling sound or notice a blue halo around objects, known as St. Elmo’s Fire. Additionally, you may get a metallic taste in your mouth. If you detect any of these signs, it means lightning is VERY close to striking you. Immediately assume the lightning crouch position and hope for the best.

Interesting Facts About Lightning

Thunderstorms develop from tall, puffy cumulonimbus clouds, which are formed by rising air columns caused by intense heating from the sun. On hot, humid days, cumulus clouds can reach a vertical height of 5 to 10 miles. The temperature within these clouds is below freezing. As air moves up and down within the cloud, it creates a current. If these currents continue to develop, they can lead to localized thunderstorms. See here to learn how to recognize storm clouds and plan accordingly.

• How to estimate the distance between you and the lightning. Count the number of seconds from when you see a lightning bolt until you hear thunder. Divide this number by 5 to get the distance in miles (or by 3 for kilometers) to the lightning flash. For example, a 10-second count means you are 2 miles away (10 divided by 5 equals 2). This principle works because light travels faster than sound. Sound travels approximately one-fifth of a mile per second (or one-third of a kilometer per second). You typically hear the thunder roughly 5 seconds after the bolt occurs. If the lightning is less than 6 miles away (meaning you count 30 seconds or less after the flash), you are too close. In that case, seek shelter immediately.
• A bolt of lightning can contain up to one billion volts of electricity. The average lightning bolt carries enough to power a 100-watt household light bulb for about three months.
• The invention of the lightning rod by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century has helped protect buildings from lightning strikes, providing a safe path for the electrical discharge to the ground.
• Lightning’s extreme heat is what makes it so dangerous. A lightning strike can reach temperatures of around 30,000 kelvins (53,540 degrees Fahrenheit), which is hotter than the surface of the sun! Strikes can cause cardiac arrest, severe burns, and life-long ailments (if you survive). Do everything you can to avoid getting hit by lightning.

I hope these tips will keep you safe when you are caught outdoors during a storm.