Stay lightning safe during summer storms

HOUSTON COUNTY – Summertime is around the corner, which means a lot of time outdoors but also a lot of storms. Senior Meteorologist Dylan Lusk at the National Weather Service shared tips on staying safe during the stormy season. 

Lusk said one of their biggest campaign messages is, “if thunder roars, go indoors.” He shared lightning is a huge safety hazard and kills numerous people across the United States every year. 

Lusk said if someone hears thunder, they are close enough to be struck by lightning.

“That means that you need to get to shelter or at least get to something inside; get in a vehicle someway to get from being outdoors,” he said.

Thunderstorms also produce other hazards, including heavy winds, potential for hail and flooding. 

Another message Lusk shared is, “turn around, don’t drown.” Whenever a person sees flooding and they are in a vehicle or walking, he advises them not to cross the water. He said that while they may be familiar with the roadway or trail, it is likely to be covered by water, and it is crucial to anticipate that it will be muddy. This causes people not to see the roadway underneath the water.

According to Lusk, washouts are very common in Georgia: six-foot ditches created in roadways that can swallow an entire car. It only takes six inches of moving water to knock an adult off their feet, and approximately a foot of rapidly moving water is enough to move a small vehicle.

“A lot of times, your vehicle may not be able to take as much water as you might be able to think and if you get stuck on a stream, that means you’re potentially going to be in danger. At the very minimum, you might have to be rescued from your vehicle,” he said. “It may be inconvenient, but just turn around and try to find an alternate route home rather than taking that risk and taking that chance.”

Lusk said that given the state’s proximity to the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean, thunderstorms are a year-round occurrence. However, from May to early June, frequent thunderstorms occur, especially in the afternoons, due to the high moisture and heat. Lusk also said this is when there is a peak in severe weather.

There are also numerous myths related to lightning. One of those myths is heat lightning, which does not exist, Lusk said. Lusk said the lightning is from a storm happening far away, and it is not caused by the heat outside.

Another myth is that only seeing lightning makes it dangerous. Lusk said the National Weather Service has seen lightning strikes as far as 10 miles from the core of the thunderstorm.

“If you can hear it, you were close enough. You need to quit whatever you’re doing. Try to get inside,” he said.

Finally, is it safe to use water during thunderstorms? Lusk said yes. However, he advises people to take the utmost caution and avoid taking a bath or a shower if it is storming outside.

For more information on staying safe, visit here for more lightning safety tips or click here to learn more about thunderstorm safety.