National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Section 2: Outdoor Lightning Safety - When a Safe Location Is Not Nearby

THE LIGHTNING SAFETY COMMUNITY REMINDS YOU THAT THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE TO BE OUTSIDE WHEN LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING. HOWEVER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MAY GET "CAUGHT IN THE OPEN" DURING LIGHTNING ACTIVITY. THIS SECTION IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU LESSEN THE THREAT OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE OPEN

This section discusses lightning safety outdoors when there is no nearby safe location to seek shelter. This situation typically occurs to people who are involved in activities in remote locations (such as hiking or hunting). or boaters who are in small boats and are a long distance from shore.

Section 2 of "Outdoor Lightning Safety when a safe location is NOT nearby" is divided into two parts; Part 1 discusses lightning safety on land, while part 2 discusses lightning safety on water (boating).

PART 1: Lightning safety outdoors on land when no nearby safe location is nearby

Being stranded outdoors when lightning is striking nearby is a harrowing experience. Of course, it is best if you never allow yourself to get caught in this type of situation. However, there may be time in which you find that a nearby safe location is nowhere to be found. Some examples of getting “caught in the open” during a lightning activity include:

Hiking/hunting (or any other outdoor activity in a rural/isolated or mountainous area) and there are no nearby safe vehicles or buildings to seek shelter in.

Being in relatively large open areas when a thunderstorm rapidly develops overhead;

Bicyclist touring in open rural areas, or mountain biking in open country;

Motorcyclist on rural roadways, including the open interstate highway system (this is more typical in remote areas of the western USA);

Anyone who is in a relatively large open area and is unfamiliar with the surroundings.

First, we will give general lightning safety information if you find yourself caught in the open. We will then discuss specific lightning safety information for specific situations, such as hiking, hunting, mountain climbing, bike riding, etc.

General lightning safety rules for outdoors, on land, when no nearby safe location is nearby

Follow these links for specific lightning safety information for:

1. Activities (such as hiking/hunting/camping/mountain climbing) in remote/open areas
2. Bicyclist/Motorcyclist in open country

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PART 2: Lightning safety outdoors on water when no safe location is nearby

1. Freshwater and Saltwater boaters
2. A special note to scuba divers

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First Aid Information for Lightning Strike Victims

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