06/27/2026
⚡Know Before You Go - Lightning ⚡
This week is National Lightning Safety Week and the is encouraging the public to stay vigilant and take precautions when recreating outside, especially with thunderstorms projected over this weekend.
In the United States, there are typically 20-25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes every year and it only takes one strike to cause considerable injury and death. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm, well ahead of rain and after rain has ended.
Here are some helpful precautions you can take to stay safe when lightning is present:
What to do:
▪ At the first sign of thunder or lightning, stop outdoor work immediately and move to a fully enclosed building or a hard‑top vehicle if possible.
▪ Do not resume outdoor activities until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.
▪ Stay away from tall, isolated objects, metal structures, fences, and open fields during storms.
▪ Avoid using corded tools or equipment during a lightning event.
▪ Ensure weather alerts are enabled on your phone or radio and monitor changing conditions throughout the day.
If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby:
▪ Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
▪ Never lie flat on the ground.
▪ Never shelter under an isolated tree. If you are in a forest, shelter near lower trees.
▪ Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
▪ Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
▪ Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (such as barbed wire fences, power lines, or windmills).
Separate from others:
▪ If you are in a group during a thunderstorm, separate from each other. This will reduce the number of injuries and casualties if lightning strikes the ground.
Photo was taken from Benchmark Lookout on the Dolores Ranger District
