Lightning is often one of the first indicators of an approaching storm, although you may notice the thunder accompanying it first. More severe weather hazards are likely to develop. Small or open boats with no cabin are especially at risk. Sudden strong winds, waves and fast moving storms can make it difficult to reach shore safely so you need to have a plan to reach safety well before a storm strikes.
Once ashore, seek a safe location either in a building with wiring and plumbing or an all-metal vehicle (not convertible top).
If caught outside far from a safe location, stay away from tall objects, such as trees, poles, wires and fences. Take shelter in a low lying area.
Stay off and out of the water, and in a safe location for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. About one third of lightning-related casualties occur after the storm because people return to outdoor activities too soon.
Swimming, boating, personal watercraft or sail/surf boarding are all dangerous activities when lightning is in the area. Scientists know little about what happens when lightning hits water. It is not clear how deep a lightning strike will travel down through the water. We do know that if a lightning strike hits the water, it will travel along the surface in all directions. People have been killed or injured by direct or indirect strikes (ground current or side flash) while in or on the water, boats, docks, piers, or while fishing, for example.
Monitoring Environment Canada's Lightning Danger Maps when thunderstorms are forecast can help you reduce your risk of being struck by lightning.
There is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm. So remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors” and stay there for 30 minutes until after the last rumble of thunder is heard.
Information on this page was a compilation of various sources mentioned below.
FAQs
If you are caught outside, don't stand near tall objects or anything made of metal, and avoid open water. If caught on the water in a small boat with no cabin during thunder and lightning, quickly get to shore. Boats with cabins offer a safer environment, but it's still not ideal.
Is it safe to shower during a thunderstorm Canada? ›
Don't lie down on the ground. Don't take a shower or bath. If lightning strikes the plumbing system it can be conducted into the tub or shower. Don't use the phone or electrical appliances unless absolutely necessary.
What are the safety tips for thunderstorms in Canada? ›
Seek shelter in a vehicle if at all possible. If you cannot seek shelter, kneel on the ground with your feet together, your hands on your knees and your body bent forward. Stay away from water: Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. If you are in a boat, get to land as quickly as possible, and avoid swimming.
What is the 30 30 rule for lightning? ›
When You See Lightning, Count The Time Until You Hear Thunder. If That Is 30 Seconds Or Less, The Thunderstorm Is Close Enough To Be Dangerous – Seek Shelter (if you can't see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule). Wait 30 Minutes Or More After The Lightning Flash Before Leaving Shelter.
How far away from lightning is safe in water? ›
Because seawater is a good conductor, the remaining current penetrates hemispherically downward and fully dissipates less than 10 feet below the surface. It is believed that lethal current spreads horizontally only 20 feet from the position of strike impact.
Can I use the toilet during a thunder storm? ›
Avoid plumbing: Metal plumbing and the water inside are both very good conductors of electricity.
What place in Canada has the most thunderstorms? ›
They are most prevalent from late May to early September, peaking in July, and are very rare in December to March. The settled parts of southern Canada have some 10-25 thunderstorm days per year, with the greatest frequency averaging 30-35 in southwestern Ontario.
Where is the safest place to be during a lightning storm? ›
Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up. Seek shelter immediately, even if caught out in the open. If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find shelter.
Where do most storms take place in Canada? ›
The regions of Canada most affected by thunderstorms are the Prairies, southern Ontario and southern Quebec. The conditions there are ripe for storms from spring to the end of summer. The terrain is also a major factor in those areas, with the Rocky Mountains in western Alberta and the Great Lakes bordering Ontario.
What is the golden rule of lightning safety? ›
If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up. Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.
During a thunderstorm, you don't want to be the tallest object in an area — or standing underneath one. Do not be in an open field or on a hilltop or ridgetop. Keep moving toward shelter. Stay away from water and metal objects (fences, cables, railroad tracks), as they are good conductors of electricity.
What is the 6 mile lightning rule? ›
Therefore, people should move to a safe place when a thunderstorm is 6 to 10 miles away. Also, the plan's guidelines should account for the time it will take for everyone to get to a safe place. Here are some criteria that could be used to halt activities.
Is it bad to take a shower when it's lightning outside? ›
Lightning can travel through plumbing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. It's not just showers that should be avoided, but all activities that use water from the home's pipes, including bathing, washing dishes and washing hands.
Why should you never be in water during a lightning storm? ›
A body of water is the equivalent of putting a hairdryer in a bath, and because water conducts electricity, lightning is more likely to strike water than land. If the water you're swimming in gets struck by lightning it can severely injure you or even kill you.
How likely is it for lightning to hit water? ›
Lightning doesn't strike the ocean as much as land, but when it does,it spreads out over the water, which acts as a conductor. It can hit boats that are nearby, and electrocute fish that are near the surface. If you're at the beach and hear thunder or see lightning, get out of the water.
Is it true you shouldn't shower in a thunderstorm? ›
When a thunderstorm is raging, lightning can strike a house and travel through its plumbing to strike you, making showering during a thunderstorm an unsafe practice. This is true even if you have plastic pipes because water is a good conductor of electricity.
Is it OK to take a shower while it's raining? ›
Normally, yes, it's fine to take a shower when it's raining. However, if it's a lightning storm, you're advised not to take a shower because the electricity can travel through the pipes; water is a great conductor, and you could be injured or die by electrocution.
How do you stay safe in a thunder shower? ›
Lightning Safety Tips
- Avoid water. Do NOT bathe, shower, wash dishes, or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm because lightning can travel through a building's plumbing. ...
- Don't touch electronic equipment. ...
- Avoid windows, doors, porches, and concrete. ...
- Don't use corded phones.
