Stay Safe During Peak Lightning Season
Jun 21, 2019, 5:54 AM | Updated: 5:55 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Summer is peak season for lightning strikes, but the odds are pretty low that you’ll actually be hit by one of those bolts of lightning.
According to the National Weather Service, the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are 1 in 1,222,000.
Of those very few people who actually are struck by lightning, only 10% are killed — about 27 people per year across the country.
In Utah, though, you may be at a greater risk of being hit. The Beehive State has the second-highest number of lightning deaths per capita, according to the National Lightning Safety Institute. The first is Wyoming.
How can you stay safe during an electric storm?
- Avoid open areas if a storm is in the forecast.
- If a storm begins while you’re outside, move indoors or inside a vehicle
- Stay away from anything tall, such as trees and utility poles.
- Stay away from metal, electrical equipment and plumbing
- If you’re with other people, spread out. Huddling together increases the chance of multiple casualties.