Is it ok to be outside in a thunderstorm?

[TheClitterati]

And what do you do if you are caught outside in an electrical storm?

After last nights spectacular thunderstorm more lightning is expected this afternoon. I'd love to go out for a sea side walk in it.

I have swum in the sea in a thunderstorm before (amazing) though I wouldn't do that now.

I recall the poor women in Hyde park struck by lightning sheltering under trees a few years back.

Is there a safe way of being outdoors in electrical storm?

Id like to know too! I'm due to be outside all day!

There's some useful information on here www.mountainsafety.co.uk/Weather-Lightning.aspx

We were going to go to Snowfonia today, but I don't fancy sitting on a rucksack with my feet in the air for good knows how long of a storm starts

so sitting on a rucksack offers some protection, but walking boots don't.

avoid caves, and trees.

Protect Yourself from Lightning Strikes
You can protect yourself from risk even if you are caught outdoors when lightning is close by.

Safety precautions outdoors

If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity.
Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter.
The main lightning safety guide is the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
If no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away.
Stay away from concrete floors or walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
Although you should move into a non-concrete structure if possible, being indoors does not automatically protect you from lightning. In fact, about one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors.
Safety precautions indoors

Avoid water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing.
Avoid electronic equipment of all types. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems.
Avoid corded phones. However, cordless or cellular phones are safe to use during a storm.
Avoid concrete floors and walls.

www.cdc.gov/features/lightning-safety/index.html

doesn't leave much does it?

stay in the car - its a farraday cage

I had to google faraday cage - makes sense.

Last year there was only one recorded injury due to a lightning strike in the Uk as far as I'm aware, unfortunately that was a death. It was an unusual year though. On average around 30 are recorded as affected, but the number actually affected is likely to be much higher.

This has lots of UK relevant info www.torro.org.uk/lightning_info.php

Don't shelter under trees, take cover. If camping try and relocate to a building or a vehicle.

Don't be in an outdoor pool when an unexpected storm starts. Watching lightning dance across the top of the water tends to make you have an unfortunate accident at the very least.

Did you witness that User?

Yes, it was terrifying seeing a bolt of lightning shoot across the water.

Low terrain walking I'd be fine about.

High point near a tree or tall metal object, not so good.

Goodness User. Did you feel any effect from it? Were you in the water?

We are stuffed. (Flat with concrete floors)

OYBBK - not me, my nephew He was 15 at the time and had been told to get out of the water by me and the lifeguard and wouldn't listen - we'd told him he could stay in until X time and it wasn't X time and so he refused. He's autistic and a time is a time.
It was a warmish day, not at all humid and no forecast of thunder so off we went to the pool.

oh, and he was fine apart from shocked. The pool water was apparently a little less sanitary afterwards!

It sounds terrifying!

Don’t most of us have a concrete floor? Or do they mean only concrete on the floor with no other flooring on top?

I don't know anyone in the UK who has received a shock from their walls or floor. Maybe they build houses really dodgily in the States?

concrete slabs have iron bars to support the concrete.so patios/carparks/open air oncrete can be a hazard.
no the houses in the states are not "dodgy"
all electrical systems are grounded.as i would hope houses everywhere are.
some strikes are so powerful nothing stops them.have seen trees ripped to shreads.

ttps://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/cars-can-be-safe-place-during/17283636

it was a joke.

If you are an angler and you are using a carbon fibre fishing rod and it starts vibrating/humming, get that thing away from you sharpish!

How did I get to be 50 and not know any of this?

Stay in the open and crouch down. In reality I don't do that as we have high flats near us.