Lightning Safety Week Declared Across Canada

As we head into the summer months, the importance of lightning safety becomes a priority for those enjoying outdoor activities.

Throughout Lightning Safety Week, the public is encouraged to get informed and stay aware of the dangers of lightning storms. The phenomena can change a life within a matter of seconds, and studies show that one-third of injuries and deaths associated with lightning occur before a storm hits and one-third occurs afterwards.

"Our number one rule that we're teaching is when thunder roars, go indoors. If you can see lightning or you can hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck by lightning. A lot of people think oh well, the storm is off in the distance and I can get in another hole, or I can finish up the picnic or whatever, but lightning can travel a fair distance away from a cloud and a lot of people don't realize that."

Statistics show about nine to ten people die every year in Canada from lightning strikes. Last year alone there were over a dozen lightning strike victims in Canada, and Lang says there are no safe places in the outdoors to take shelter under when it comes to lightning.

"There are two safe places that we tell people to go and that's in a vehicle - not a soft top, but in a hard topped vehicle, or inside a sturdy building - not a gazebo, not a golf cart, or under a tree. We're still finding every year that people are struck by lightning while they are under a tree because they don't want to be in the rain, but it's simply not a safe place. Lightning tends to hit tall places but not always. Metal objects are always very unsafe to be near, and that's poles and fencing because it can travel along wire fencing. Open places like soccer fields, farmer's fields, and water is particularly dangerous, because the current can travel through water very quickly, more-so than standing on the ground."

Environment Canada's website endorses the utilization of the Canadian Lightning Danger Map - an on-line resource for residents to see high-risk lightning areas outlined in red with an animation included to show the movement of the storm.

"What it shows is the danger of you being struck by lightning in the next ten minutes, and these are based on lightning strikes that have been recorded. Based on science we say, 'there was a lightning strike here, so the probability of being struck by lightning or having another strike of lightning coming is in this red area in the next ten minutes," explained Lang. "You can animate it so that you can see which way the storms are moving, and if your area is within that red circle, then you are in danger of being struck by lightning."

Alert Ready is a national messaging system operated by Pelmorex Media, the parent company of The Weather Network, developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment Canada and the broadcast industry to alert the public when a community will be put at risk during an emergency.

Lang says Alert Ready would normally be in place to notify the public, but for this year, the broadcast system will only alert on tornado warnings. When planning outdoor activities this summer, it is important to listen to forecasts and alerts, in addition to keeping your eye on the sky as weather can change quickly.