Summer means dangerous lightning in Florida
It’s about to get more stormy in Florida, and that means more lightning. A lot more.
Though other states, such as Texas, often have more total lightning occurrences per year, Florida consistently leads the nation in lightning strike density, as in strikes per square mile, according to meteorologist Chris Vagasky, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area had over 120,000 lightning strikes hit the ground in 2023.
Twelve people died from lightning strikes in the U.S. in 2024, according to the National Weather Service. Florida accounted for nearly half, with five deaths. Three of those were in South Florida: One in Naples, one in Pembroke Pines and one in Davie.
Here’s what you need to know about lightning and how to stay safe this season.
Safety Precautions
Safety on land
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises that you take shelter in a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring.
That could be a shopping center, a school, an office building or a house. If lightning strikes the building, the plumbing and wiring will conduct the electricity more efficiently than any people in the structure.
Once inside, stay away from electrical appliances and don’t use them. Cellphones are safe, as are laptops, as long as they’re not plugged in. To be extra safe, NOAA suggests staying away from windows and moving to an interior room.
Sinks and plumbing fixtures are a risk as well, according to NOAA. Don’t take a shower or bath during a lightning storm — water and metal are good conductors of electricity.
When caught in a storm, it can be tempting to take shelter in beach shacks, sheds, picnic pavilions, carports, and baseball dugouts, but buildings with exposed openings don’t offer protection from lightning, and may actually attract it.
If a safe building is not available, an enclosed metal vehicle such as a car or school bus is a good option. Roll up the windows and avoid contact with the ignition and radios.
As with open buildings, open vehicles are not safe. That includes convertibles (even with the top engaged), golf carts, tractors, and construction equipment.
What if there’s no shelter?
You could be golfing, camping or hiking when a storm rolls in.
If there’s no safe building or vehicle to be found, here are a few tips:
— Avoid open fields or ridge tops.
— Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects.
— If you’re in the woods, stay near the lowest trees in the vicinity.
— Avoid metal objects such as fences and poles. Move away from water, and avoid wet ropes.
— Do not lie flat on the ground. Lightning branches out in tendrils once it hits the ground, and lying down will only enhance the odds of a strike. “Most strikes are indirect, or what’s called a side splash,” said Abo of tendrils, “where, let’s say a pole or tree is struck and the lightning bolt comes down through it and then zips over.”
Over the years, there’s been some confusion about the value of crouching down like a baseball catcher to limit your own height. The latest take on crouching from the National Lightning Safety Council is that it does not enhance safety.
“The crouch gives people the false impression that crouching will provide safety,” said the National Weather Service.
The National Lightning Safety Council suggests that you keep moving towards a lightning-safe place if thunderstorms develop when you’re outside, and don’t use the lightning crouch.
On the beach or on the water
What if you’re on the beach or swimming and a quick thunderstorm is rolling through. “Get out,” said Abo. “If there’s a storm coming through, you’ve got to get off the beach. You should not be on the water. And the worst thing you can do is be in open areas, especially on the water. Get indoors as quickly as you can,” he said.
Abo said lightning struck a family of three near Naples while they were in the water — there had been thunder in the area, but no rain.
Being on the water in a small boat with no cabin leaves you with few options. If you cannot get back to land, NOAA advises that you drop anchor and get as low as possible. If fishing rods are sticking up, lower them as well.
Kayaking can be particularly unnerving. Abo said to get to whatever land you can, maybe an island, and situate yourself in a group of trees, not under the largest one.
Large boats with cabins are safe, especially if they’re equipped with lightning protection systems. It’s best to stay inside the cabin and away from any metal surfaces. Only use the radio in an emergency.
How to assess the danger
Don’t use rainfall as a measure of safety. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from the location of rainfall, and most people are struck either before a storm arrives or after it passes, possibly because they’re taking shelter during the peak. The point is, lightning can precede and trail a storm. Do not leave shelter just because the rain has ended.
“If you hear thunder, you really should not be screwing around outside,” said Ben Abo, a wilderness emergency medicine expert.
To assess how close a lightning strike is, count the number of seconds it takes to hear thunder. Divide that number by five to get the distance in miles the lightning is away from you. For example, if you see lightning 15 seconds before you hear the thunder, the lightning is about 3 miles away.
NOAA advises that at the first clap of thunder, you should go to a large building or fully enclosed vehicle and wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before you go back outside.
First aid and recovery
Abo said that a direct strike can cause cardiac arrest, and indirect strikes can cause the lungs to be temporarily paralyzed, which can also cause a heart attack.
“If someone is struck, call 911 and if they’re not breathing, start rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) with or without CPR as soon as possible,” Abo said. “If you do CPR with rescue breathing, or just rescue breathing, after a couple of minutes, the heart usually restarts on its own,” he said.
Giving rescue breathing to someone who’s been struck by lightning is not dangerous to the rescuer, said Abo. “There are people that are afraid they’re going to get electrified. They’re not. There’s no more electricity going through the body,” he said.
“If you don’t go into cardiac arrest right away, you’re most likely going to survive,” he said. Victims can, however, suffer permanent neurological disability.
The National Weather Service said that burns seldom occur from lightning strikes, but the nervous system can be harmed. Lesser symptoms, which often clear over a few days, can include:
— Muscle soreness.
— Headache, nausea, stomach upset and other post-concussion types of symptoms.
— Mild confusion, memory slowness or mental clouding.
— Dizziness, balance problems.
Why does lightning strike tall objects?
Lightning occurs when a negative charge at the bottom of a storm connects with positive charges on the ground or water.
That positive charge can run up a tall object.
That’s why skyscrapers, mountains and trees are often struck — they’re closer to the bottom of the storm, which makes the connection more likely.
That does not mean flat ground or water can’t be struck, however.
Why is there so much lightning in South Florida?
The region has the perfect ingredients for a thunderstorm recipe: warm, moist air near the ground, cooler, drier air above it.
In South Florida, sea breezes from the Atlantic push moisture inland while heat rising off urban areas and the Everglades carries that moisture into the cold air above.
That’s when lightning can form.
Conclusion
Summer in Florida means an increased risk of lightning strikes, and it’s essential to take the necessary precautions to stay safe. By understanding the risks and taking the right steps, you can minimize your chances of being struck by lightning.
Remember to seek shelter in a large enclosed structure or a hard-topped vehicle, avoid open areas and tall objects, and stay away from water and metal objects. If you’re caught outside during a storm, crouch low with your feet together, but do not lie flat on the ground.
By being aware of the dangers of lightning and taking the necessary precautions, you can enjoy the summer months in Florida while staying
