Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Thunderstorms & safety: Dos and don'ts during lightning

07:00
25 June 2023

Thunderstorms & safety
Dos and don'ts during lightning

Storm safety tips

With thunderstorms in the forecast, check out our quick summary of dos and don'ts in order to stay safe during severe weather.

When thunderstorms are in the area, you should seek protection as quickly as possible.

It is most dangerous during a thunderstorm while in the open water. Even if a lightning strikes 100 metres away, the current is still transmitted through the water and can affect the entire body. Then there is an acute danger to life.

If there is an unexpected thunderstorm in the open field, you should always crouch down and then wait for the thunderstorm with your legs tightly closed. Otherwise, a so-called step voltage can occur when lightning strikes in the immediate vicinity.

You can stay weather aware and keep an eye out for lightning on our WeatherRadar, where you can track lightning live, in addition to on our LightningRadar.

Certain tall and risky objects should be avoided. These are single trees, groups of trees, or poles. A distance of at least 10 metres is optimal. In the interior of a forest with a consistently high stock of trees, the risk is lower than with individual groups of trees.

A house offers the greatest protection. However, you should avoid contact with all metal lines such as gas, electricity, and telephone lines. Mobile phones may be used. Bathing or showering during a thunderstorm is not safe.

Stay alert, activate severe weather notifications on the Weather & Radar app, and be safe!

Activate your severe weather alertsread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
New heatwave in southern Europe. Up to 45 degrees in Spain. . . Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Split temperature map showing extreme heat across Spain on the left and Greece on the right, with temperatures reaching 44°C near Murcia, around 40°C in parts of Greece, and a large thermometer icon highlighting dangerous heat.
Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Up to 45 degrees in Spain

New heatwave in southern Europe
Severe damage along the Adriatic coast. Huge hail and storms. . . Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Two hands are holding huge hailstones; next to them is a weather map showing thunderstorms and frequent lightning over the Adriatic coast and the western Balkans.
Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Huge hail and storms

Severe damage along the Adriatic coast
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. Heading over 40°C?. . . Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Heading over 40°C?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList