Summer storms have turned deadly in parts of southern Alabama this year, prompting forecasters to renew calls for basic lightning safety as the region heads deeper into its peak thunderstorm season.
Nationally, lightning strikes have killed 17 people so far this year, according to the National Weather Service, with three of those deaths occurring in southern Alabama. Forecasters say the toll is a reminder that lightning remains one of the more underestimated weather hazards in the Gulf Coast region, where afternoon thunderstorms are a near-daily occurrence through the summer months.
“There is no place outside that is safe when storms are in the area,” the National Weather Service has cautioned, adding that anyone who hears thunder is already within striking distance of lightning and should seek shelter immediately rather than waiting to see rain arrive.
Indoors, safety guidance includes staying off corded phones and plugged-in electronics, avoiding sinks, bathtubs and faucets, and steering clear of windows, doors and exposed porches during a storm. Leaning against concrete walls, which often contain metal reinforcement bars, can also pose a hidden risk of electrical conduction.
For anyone caught outdoors with no shelter available, forecasters recommend getting off elevated ground immediately, avoiding isolated trees, and staying away from cliffs, rocky overhangs, ponds, lakes and other open water. Fences, power lines and other metal objects that conduct electricity should also be avoided.
Forecasters are also working to dispel a few persistent myths. Contrary to popular belief, lightning can strike the same location more than once, crouching down offers little real protection, and sheltering under a tree is actually one of the more dangerous choices a person can make during a storm, since trees are common lightning targets.
With thunderstorms a routine part of the forecast across Mobile, Baldwin and surrounding counties through late summer, officials say a few basic precautions — checking forecasts before outdoor activities, heading indoors promptly at the first sound of thunder and waiting at least 30 minutes after the last rumble before resuming outdoor plans — can make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.