Don't Mess With Lightning

Expert Offers Advice On Staying Safe When In A Thunderstorm

(CBS)  That doesn't surprise meteorologist Ron Holle, a consultant for Vaisala Group, a weather measurement company. He tells Storm, "A lot of cases of lightning and thunder occur without a lot of warning. But most of the time, there is some thunder or lightning in the area. You have to pay a lot of attention to the lightning, and going under a tree is a bad idea. You may stay dry, but it really is a bad location to be for lightning."

Holle urges people to follow the "30-30 rule," which the National Weather Service says should be used "where visibilty is good and there is nothing obstructing your view of the thunderstorm. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles of you and is dangerous. Seek shelter immediately. The threat of lightning continues for much longer period than most people realize. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before leaving shelter. Don't be fooled by sunshine or blue sky. If it is cloudy or objects are obscuring your vision, get inside immediately. It is always safer to take precautions than to wait."

"Don't go outside too soon," Holle concurs. "About as many people are killed and injured by lightning after the maximum part of the storm is done compared to before the storm."

"There's really only two safe places from lightning," Holle continues. "One is inside of a substantial building like a house or a business. And the other one is a metal-topped vehicle. When you're inside of a building, you want to stay away from the wiring and the plumbing and the telephone, because they'll conduct electricity in from a strike to the building or to a power pole.

If you're stuck outside during a storm, Holle says, "There's only so much you can do. You generally really need to be inside. …Most of the time, such as in the case of (the Pennsylvania) picnic or when you have a ball game, there is a vehicle nearby, and there's a building. Just go to those places."

Click here for National Weather Service lightning safety tips.