“When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”
Don’t let thunderstorms catch you unprepared. Get simple, live-saving tips that can keep you and your family safe during this National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.
June 21 – 27, 2026 is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week
National Lightning Safety Awareness is an annual campaign dedicated to the public education and awareness of lightning science, dangers, and safe practices. Each day this week, we will highlight lightning science and safety topics as follows:
Sunday: An Introduction to Lightning Safety
Monday: The Science of Lightning and Thunder
Tuesday: Lightning Safety Outdoors
Wednesday: Lightning Safety Indoors
Thursday: Lightning Safety and Sports Activities
Friday: Medical Effects on Lightning Victims
Saturday: Protecting Your Home from Lightning
National Lightning Safety Awareness week started in 2001 to bring awareness to lightning safety and dangers. Since 2001, lightning fatalities in the United States have decreased from approximately 55 deaths per year to about 20 or less. This is likely due to increased awareness, safety measures, and quick emergency response. While fatalities have decreased, hundreds of individuals are still struck by lightning each year. Keep yourself informed and keep you and your family and friends safe during thunderstorms.
This week, we’ll dive into the essentials of lightning, from its fundamental basics to the latest advancements in lightning science. We’ll cover crucial indoor and outdoor safety measures with a special focus on lightning during sporting activities, including indoor swimming. Additionally, we’ll explore the medical effects of both direct and indirect lightning strikes, and conclude by outlining practical steps you can take to safeguard your home or business from lightning’s destructive power.
Lightning Risk:
Exposure of risk (yellow line) relative to lightning risk frequency (orange line) over a thunderstorm’s life cycle. The resulting risk of lightning causalities is show in red. The exposure to risk is highest when it isn’t rain as the lightning risk is not realized. The arrival of rain heightens the awareness and reduces exposure as people move to safer areas even thought the risk has increased due to increased lightning activity.