Atlanta, Ga. – Before you back the boat into the water or claim your spot on the beach, take a minute to check the forecast — because lightning can strike long before the rain reaches you.
More than 60% of lightning fatalities happen during outdoor recreation, often during everyday activities like boating, fishing and swimming. In Georgia, the risk increases in late spring and peaks during the summer months when pop-up afternoon thunderstorms develop quickly in the heat.
Here’s what catches many people off guard: lightning can strike miles away from a storm. It doesn’t have to be raining overhead. If you can hear thunder, you are already within striking distance.
Open water increases vulnerability. Popular destinations such as Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, Lake Oconee, the Chattahoochee River and coastal areas near Tybee Island draw heavy seasonal crowds. Fishing rods, aluminum boats, docks and exposed shorelines offer little protection, and a direct strike can cause serious injury or disable onboard electronics.
Safety officials emphasize a simple rule: at the first sound of thunder, leave the water immediately and seek shelter inside a fully enclosed building or hard-topped vehicle. Beach shelters, picnic pavilions and trees do not provide safe protection.
For students, seasonal workers and summer visitors, peak recreation season also brings peak lightning danger.
Checking the forecast before heading out — and being willing to delay plans — can prevent a routine summer outing from turning into an emergency.
