Denver, Colo. – Before you launch the raft or cast a line into that mountain lake, check the forecast — because in Colorado, lightning can build fast and strike even faster.
More than 60% of lightning fatalities happen during outdoor recreation, often during everyday activities like boating, fishing, swimming and rafting. In Colorado, the risk increases in late spring and peaks during the summer months when afternoon thunderstorms rapidly develop over the mountains.
Here’s what catches many people off guard: lightning can strike miles away from the heaviest rain. Blue sky above you does not mean a storm isn’t nearby. At higher elevations, storms can form quickly with little warning. If you can hear thunder, you are already within striking distance.
Open water and exposed terrain increase vulnerability. Popular destinations such as Lake Dillon, Grand Lake, Chatfield Reservoir and stretches of the Arkansas and Colorado rivers draw heavy seasonal traffic. Rafts, fishing rods, paddleboards and open shorelines offer little protection, and a direct strike can cause serious injury or disable equipment.
Safety officials emphasize a simple rule: at the first sound of thunder, leave the water immediately and move to a fully enclosed building or hard-topped vehicle. Trees, rocky overhangs and picnic shelters do not provide safe protection.
For students, seasonal workers and summer visitors, peak recreation season also aligns with peak lightning danger.
Checking the forecast before heading out — and being willing to delay plans — can prevent a mountain outing from turning into an emergency.
