Denver, Colorado – With winter firmly in place across Colorado, emergency officials are using the quieter season to reflect on lightning safety after two people were killed by lightning statewide during 2025.
According to the National Weather Service and the National Lightning Safety Council, the United States recorded 21 known lightning fatalities in 2025, the highest annual total since 2019. In Colorado, both deaths occurred during outdoor recreation, a common pattern in a state where hiking, camping, and high-elevation activities place people closer to dangerous storm environments.
No lightning fatalities were reported in the Denver metro area in 2025, but the Front Range and mountain communities remain among the most lightning-prone regions in the country once warmer weather returns. Colorado frequently sees fast-developing afternoon thunderstorms from late spring through summer, with lightning often striking well before rain reaches the ground, especially above treeline.
Safety experts urge residents to plan ahead for 2026. If thunder is heard, hikers and outdoor workers should immediately descend from exposed ridges and seek shelter in a substantial building or enclosed vehicle. Open terrain, isolated trees, rock outcroppings, and mountain summits are especially dangerous during storms.
State officials say reinforcing lightning awareness during the winter months can help prevent future tragedies when Colorado’s outdoor season ramps up again, with more safety messaging expected as spring approaches.
