Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah emergency officials are using the winter months to reinforce lightning safety awareness after 21 people across the United States were killed by lightning in 2025, the highest annual total since 2019.
According to the National Weather Service and the National Lightning Safety Council, most lightning fatalities last year occurred during outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, construction, recreation near water, and high-elevation work. While Utah did not record a lightning-related death in 2025, officials say the state’s terrain and outdoor lifestyle still create meaningful risk once thunderstorm season returns.
Lightning danger in Utah typically increases from late spring through summer, especially during afternoon and evening storms that develop rapidly over mountains, deserts, and high plateaus. Hikers above treeline, climbers, construction crews, and people recreating near reservoirs and rivers face the greatest exposure when storms build quickly with little warning.
State and local officials say winter is the ideal time to strengthen safety habits ahead of 2026. If thunder is heard anywhere in Utah, residents should move indoors immediately to a substantial building or enclosed vehicle. Ridge lines, exposed rock faces, open terrain, isolated trees, metal equipment, and bodies of water significantly increase the risk of being struck.
Emergency management leaders emphasize that early decisions save lives. Lightning safety outreach is expected to ramp up statewide as warmer weather approaches, with the goal of keeping Utah residents prepared, informed, and safe throughout the next thunderstorm season.
