How Fast Lightning Can Reach You, According To Experts

I recently read an article on Weather.com about a golfer in South Africa who was livestreaming a practice session at a driving range when lightning struck out of the blue.

One minute he was reviewing his golf swing, and the next, a lightning bolt hit with almost no warning. The golfer survived and later described the experience as “frightening and painful.”

photo of man swinging golf driver — Photo by Courtney Cook on Unsplash

Lightning isn't something that only happens somewhere else; it can strike with incredible speed and devastating consequences.

When lightning is in the area, many of us think we have more time to seek shelter than we actually do. In reality, the University of Arizona says that if you can hear thunder, you're already within range of a dangerous lightning strike.

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Arizona Is One of America's Lightning Hotspots

One of the features of an Arizona summer is dramatic lightning storms that light up the sky and put on an impressive show.

If you've spent a monsoon season in Arizona, you've probably watched an evening thunderstorm light up the sky like a fireworks show.

grass field under cloudy sky — Photo by Eugene Triguba on Unsplash

According to the University of Arizona and lightning researchers, Arizona experiences hundreds of thousands of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes annually. Most of the strikes happen during the summer monsoon season.

Some modern detection networks estimate that roughly 6 million total lightning events occur each year across the state when cloud and ground strikes are combined, according to NOAA.

Southeastern Arizona's mountain ranges received some of the greatest concentration of lightning activity. Our mountains help generate the thunderstorms that power monsoon weather, as described by experts at the University of Arizona.

A house with a lightning bolt in the background — Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Lightning Safety Tips

The best way to stay safe from a lightning strike is to remove yourself and others from the path of danger. According to cales.arizona.edu, if a storm moves in while you're outdoors:

Get to safety. Head to a solid, substantial building immediately.
If no building is available, get inside a fully enclosed vehicle.
Avoid golf courses, open fields, hilltops, and ridgelines. Whatever you do, don’t keep those metal sticks in your hands, golfers. They make the perfect lightning rod. Don’t risk it.
Stay away from isolated trees. Lightning seeks out the tallest thing, and trees make the perfect target.

a tree in a field with a lot of lightning — Photo by Basil Smith on Unsplash

Remember when your parents made you get out of the pool when lightning was close? They knew what they were talking about. Leave lakes, pools, and other bodies of water immediately.
If you hear thunder, seek shelter right away. Don’t wait to see if it “gets worse”.
Just because the sky is clearing, that doesn’t mean you’re out of danger. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before returning outdoors.
If you ever get trapped in the open with no shelter, move to lower ground and avoid being the tallest object nearby.

man swimming on body of water — Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash

Stay Safe to Play Another Round

In Arizona, it’s not if lightning will strike, but when. Take shelter at the first sign of lightning in the area, so you and your friends will live to play another round.