Lightning Strikes In MA: How To Stay Safe Outdoors

A pine tree struck by lightning during a recent PGA golf tournament in Georgia is still standing, albeit with some pieces of bark stripped off. Six fans sheltering under the tree were hit by falling debris, but none were seriously hurt.

Such disruptions to outdoor sporting and other events are not uncommon. Organizers usually have plans in place to move guests out of harm's way when weather turns threatening, but mass panic can make that process less than orderly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lightning is the most frequent weather hazard affecting athletic events. The CDC says venues where lightning strikes are possible should have evacuation plans, safe places to shelter and personnel designated to monitor the weather.

Sheltering under a tree is not a good idea, officials caution: it's the second-leading cause of lightning casualties.

No lightning-caused deaths have been recorded in Massachusetts in 2019, but between 2009 and 2018, there were five deaths from lightning, according to records compiled by the National Weather Service.

How To Stay Safe When Lightning Hits

Patch reached out to the National Weather Service's lightning safety expert, Jeff Peters, who provided us with a list of tips for both fans and recommendations for outdoor venues:

• Avoid open fields and isolated tall structures (including trees and human-made towers).
• Be aware of the weather forecast for the day of the event, paying close attention to the potential for storms with their timing and whether they'll be severe.
• On the day of the event, have one or more dedicated people monitoring the weather (weather watchers) both outside and with technology (internet access to the National Weather Service forecast, etc.) for updates to the forecast, as changes are possible with the timing and potential severity of the storms (if that is a concern for the day).
• Have an Action Plan for your outdoor venue, knowing how long it will take to ensure everyone can reach a substantial building (with wiring and plumbing) and/or a hard-topped vehicle before the storms reach your area.
• Note: Lightning can strike at least 5-10 miles from the main storm cloud. This knowledge needs to be included in an event's Action Plan.
• Everyone working the event needs to know the Action Plan and use it when the Action Plan is activated.
• Lightning can strike as the storms depart, after the rain has ended. NWS recommends people waiting 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going outside.

Lightning struck twice — in different places — during the PGA Tour Championship on Aug. 24 in Atlanta. Mark Russell, the PGA Tour's vice president of rules and competitions, said a meteorologist on site was monitoring for thunderstorms, and tour officials were aware of the potential for so-called "pop-up thunderstorms."

"We can monitor that," Russell told The Associated Press. "And a lot of times, we get lucky and we don't get hit with thunderstorms, especially when it's a situation when they're pop-ups like that."

When play is suspended, Russell said, fans are encouraged to take shelter anywhere they can find it. Organizers also opened up hospitality areas for fans.

"You've got a lot of people, and you have to do that quickly, and sometimes people don't take shelter," Russell told the AP.

There was a similar scene in May when lightning struck a tree on the golf course at the Country Club of Charleston. The flash came during a weather delay at the U.S. Women's Open.

PGA Tour-sanctioned events have not had a death from lightning since the summer of 1991.

Peters told Patch that the occurrence of lightning is random, so it's best to be prepared in any situation.

In cases where people can have advanced warning and seek shelter before the storms, Peters said, their chances of being struck by lightning are low. But lightning can strike when it isn't raining, as far as 10 miles away from the storm, and can strike as storms depart. Peters said that's why the NWS recommends that people wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going outside.

The National Weather Service has a voluntary recognition program in place for outdoor arenas that take steps outlined by the agency to better protect against lightning and other extreme weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Lightning Deaths In U.S.

So far in 2019, there have been 12 lightning-related deaths in the U.S. From 2006 to 2018, there were nearly 400.

An analysis by the National Lightning Safety Council shows that fishermen accounted for more than three times as many deaths as golfers. Moreover, those who were outdoors or camping accounted for twice as many deaths as golfers. In all, there were 10 golf-related lightning deaths in the 13-year period.

The analysis highlighted the importance of getting to safety immediately when lightning threatens.

"The inability and unwillingness to get to a safe place in a timely manner both contribute to many lightning fatalities," the analysis said. "Many people wait far too long to start heading to safety, and that puts them in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation."