The rumble of thunder and the flash of lightning are common features of summer in Colorado. And, in a state where people love to be outdoors, it pays to be careful.
In an average year, about half a million lightning flashes strike the ground in Colorado, the National Weather Service says. Each year, on average, lightning causes 12 injuries and two deaths across the state.
In a thunderstorm, most lightning flashes remain in the clouds. When lightning occurs between a cloud and the ground, it’s called a ground discharge, and it can unleash hundreds of millions of volts of electricity.
To better understand lightning risks and how we can protect ourselves, we turned to Martin Musi, MD, FAWM, an associate professor in the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Emergency Medicine. He is education director of the department’s Section of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, a member of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, and an avid outdoorsman.
June 21-27 is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, with the slogan: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”