Thunderstorm outdoors: what to do, step by step
Mountains, fields, water. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone app and work without internet.
First, right now
- Hear thunder? You are within reach of lightning. Go into a building or a closed car with a metal roof now.
- In the mountains get off ridges and summits and away from chains, ladders and metal railings.
- Get out of the water, off boats and off open fields.
Then
- No shelter? Move away from lone trees, poles and the highest points. A forest of low trees is better than open ground.
- As a last resort, crouch with your feet together, ideally on a rucksack or sleeping mat, head low. Do not lie flat.
- In a group, spread out more than ten metres apart so one strike cannot hit everyone.
- Count the seconds from flash to thunder and divide by 3 to get the distance in kilometres.
- Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out.
- A person struck by lightning is safe to touch. Not breathing? Call 112 and start CPR straight away.
How close is the storm? (flash to thunder)
| over 30 s | More than 10 km. The storm is coming. Start heading down and look for shelter. |
| 15–30 s | 5–10 km. You are within reach of lightning. Go to a building or car now. |
| 5–15 s | 2–5 km. Very dangerous. Leave open ground, get out of the water. |
| under 5 s | Under 2 km. The storm is over you. Crouch low, feet together, away from trees and metal. |
Sound travels about 1 km in 3 seconds. Lightning can strike 10–15 km from a storm, so nowhere outdoors is safe while you can hear thunder.
When to call 112
When someone has been struck by lightning, even if they seem fine. Immediately if they are not breathing.
What not to do
- Do not shelter under a lone tree or an open shelter in an open area.
- Do not stay on a summit, a ridge or by water.
- Do not hold trekking poles, an umbrella or a fishing rod above your head.
- Do not wait for the rain. Lightning can strike more than ten kilometres ahead of a storm.
See also
Keep it on your phone
SurvivalZone is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.
Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
- 🔥 Fire in the building
- 🌡️ Heatwave
- 🌪️ Storm, strong wind
- 🚀 Air attack: missiles, drones, bombs
- 📢 Sirens, alarm, air contamination
- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- ❄️ Stuck in a car in a snowstorm
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, dangerous infectious disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
Sources
- IMGW-PIB: weather and flood warnings (Poland)
- TOPR: Tatra mountain rescue
- ERC first aid and resuscitation guidelines (European Resuscitation Council)
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-10-18.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.