Lightning Safety in the City: Where to Shelter, What to Unplug and When It’s Safe to Go Back Out

Quick answer: The National Weather Service says no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck, so move into a substantial building with plumbing and wiring or a hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows closed. Stay there until 30 minutes after the last thunder you hear. Indoors, stay off corded phones, avoid plumbing and electrical equipment, and keep away from windows, doors, porches and balconies.

Cities feel safe from lightning. There are tall buildings everywhere, shelter seems a few steps away and the skyline has lightning rods. Even so, city residents spend a lot of time exposed: waiting at bus stops, walking between subway entrances, running in parks, sitting at outdoor cafes, working on rooftops or relaxing on balconies.

This guide explains how lightning actually behaves, which places in a city protect you and which only look like they do. It is part of our severe weather preparedness guide, which covers every major storm hazard in one place.

Sources: National Weather Service (NWS) Lightning Safety pages, including “How Dangerous is Lightning?”, lightning safety indoors and outdoors guidance and the “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” campaign; NOAA lightning science pages; Ready.gov, Thunderstorms and Lightning; American Red Cross, thunderstorm safety guidance. General safety information, not a substitute for official warnings. Checked October 2026.

How Dangerous Is Lightning?

Lightning remains a real, if uncommon, cause of storm deaths in the United States. According to NWS Storm Data, the country averaged 43 reported lightning deaths per year from 1989 through 2018, and 27 per year in the 2009 to 2018 period. Fatalities have fallen as awareness campaigns, better forecasts and changes in outdoor behavior have spread.

Deaths are only part of the picture. The NWS notes that only about 10% of people struck by lightning are killed, which leaves roughly 90% of survivors with some degree of injury or disability. Long-term effects can include memory problems, chronic pain, hearing damage and nerve injuries.

The agency also estimates the odds of being struck at about 1 in 15,300 over an 80-year lifetime. Since each strike also affects family, coworkers and bystanders, the NWS puts the odds of being affected by someone else’s strike at about 1 in 1,530.

Those odds are not evenly spread. Most victims were outdoors doing ordinary things: walking, working, waiting for a ride, playing sports or enjoying water and beaches. City life involves plenty of those moments.

Why "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors" Is the Rule

The central NWS message is simple: when thunder roars, go indoors. Thunder is the sound lightning makes, so if you can hear it, lightning is within range.

Lightning can strike miles away from the storm that produced it, sometimes out of what looks like clear sky ahead of the rain. People are often struck before a storm arrives or after it seems to have passed, because they wait for heavy rain before heading inside or rush back out once the rain stops.

That is why the old habit of counting seconds between flash and bang to decide whether you are safe has been replaced. Current NWS guidance is not to wait: any audible thunder means it is time to move.

Places That Protect You and Places That Don't

Safe shelter falls into two categories, according to the NWS.

• A substantial building. This means an enclosed building with plumbing and electrical wiring, such as a home, apartment building, office, store or school. If lightning strikes, the current tends to travel through the wiring and plumbing into the ground rather than through the people inside.
• A hard-topped metal vehicle. Cars, buses, trucks and vans with metal roofs and closed windows offer protection. The metal shell carries the current around the occupants. Keep windows up and avoid touching metal parts connected to the frame.

Many structures that look like shelter do not protect you:

Looks safe	Why it isn’t
Bus shelters	Open-sided and not grounded through plumbing or wiring
Park pavilions and picnic shelters	Open sides; you are still exposed
Tents, including event and market tents	No protection from a strike or ground current
Covered porches and balconies	Attached to a building but still outside
Dugouts, sheds and gazebos	Small structures without the wiring path
Convertibles, motorcycles and bikes	No metal shell around the rider
Trees	Tall objects attract strikes; never shelter beneath one

The difference matters in a city. A bus shelter keeps you dry, but it does not keep you safe from lightning. A lobby, a store, a coffee shop or a subway station building does.

Lightning Safety on the Street, in Parks and on Transit

Most city lightning risk shows up during routine outdoor time. Here is how NWS guidance applies to typical urban situations.

Walking or waiting outside

If you hear thunder while walking, head into the nearest open building such as a shop, lobby, library or station. Do not stand under awnings, scaffolding or trees. Waiting for a bus? Go into a nearby building and watch for it from the door rather than standing in the shelter.

Parks, fields and waterfronts

Parks, sports fields, beaches, piers and waterfront paths are among the most exposed places in any city. The NWS lists outdoor recreation, including water activities, among the most common settings for lightning deaths. Check the forecast before you go, know where the nearest building is and leave at the first rumble.

Running and cycling

Runners and cyclists can be far from shelter. Plan routes that pass businesses or buildings, check radar before a long outing and cut the route short when thunder starts.

Rooftops, terraces and balconies

Rooftop decks, pools and terraces put you at the highest point around. Go inside at the first thunder. Balconies are outdoors, too, so step in and close the door.

Buses, trains and cars

Enclosed metal vehicles are generally safe shelter. If you are on an elevated platform or at an outdoor stop, move into the station building, a nearby business or the vehicle itself when it arrives.

If You Are Caught Outside With No Shelter

Sometimes there is truly nowhere to go. The NWS is clear that no outdoor place is safe, but some choices reduce risk:

• Get off elevated areas such as hills, rooftops and open plazas.
• Never lie flat on the ground.
• Never shelter under an isolated tree.
• Stay away from water, wet items and metal objects such as fences, poles and railings, which conduct electricity.
• If you are in a group, spread out so a single strike cannot hit everyone.
• Keep moving toward a safe building or vehicle rather than waiting in place.

Treat these steps as a last resort. The real fix is planning so you are never caught in the open.

Indoor Lightning Safety in an Apartment

Being indoors is far safer, but the NWS notes that some people are still injured inside during storms. The risk comes from lightning traveling through wiring, plumbing and metal.

During a thunderstorm:

• Avoid corded phones. Cordless and cell phones are safe to use.
• Stay off electrical equipment that plugs into the wall, such as desktop computers, gaming consoles and corded tools.
• Avoid plumbing. Hold off on showers, baths and washing dishes until the storm passes.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and do not go onto porches or balconies.
• Do not lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls, which can contain metal reinforcing bars.

Most apartment residents are reasonably protected just by staying inside and following these steps. High-rise residents should also stay off open rooftops and terraces, and building staff should close rooftop amenities during storms.

Protecting Electronics From Lightning

Lightning can damage electronics through power lines, cable lines and phone lines. According to the NWS, surge protectors may not protect equipment from a direct or nearby lightning strike, so unplugging is the most reliable option.

Practical steps:

• Unplug computers, TVs and other expensive electronics before a storm arrives, not during it.
• Back up important files regularly, ideally to cloud storage or a drive kept unplugged.
• Charge phones and power banks before storms so you can stay informed if power goes out.
• Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio for alerts; our NOAA weather radio guide explains your options.

Storms that bring lightning often bring outages, too. Our guide on preparing for a power outage in a high-rise covers elevators, water pressure and stairwells.

When It's Safe to Go Back Outside

Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside. Lightning often continues after rain stops and blue sky returns, and storms can regroup. If you hear thunder again, restart the 30-minute clock.

This rule matters most for outdoor events, sports practices, pools and rooftop spaces. Organizers should name a person to monitor the weather, set a clear rule for when activities stop and identify where everyone will shelter.

Lightning Safety for Outdoor Events and Workplaces

Cities host constant outdoor activity: street fairs, concerts, farmers markets, construction work and youth sports. The NWS recommends that organizations have a written lightning safety plan.

A good plan includes:

• A designated weather watcher with access to forecasts, radar and alerts.
• Clear criteria for suspending activities, such as the first audible thunder.
• Named shelter locations large enough for everyone, with routes to reach them.
• Enough time built in to move people, since crowds move slowly.
• A rule for resuming activity only after 30 minutes with no thunder.

Workers in construction, landscaping, delivery and utilities face extra exposure. Employers should follow the same principles and give crews a way to receive alerts on the job.

First Aid for Lightning Strike Victims

Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge, so it is safe to touch them and give help right away. According to the NWS and the American Red Cross:

1. Call 911 immediately and give your exact location.
2. Make sure you are safe; if the storm continues, move the victim to a safer place if you can do it without added risk.
3. Check for breathing and a heartbeat. Cardiac arrest is the main cause of death from lightning.
4. Begin CPR if the person is not breathing, and use an AED if one is available.
5. Treat for shock and check for burns, often at entry and exit points.

Learning CPR and AED use is one of the most valuable skills you can bring to a city emergency. The Red Cross and local fire departments offer training.

Getting Lightning Alerts

Thunderstorm alerts come from several sources:

• NWS forecasts and Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings. Note that a storm does not have to be “severe” to produce deadly lightning; the NWS severe criteria are based on wind and hail, not lightning.
• Weather apps with lightning detection, which show recent strikes near your location.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts for the most dangerous storms.
• Local government alert systems, which you can usually sign up for through your city or county emergency management office.

Because ordinary thunderstorms can kill without ever being warned as severe, your own ears are often the best alert. Any thunder is the signal to move.

Building Lightning Into Your Household Plan

Lightning safety fits easily into a household emergency plan. Talk through where each person will go if a storm starts during their commute, at school or at the park. Decide who picks up children if outdoor activities are cut short.

Share a simple plan for checking in: our family emergency communication plan guide covers contacts and text messages. If a storm turns into a tornado threat, follow the steps in our tornado safety guide.

Lightning Myths and Facts

Several myths persist, and the NWS addresses many of them directly.

Myth	Fact
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.	Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially tall, pointed, isolated objects. Very tall city buildings are struck many times a year.
If it isn’t raining, there’s no danger.	Lightning can strike well away from rain, ahead of and behind a storm.
Rubber tires protect you in a car.	The metal roof and sides protect you, not the tires.
Touching a victim will electrocute you.	Victims carry no charge and need immediate help.
Lying flat on the ground is safest outside.	Lying flat increases exposure to ground current. Keep moving to shelter.
Being inside a building means you can do anything.	Avoid plumbing, corded phones, wired electronics, windows and concrete.

A Quick Lightning Safety Checklist

Before thunderstorm season:

• Sign up for local alerts and enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone.
• Install a weather app that shows lightning and radar.
• Note safe buildings along your commute, running route and kids’ activities.
• Take a CPR and AED class.
• Back up your computer and plan which electronics to unplug.

During a storm:

• Go indoors at the first thunder.
• Avoid plumbing, corded phones and plugged-in electronics.
• Stay off balconies, porches and rooftops.
• Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important lightning safety rule? When thunder roars, go indoors. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck, so move into a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle right away.

How long should I wait after a storm to go outside? The National Weather Service recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after the last thunder you hear. Restart the clock if you hear thunder again.

Is a bus shelter safe during lightning? No. Open-sided shelters, pavilions, tents and porches do not protect you. Go into an enclosed building with wiring and plumbing or a hard-topped vehicle.

Can I shower during a thunderstorm? The NWS advises avoiding plumbing, including showers, baths and washing dishes, during a thunderstorm because lightning can travel through metal pipes.

Is it safe to use my phone during a storm? Cell phones and cordless phones are safe. Avoid corded landline phones, which connect to outside wiring.

Do surge protectors protect against lightning? Not reliably. The NWS notes they may not protect equipment from a direct or nearby strike, so unplug expensive electronics before the storm arrives.

Is it safe to touch someone who was struck by lightning? Yes. Victims do not carry a charge. Call 911, begin CPR if needed and use an AED if available.

The Bottom Line

Lightning is unpredictable but the rules for avoiding it are simple. Head indoors at the first thunder, choose real shelter rather than shelter that only looks safe, take a few precautions inside and give storms a full 30 minutes to clear. For the bigger storm picture, see our severe weather preparedness guide.