Tuesday is Lightning Safety Awareness Day in Wisconsin

When thunder roars, go indoors! ReadyWisconsin is urging everyone to make sure they know what to do when they see lightning or hear thunder nearby. Lightning Safety Awareness Day in Wisconsin is Tuesday, June 23. “Thunderstorms can develop quickly this time of year, creating the threat from lightning strikes to those caught outdoors,” said Dr. Darrell L. Williams, Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator. “Even if the sky directly overhead may be clear, lightning can travel several miles from the center of a storm. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.” According to the National Lightning Safety Council, 21 people were struck and killed by lightning in the United States in 2019, while at least four people have been killed by lightning strikes in the US so far this year. The majority of those killed were participating in outdoor recreational activities at the time they were struck. The most recent lightning-related death reported in Wisconsin was in Minocqua in September of 2016.