North Dakota Lightning Safety: Why Crouching Could Be Dangerous

If you're like me, you might be a little shaken right now. Many of us received a loud alert on your phone saying there's a tornado in Mandan. My coworkers and I went down to the lower level of our building and looked outside to see if we could see any signs of trouble headed our way. Since we had such a close encounter moments ago I thought we should debunk this one safety tip we've all heard over the years.

Crouching in a Thunderstorm

Did you know that for the longest time, the National Weather Service advised North Dakotans to crouch down if they were ever caught outside during a thunderstorm? It's true. For years, it was the belief of many that crouching down would prevent you from getting struck by lightning.

I know you're probably thinking, "the science ain't science-ing". For whatever reason, that was a longstanding belief, but now, weather professionals are saying something different.

According to NWS.gov, the National Weather Service stopped recommending this crouch in 2008. It was determined that crouching doesn't offer a significant amount of protection against lightning strikes.

The source says that if a lightning channel approaches from directly overhead or nearly so, you are still very likely to be struck and injured or killed. This is now considered outdated advice by many in the weather industry.

Interestingly enough, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) still lists the crouch as a protective measure.

The NWS no longer focuses its safety messages on what a person should do in a dangerous weather event. Instead, they focus their messaging on how to avoid getting into a dangerous situation.

The source now says there really isn't any safe place or position a person can be in when outside during a thunderstorm. They advise that a person should stay inside or in a hard-topped vehicle.

Other things to remember about lightning and storm safety according to the CDC website:

• When thunder roars, go indoors
• Don't resume outdoor activities until 30 minutes have passed after the storm
• Avoid open spaces and structures
• Get off of elevated areas (hills and peaks)
• Get out and away from ponds and lakes