Lightning shouldn't hit the tent directly, but it could hit something else nearby. You’re stuck riding out the thunderstorm until it’s over in nothing but your tent. Another good spot to wait out the storm is in your enclosed vehicle, if you can reach it in time. Make sure the tarp is angled so the rainwater runs off the sides, away from your tent. According to Canada’s government website, “campers and hikers are among those most commonly affected by lightning, often struck during a thunderstorm when they are in open areas or when taking shelter.” In that country, more than 65 percent of all lightning-related deaths and injuries occur when outdoors enjoying recreation. Unlike steel and aluminum (doesn’t conduct electricity well), carbon fiber doesn’t conduct electricity. Dealing with the weather is all about understanding/minimizing risks and knowing how to deal with them. If you think sleeping inside your tent is safe during a thunderstorm, better think twice. Submitted by – Jeremy, Cincinnati, Ohio. On the lower valley floor. Lying on the ground in a tent during a lightning storm would maximize the chances of being hurt. It can be terrifying to be stuck in a raging thunderstorm with only fabric and metal surrounding you. Obviously, it’s safer to seek shelter inside during a storm, but the risk is low. This isn’t the best place to go, but it’s better than inside a tent in an open field. Contrary to people’s beliefs, there’s nothing that lighting is attracted to; it will only try to find the quick way to the ground. Usually, a tent footprint is for comfort so you’re not sleeping on the cold, hard ground. Thunderstorm Activity for the Appalachian Trail in Stratton, Maine. What Should I Do If I’m Stuck In a Tent During a Thunderstorm? I’ll go over the lightning position in the following section. Okay, so you tried to take shelter elsewhere, but there wasn’t enough time. Look for large enclosed buildings with plumbing and wiring. Follow The National Weather Service Lightning Safety Guidelines. Join me in my journey to find the tactics and tools to make living solo safer. You can minimize risk by choosing the right campsite location (keep reading below) and going into the lightning position when the strikes draw close. One side says you should always seek shelter in a car or building and the other says most of the risk can be minimized by choosing the right campsite. Even though you are protected from the rain tents offer no additional protection from lightning. After cutting down a large oak tree in my backyard I ran into an unfamiliar problem. You can also seek shelter in your car if there’s no way to get to a building. Sometimes you won’t be able to avoid bad weather. People seem to amplify risk by voicing baseless fears. Setting up your tent. I must again go back to isolation. While it is entirely safe for women to drive alone, generally speaking, they do need to be vigilant to ensure they don’t become a victim. Drive your stakes into the ground at a 45 degree angle at each corner of the tent. You’d prefer not to get struck by lightning on your camping trip, especially considering that you’re nowhere near a hospital. Lightning can pass right through metal poles, so direct contact can lead to injury. I grew up in a small Ohio town just outside of Cleveland. With warm weather comes an increased chance of running into a thunderstorm while out on the trail, especially during the afternoons. You’re far more likely to win the lottery than be struck by lightning sleeping in a tent. The United States National Weather Service (NWS) has an easy-to-remember saying: “When thunder roars, go indoors!” Following this advice is the best way to stay safe during a thunderstorm. You want to have as little of your body touching the ground as possible. How to Protect Yourself in a Thunderstorm. Most injuries from lightning are not direct hits. I've also been in vehicles during … Whether or not your tent can get struck by thunder will depend on which campsite you choose, what kind of poles your tent has, whether or not your tent is … The design works as a screw drilling through the dirt. Camping in a thunderstorm can be a life-threatening ordeal. Your tent is designed to protect you from rain, the sun, and even heat. Hi, I'm Sarah Conyers and as a single woman living alone - I know how dangerous the world can be. Are Tents Safe During Thunderstorms? I highly recommend giving it a quick watch. If you are in a low area, move to higher ground. Always check the weather when you’re camping during storm season. When the sound of thunder becomes unmistakable, it’s time to get far away from any and all metal items as you can. Longer delays mean the lightning is farther away. It’s just you, a few friends, and miles and miles of untamed wilderness all around you. This happens regularly while taking week-long backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada in the summertime. Your tent is not safe if lightning occurs. Knowing how to deal with stormy weather is valuable knowledge. As a last case scenario, you can travel deeper into the forest away from the tallest trees. Safeandsolo.com is a helpful resource for individuals who are seeking ways to protect themselves. In the early morning hours of July 21st, 2016 I rode a extreme thunderstorm while filming my review for the BattlBox Single Man tent. Try to pitch your tent in shrubs of the same height as your tent. Carbon fiber is strong and very light, but it has one major benefit during thunderstorms. 9 people found … Bring a tarp and set up a temporary shelter with it under a cluster of short trees. If you stand where the electric charge has built up in the soil, you could be injured by the electrical shock, no lightning strikes required. The other .1% boils down to bad luck. The pointier the item in question, the greater the attractant the item is to lightning. (park, Astro, lightning) User Name: Remember Me: Password : Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Insulate Yourself from the Ground. If you’re camping on a ridgetop, you’ll have more chances to get struck … This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. So you would have 2 problems to deal with. In this case, you must be extra careful when caught in a severe thunderstorm. If you’re looking to avoid lightning when camping, make sure you do the following. You pull up to your driveway just as you hear it, an overwhelmingly loud clap of thunder. Tent stakes are cheap so don’t settle for the flimsy steel stakes that come with your tent. High ground, under trees, and in the open are all dangerous areas to be during a thunderstorm. The lightning in the distance is not that far away either. Look at the forecast in the area you’ll be camping in the night before your trip and the day of. Tents don’t necessarily attract lightning, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe in a thunderstorm. So what should I do if I’m stuck in a tent during a thunderstorm? Now I want to share what I’ve learned with you. No matter how expensive your tent is and whatever features it has, thunderstorms pose threats and risks that you must avoid at all costs. Tents and Lightning. For a properly sited tent, the best thing to do during a thunderstorm is to stay put.