Spring Storms When Hiking and Camping

[Rick]

It's that time of year again. When spring weather draws us outside and often on a collision course with foul weather. Here is some great information on various summertime threats. This may have been posted last year. It seems familiar but it's still a timely reminder.

http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~doswell/tstm_camping_safety.html

[crashdive123]

Good information. Thanks for the link.

[LostOutrider]

While not directly tied in with the precautions for severe weather, my last backpacking thread covered planning for (and staying relatively comfortable while) being out in the green when the rain starts falling.

Which reminds me, I never posted pictures. . .

[Sourdough]

Last week in Los Anchorage two people went for a hike in the high open alpine with the expressed reason, "To watch the lightening"..........Yep, you guessed it, nailed them both.

[oly]

I cant find it but a Colorado man was struck by lightning with clear skies and the closest storm front was 10 miles away.

[Rick]

Lightening has no trouble reaching out 10 miles. In extreme cases it can approach 20 miles. Even if the storm can not be seen. If the time between the flash and the thunder is less than 30 seconds then it's time to seek shelter. Always remember the 30 second rule!!!!!

[crashdive123]

Since we're talking about lightening... http://www.accuweather.com/news-story.asp?partner=netweather&traveler=0&zipChg=1&article=9

[edr730]

I felt a vibration and heard a sound with my fishing pole when I raised it. There was a storm a long ways off. We often watched the storms come across the floodwaters and raced back to the landing in enough time to avoid the winds and the rain. The waters were still enough and the fishing was still good. I couldn't see a misty fog of rain or a far off wall of rain approaching us. I raised my pole and felt and heard a vibration. I did this a few times before I mentioned it to my fishing partner. He just kind of chuckled and rolled his head around. I said "listen" and I raised my pole and he could hear the buzz. He dropped his smile as he watched the pole. I did this three or four more times with the same results. All he said was "uh...I think it's time to go".

[Rick]

Overhead power lines can be just as dangerous......just sayin'.

[RobertRogers]

A girl playing softball near my town was hit by lightening from storm that was some ten miles away. The bolt can travel laterally quite a distance.