Lightning Safety

As a minimum, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) staff strongly recommend that by the time the flash-to-bang count reaches 30 seconds (30 seconds between seeing the flash and hearing the bang), all individuals should have left the athletics site and reached a safe structure or location. Athletic events may need to be terminated. The NSSL recommends that everyone should ideally wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before returning to the field or activity.