Lightning Biggest Threat on Beaches Weather This Week

That’s the warning from the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office as another week of “typical summertime weather” is forecast for the Pinellas Beaches area.

“Lightning can strike up to 10 to 15 miles away,” said meteorologist Jennifer Colson. “If you can hear the thunder, you’re at risk for getting struck even if (it’s not raining where you are).”

Colson recommends people take precautions, such as going indoors, when thunder is heard – even in the distance.

Reports of lightning striking people are rare, but they do happen. Between 2006 and 2012, four people in the Tampa Bay area were killed by lightning, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Most recently, a Brandon woman died in May after being struck at Belleair Beach in Pinellas County, according to Brandon Patch.

Lightning aside, Colson said Tampa Bay area residents are in for a fairly typical week of afternoon storms, highs in the 90s and lows in the upper 70s to low 80s. Even so, some of those “typical” storms could be considered severe, so residents should be mindful of thunderstorm activity in their area.

Rain chances are about 60 percent for the Bay area on Monday, Aug. 5. They’re forecast between 40 to 50 percent for the rest of the week, Colson said.

To find out more about lightning safety, visit the National Weather Service’s lightning page online.