Video: using the Canadian Lightning Danger Map

Video: How to Use the Lightning Danger Map

How to Use the Lightning Danger Map

Transcript

Environment Canada Meteorologist Matt MacDonald:

During the summer in Canada, lightning strikes every three seconds.

Each strike has enough energy to provide a house with electricity for an entire week.

Of course, if lightning strikes nearby, it also has enough power to seriously injure or kill a person.

Now the problem with lightning is that it’s highly unpredictable.  It is impossible to predict where and when the next strike will hit.  However, Environment Canada's Lightning Danger Maps can help you reduce your risk of being seriously injured or killed by lightning.

The Canadian Lightning Danger Maps use information from recent lightning strikes to create high danger zones indicated in red. The danger zones help show you where the lightning risk is greatest.

To find the Canadian Lightning Danger Maps go to Canada.ca/weather. In the Alerts drop-down menu, select your region under the Lightning Detection section.

Red circles are used to indicate areas that have the highest risk. If there is a red circle over your location, you are in a high danger zone. You are at immediate risk of being injured or killed by lightning for at least the next 10 minutes.

If there is a red circle over your location, get to a safe place immediately such as a solid building with wiring and plumbing or an all-metal vehicle.

If red circles are nearby or there are thunderstorms in the forecast, make sure to keep an eye on the sky and listen for thunder.  If you see or hear thunderstorms developing then remember:

“When thunder roars, go indoors”.

To see what your current lightning danger risk is, please visit Environment Canada’s Lightning Danger Maps at weather.gc.ca/lightning.