The most dangerous myth about a thunderstorm is that seeking shelter is not necessary until lightning is seen or thunder is heard. However, this practice could prove fatal. The truth is that a typical lightning stroke can extend 6-10 miles, and is often too far to either see lightning or hear thunder. By the time a thunder storm can be seen or heard, the window of time to reach safety has past by as much as 10-15 minutes.

There are 200 deaths and over 1000 serious injuries caused by thunderstorms each year. Over 30% of all lightning victims are struck before a storm arrives. In fact, approximately three-quarters of all lightning fatalities occur under blue skies and no visible or audible signs of nearby storms, i.e., the “bolt from the blue.” Nearly 60% are struck after a storm has passed.

The keys to avoiding dangerous situations are to be aware of storms far in advance, so as not to be struck by lightning strokes from the storm’s leading edge and to stay indoors until the storm’s trailing edge has passed. Obtaining accurate information about the presence of storm activity, along with the critical factors of estimated time of arrival and the time to safely clear are needed to make the right decisions regarding safety of those individuals who work or play outside, such as field managers, coaches and participants in activities and athletics.

Thanks to new technology, this is now possible with the Thunderbolt, a handheld storm detector that is manufactured by Spectrum Electronics Inc., of Tampa, Florida. The Thunderbolt is capable of detecting thunderstorm activity from 75 miles away, and then continuously displays warning information on its LCD screen. The distance to the storm activity, storm intensity information, as well as approach speed, and the estimated time the storm will arrive at the user’s location are all monitored continuously with 15-second updates. Flashing alarm and audible alarm provide warnings in a variety of operating environments.