New Mexico leads the nation in annual rates of lightning fatalities and injuries.  Why?  The main reason is that people stay outside too long as thunderstorms approach or form nearby.  During the early part of the thunderstorm season,  for example May and June,  "dry" thunderstorms are quite common.  With these types of thunderstorms,  little or no precipitation reaches the ground and, as a result,  people are less likely to seek shelter.  

Studies have shown most people struck by lightning are struck not at the height of a thunderstorm, but before and after the storm has peaked. This shows many people are unaware of how far lightning can strike from its parent thunderstorm. DO NOT wait for the rain to start before seeking shelter, and do not leave shelter just because the rain has ended.

Did you know?

• The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50000 degrees F, that is hotter than the surface of the sun!
• The average flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months.
• Lightning occurs with all thunderstorms.

It's not raining, is there still danger from being struck by lightning? YES! Lightning often strikes outside of the heavy rain area and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. 

Will the rubber soles of my shoes or tires on my car protect me from being struck? NO! However, the steel frame of a hard-topped car provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside the car than outside.

To roughly estimate the distance in miles between you and the lightning flash, count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder and divide by 5.

When skies darken or thunderstorms are forecast look and listen for increasing wind, flashes of lightning, sound of thunder, and static on your am radio. While no place is safe from lightning, some places are much safer than others.