Severe thunderstorms, high winds and hail: what to do at home, outdoors and in the car

Every summer, severe thunderstorms with strong winds and hail cause major damage: trees falling on cars and houses, roofs torn off, streets flooded, people hurt by flying debris. Much of it happens in minutes, sometimes after a clear day. A few simple habits keep you safe.

Before: the warning

Weather services issue watches and warnings (in Europe, often color-coded yellow, orange and red), and serious ones trigger emergency alerts on your phone. When severe storms and hail are forecast:

• Secure or bring in anything that can blow away: patio furniture, pots, umbrellas, trampolines, tarps.
• Move the car into a garage or covered parking, away from trees and poles.
• Close windows and lower shutters or exterior blinds.
• Charge phones and power banks; a power cut is likely.
• Postpone drives and mountain hikes.

At home

• Stay away from windows and glass doors.
• Unplug sensitive electronics (computer, TV) as lightning approaches.
• Don’t shower, bathe or wash dishes during a lightning storm.
• If the wind tears off the roof or breaks windows, move to an interior room on the lowest floor.

Outdoors

• Get inside a solid building: a store, apartment block, subway station.
• Stay away from trees, poles, scaffolding, billboards and signs. Most storm injuries come from falling objects.
• Don’t shelter under an isolated tree or a gazebo.
• Don’t wade through water running down the street: it can hide open manholes or downed lines.

In the car

• Pull over safely, away from trees and poles, if visibility drops sharply or large hail starts.
• Stay in the car with windows closed: the metal body protects you from lightning.
• In hail, turn your back to the windows and shield your face with a jacket.
• Don’t drive through flooded underpasses. 12 inches (30 cm) of water can float a car.

Lightning: the 30–30 rule

• Count the seconds between flash and thunder. Under 30 seconds means the storm is within about 6 miles (10 km) and lightning can reach you. Get inside.
• Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going out.
• If you’re caught outside with no shelter: away from high points and water, crouch on the balls of your feet, feet together. Don’t lie flat.
• A lightning victim doesn’t carry a charge: you can touch them. Call the emergency number and, if they’re not breathing, start CPR.

After the storm

• Never touch downed power lines and stay at least 33 ft (10 m) away. Report them to the utility or emergency services.
• Watch for broken branches still hanging.
• Photograph damage for insurance before cleaning up.
• Check on older neighbors.
• If you’ve lost power, see our power outage guide.