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NOUS42 KTBW 021256
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FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-165-
239-242-248-249-251-255-260-262-265-030100-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
756 AM EST MON FEB 2 2026
..SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK 2026
..LIGHTNING IS THE TOPIC FOR TODAY
IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, STATE AND LOCAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, THIS WEEK
HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED AS FLORIDA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK. THIS
WEEK IS DESIGNED TO TEACH FLORIDIANS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE
VARIOUS FORMS OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER THAT OCCUR IN FLORIDA.
LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE'S MOST UNPREDICTABLE PHENOMENA AND MAKES
ALL THUNDERSTORMS POTENTIAL KILLERS. WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA IS THE MOST ACTIVE LIGHTNING HOT-SPOT IN THE UNITED STATES.
THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR ALMOST DAILY FROM MID MAY THROUGH MID OCTOBER,
THANKS TO THE FORMATION AND COLLISION OF LOCAL SEA BREEZE BOUNDARIES.
A DISTANT OR DEVELOPING STORM MAY NOT APPEAR THREATENING, SINCE
PEOPLE OFTEN ASSOCIATE THE PEAK THREAT WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL,
BUT LIGHTNING IS MOST DANGEROUS NEAR THE EDGE OF A STORM. THE
MAJORITY OF LIGHTNING VICTIMS ARE STRUCK BEFORE THE STORM REACHES
ITS PEAK INTENSITY OR SHORTLY AFTER THE RAIN HAS ENDED. THIS IS
BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT SEEK SHELTER QUICKLY ENOUGH OR LEAVE THEIR
SHELTER TOO SOON AFTER THE STORM. REMEMBER, IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER,
YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK AND SHOULD
IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER. ONCE THERE, BE SURE TO WAIT 30 MINUTES
AFTER HEARING THE LAST SOUND OF THUNDER BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES.
LIGHTNING CANNOT BE AVOIDED IN THE SAME WAY ONE WOULD AVOID A
TORNADO OR HURRICANE. THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING IS TO NOT BE IN THE SPOT WHEN AND WHERE IT OCCURS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MORE THAN 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM,
BUT THE SOUND OF THUNDER USUALLY ONLY CARRIES AROUND 8 MILES AWAY
FROM THE STORM. THUS, THERE IS A ZONE WHERE YOU WILL NOT HEAR
THUNDER, BUT ARE STILL AT RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
IN 2025, 20 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY LIGHTNING IN THE UNITED STATES,
WITH 3 OF THOSE DEATHS OCCURRING IN FLORIDA. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER
TWO WEATHER-RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA, ONLY BEHIND RIP CURRENTS. IT
IS ESSENTIAL TO TAKE LIGHTNING SAFETY INTO ACCOUNT WHEN PLANNING
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER. GET CONTINUOUS WEATHER
UPDATES, IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE PREDICTED, AND BE READY TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD A STORM APPROACH OR FORM NEARBY.
SO HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? HALT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IMMEDIATELY
AND MOVE INDOORS IF THUNDER IS HEARD. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL 30
MINUTES AFTER THE LAST SOUND OF THUNDER. PICNIC PAVILIONS, BASEBALL
DUGOUTS, BEACH SHACKS, SHEDS, AND ISOLATED TREES OFFER NO PROTECTION
AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED. IF AN ENCLOSED BUILDING IS NOT AVAILABLE,
THEN AN ENCLOSED METAL VEHICLE OR BUS ARE THE NEXT BEST
ALTERNATIVES. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILES AND GOLF CARTS DO NOT PROVIDE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION.
WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS!
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING OR LIGHTNING SAFETY,
PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:
HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY/LIGHTNING
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