Is it safe to use an umbrella during a thunderstorm?

Not if lightning is involved — the metal ribs can act like a small lightning rod. The moment you hear thunder, close the umbrella and head for a car or building instead of relying on it for cover.

What should I do if a storm hits while I'm hiking?

Stop moving along a ridge or summit, crouch low, and head for the nearest shelter or ranger station. A tent or trekking poles won't protect you from lightning, so look for the indoor shelter your park office points you toward.

How should I judge the risk near a river or valley?

Upstream rain can push water levels up fast regardless of how light it looks where you're standing. Move to higher ground right away instead of waiting it out by the water, and never try to cross on stepping stones or shallow water.

Dangerous Outdoor Spots During Storms: Where Not to Wait

10 Outdoor Spots to Leave the Moment You Hear Thunder

A sudden shower is dangerous less because of the rain and more because of where you're standing — knowing the lightning, flash-flood, and flooding signs in advance means you move faster.

When a shower hits, the instinct is to duck under the nearest eave or tree — but several of those go-to spots actually raise your risk of lightning strikes or flash flooding. Golladream drew on official safety-agency guidance to pick 10 spots that look safer than they are, explaining why each is risky and where to head instead.

The order here follows how likely you are to encounter each spot during outdoor activity, not severity. If you're standing in one of these right now, skip the reading and move first — then come back to plan your route for next time.

Under a Tall Tree

Lightning targets the tallest object nearby, which makes standing under a big tree riskier than it looks — riskier than most awnings, in fact. The moment thunder starts, put a few steps of distance between you and the trunk and head for a building or vehicle; don't open an umbrella or huddle with others under the branches.

Open Fields and Hilltops

A wide, exposed space with nothing tall around you means you become the tallest target yourself. Stop whatever you're doing the instant you hear thunder, crouch low, and move to the nearest indoor shelter — hesitating at a summit or lying flat in the open only extends your exposure.

Riverside Walking Paths

Rain falling upstream doesn't take long to reach you, so water levels can rise fast even while the sky above looks clear. Once rain starts, head toward a building rather than telling yourself you'll wait it out by the water.

Valleys and Steep Slopes

This terrain can combine flash floods, falling rocks, and landslides all at once, which is why Golladream ranks it as one of the first places to leave. If you're in a valley floor, climb to higher ground immediately — never go back down for a tent or gear.

10 Outdoor Spots to Leave the Moment You Hear Thunder

Under a Tall Tree

Open Fields and Hilltops

Riverside Walking Paths

Valleys and Steep Slopes

Underpasses and Low Ground

Near Construction Sites

Around Metal Structures

Beaches and Breakwaters

Tents and Open-Air Pavilions

Already-Flooded Roads

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

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