What to Do When There Is a Lightning Storm | South Africa Thunderstorm Safety Guide

If you hear thunder during a storm in South Africa, stop outdoor activity and move immediately into a substantial enclosed building or a fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle. Do not wait until rain begins or lightning appears directly overhead. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to be dangerous. Remain sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before resuming outdoor activities.

Avoid open fields, hilltops, isolated trees, metal fences, open-sided shelters, swimming pools, dams and rivers during a thunderstorm. A small roof, picnic shelter, bus stop or lone tree is not adequate lightning protection. If someone is struck, it is safe to touch them—a lightning victim does not retain an electrical charge. Call emergency services immediately, assess breathing and start CPR with an AED if appropriate and available, following dispatcher instructions.

This guide is for families, learners, outdoor workers, sports teams, farmers, motorists and visitors throughout South Africa, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape and other provinces. The threat can involve lightning, hail, wind and flooding in the same weather system. For current warnings, use the South African Weather Service and local emergency authorities. This page is not a live weather warning or a substitute for emergency medical advice.

Quick answer: what to do immediately

Hear thunder? Go into a substantial enclosed building or hard-topped enclosed vehicle without delay.
Keep away from open ground: leave sports fields, farms, beaches, high viewpoints, swimming pools and exposed water.
Do not shelter beneath a lone tree, under a small roof, beside a metal fence or inside a flimsy structure.
Inside a building: stay away from wired electrical devices, plumbing, baths and showers during the storm, and avoid exterior windows.
In a hard-topped vehicle: close windows, remain inside, and avoid contact with exposed metal components where possible.
Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning to the field or pool.
If a person is struck: call 112 from a mobile phone or 10177 for an ambulance, assess breathing and follow emergency-dispatch CPR or AED instructions.
If a storm also causes flooding: stay clear of low-water bridges, streams, submerged roads and damaged electrical lines.
Follow the latest SAWS severe-thunderstorm warning for the affected place, expected impacts and time period.

The South African Weather Service’s lightning safety answers and the government’s 2026 lightning-safety communication support immediate shelter, avoiding exposed locations and waiting 30 minutes.

Why the first sound of thunder matters

Lightning is a powerful electrical discharge that can strike the ground, structures, trees, water and people. It is not necessary for a thunderstorm to be directly above you. Lightning may occur before rain reaches a location or after the heaviest rain has passed. A blue patch of sky is not proof that a nearby thunderstorm has stopped creating danger.

Thunder is the sound produced by lightning. Hearing it is a clear sign that electrical activity is occurring close enough to require protective action. Waiting to see a particular flash or to count the seconds between flash and thunder is unnecessary when a substantial shelter is available.

The safest public rule is simple: When thunder roars, go indoors. It removes the need for a child or visitor to judge exactly how far away the storm appears.

The South African Weather Service explains that lightning can occur outside an area of heavy rainfall, making it dangerous to rely on rain intensity alone. An outdoor event should therefore act on thunder and official warnings, not simply on whether people are getting wet.

South Africa’s thunderstorm hazard is more than lightning

Severe thunderstorms can bring excessive lightning, hail, damaging wind, intense downpours and flash flooding. The immediate threat depends on where you are: someone on a football field faces lightning exposure, while someone driving near an underpass may face floodwater and another person beneath a damaged roof may face windblown debris.

The South African Weather Service uses impact-based warnings that describe the risk and potential severity of weather effects. A warning may mention local flooding, damage to informal structures, hail, falling trees or power disruptions alongside lightning.

A household should avoid treating every storm warning as the same instruction. Lightning calls for safe indoor shelter; moving floodwater calls for avoiding crossings and seeking higher safe ground; damaging wind calls for shelter away from windows and falling objects.

The SAWS March 2026 severe-thunderstorm briefing illustrates how a single alert can describe several hazards. It is a historical example, not a statement about today’s weather.

What counts as safe shelter during lightning?

The preferred refuge is a substantial, fully enclosed building with appropriate electrical and plumbing systems. Such structures generally offer much better protection than open terrain. Close unnecessary exterior openings, move away from exposed windows, and avoid using connected wiring or plumbing while lightning is active.

A fully enclosed hard-topped metal vehicle, with windows closed, can also provide protection because of its conductive outer structure. The protection is not because of rubber tyres. Convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, golf carts, tractors without suitable enclosed cabins and open-sided vehicles do not provide the same refuge.

A bus stop with a roof, a gazebo, a picnic canopy or an open-sided sports pavilion is not a safe substitute for a proper building. A lone tree may seem dry beneath its branches but can become the site of a dangerous strike and ground current.

If you are unsure whether a building is suitably enclosed, seek guidance from venue staff and choose a stronger available refuge while there is still time. Do not let a debate about the perfect shelter delay leaving exposed ground.

Why trees are dangerous even when they stop the rain

A tall or isolated tree can provide an attractive path for lightning and can expose a nearby person to a direct strike, side flash, ground current or falling branches. The tree may be many metres away and still pose danger through electrical current travelling along the ground.

Do not stand under a lone tree, beside its trunk or at the edge of a sports field under the nearest branches. A forested area may be less exposed than an isolated hilltop in some situations, but there is no reliably safe outdoor location during a thunderstorm.

If you are outside with no immediate refuge, avoid high ground, exposed isolated objects and open water while moving toward proper shelter. Do not lie flat on the ground. Emergency survival postures are not a replacement for a building or hard-topped vehicle and cannot make an outdoor location safe.

The priority is reach enclosed shelter, not find a clever position beneath natural objects.

Why water and lightning are a dangerous combination

Swimming pools, lakes, rivers, dams and beaches offer no adequate lightning shelter. A strike to water or nearby ground can expose swimmers and people at the water’s edge to dangerous electrical current. Leave water immediately when thunder is heard and move to a substantial building or enclosed vehicle.

Do not remain in a boat, at a fishing platform or beside a metal railing merely because the storm seems distant. If you are on a boat and cannot reach sheltered land safely, use the vessel’s emergency procedure and maritime guidance; open craft and exposed decks can be particularly hazardous.

Inside a building, avoid showers, baths and contact with water connected to plumbing during the thunderstorm. Electrical current can travel through some plumbing and wiring systems; do not assume that being indoors makes every activity equally safe.

Children should be given a clear rule: “We get out of the pool and into the building as soon as we hear thunder.” It must not be delayed for the end of a game.

What if you are on a sports field?

Soccer, rugby, cricket, golf, athletics, school physical education and outdoor training can place groups in open spaces with exposed posts and fencing. Coaches, teachers and organisers should agree in advance who can stop play and where the participants will shelter.

When thunder is heard, suspend activity and move everyone to a substantial indoor refuge or suitable enclosed transport. Do not allow players to wait in an open grandstand or underneath trees. Do not keep spectators beside metal fencing because the match is nearly finished.

Count participants after reaching shelter and monitor the storm. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder; a new thunderclap resets the waiting period. Official venue or local warnings may require a longer suspension.

A sports timetable is not an emergency safety assessment. The loss of a training session is minor compared with avoidable lightning injury.

Outdoor work, farms and construction sites

Agricultural workers, street vendors, construction staff, traffic crews and field technicians may be exposed to lightning during daily work. A safe workplace plan should include weather monitoring, protected refuge, a stop-work trigger and a method to account for staff.

A metal roof over a stall may be an exposed open-sided structure and cannot automatically be regarded as safe lightning shelter. Scaffolding, tall cranes, utility poles, open fields and work near power lines require particularly careful decisions during storms.

Employers should not require staff to finish lifting, harvesting or roof tasks after thunder begins. Organise shutdown and relocation before the storm makes movement dangerous. Workers with limited transport need a designated protected location within realistically reachable distance.

Training must be understandable in the languages workers use. A useful instruction is: “Stop outdoor work when thunder is heard. Go to this enclosed building. Remain there until the safe return time is announced.”

Driving when lightning and rain occur together

A fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle can provide lightning protection when windows are closed, but driving may also become dangerous because of heavy rain, hail, low visibility or flooded roads. Assess the driving hazard separately from the lightning hazard.

If visibility falls severely, slow progressively and find a safe legal stopping place away from active lanes. Do not stop abruptly under a large tree or beside a damaged power pole. Avoid flooded underpasses, low-water bridges and roads with water moving across them.

If you are safely inside a suitable vehicle during nearby lightning, remain enclosed and avoid touching exposed metal where practical. Do not step out to photograph a strike. If there are fallen power lines touching the vehicle, follow electrical emergency guidance; the immediate priority may be to remain inside until responders instruct otherwise.

Rubber tyres do not ‘ground’ you in a protective way. It is the structure of an enclosed vehicle that offers relative lightning protection.

South African Weather Service warnings: what do the levels mean?

The South African Weather Service issues impact-based severe-weather warnings using colours and numerical levels. Messages describe the likely consequences, geographic area and timing. A yellow warning may still be relevant to a family whose home, road or work is exposed. Orange and red messages generally indicate more serious potential impact, but the accompanying wording is essential.

Do not assume a numerical level identifies the exact lightning-strike probability at your property. SAWS warnings also reflect rainfall, wind, hail, flood and infrastructure impacts. A storm warning for one municipality is not automatically a warning for an entire province.

Read the issue time, forecast period, affected district, hazards and recommended steps. A screenshot without the date can circulate long after an event and lead people to make poor travel choices.

A recent SAWS government news report shows why location-specific alerts and hazards must be read carefully: several parts of the same country can receive different warnings for one weather system.

Do not wait for an alert if you hear thunder

A national warning map is useful for preparation, but a person hearing thunder does not need to establish the precise official alert level before seeking protection. Local storms may develop quickly or affect a small area. Weather alerts cannot observe every minute of activity at every sports field.

When thunder is audible, the immediate decision is to go indoors. You can check the bulletin after reaching safety to understand how long conditions may persist and whether additional wind or flood hazards are expected.

This difference between action and explanation is important. A first-aid or disaster guide should reduce dangerous decision delay rather than make readers complete a research task before protecting themselves.

A simple household plan identifies both the safest shelter and who will obtain information. People should not remain on a balcony because the person with the weather app has not yet refreshed it.

How far away can lightning strike?

Lightning may travel some distance from the heaviest rain. A person can be struck even when they are not directly beneath the darkest cloud. This is sometimes described as a bolt from the blue.

The SAWS frequently explains that lightning can occur outside the area of rainfall and that hearing thunder should trigger immediate shelter. Counting seconds between lightning and thunder may help someone appreciate distance, but it must not be used as permission to continue exposed activity once thunder can be heard.

Storms may have repeated cells. The apparent movement of one cell away can be followed by another. A gap in rain does not automatically start an all-clear.

The operational rule remains simple: seek a properly enclosed refuge at the first thunder, then wait 30 minutes after the last sound.

If you are hiking, climbing or visiting a viewpoint

Hilltops and exposed ridges are dangerous during lightning because they can offer prominent points for a strike. Hikers should monitor weather before departure and plan routes with realistically reachable shelter. A ridge, cliffside shelter or isolated tree is not a reliable refuge.

If thunder begins while you are on exposed terrain, move away from the highest, most exposed location and toward the safest available substantial shelter as conditions allow. Avoid cliff edges, metal cables, fences and bodies of water. Do not lie flat on the ground.

No outdoor manoeuvre can guarantee safety. If a group is unable to reach shelter, focus on reducing exposure while seeking professional advice where possible; avoid presenting a small cave or undercut rock as automatically safe.

A mountain outing that cannot be completed before forecast thunderstorms is a reason to reschedule, not a reason to gamble on moving faster than the weather.

What to do if someone is struck by lightning

A lightning strike can cause cardiac or respiratory arrest, burns, nervous-system injury or trauma. The injured person is not electrically charged, and touching them is safe once the scene is free of continuing danger such as live electrical lines or another immediate strike risk.

Call emergency assistance immediately. In South Africa, 112 on a mobile phone can access emergency assistance, while 10177 is an ambulance contact. Provide your exact location, nearest entrance or landmark, the number of people injured and whether the person is breathing normally.

If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, follow emergency-dispatch instructions to begin CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available. Trained responders may perform resuscitation while others fetch equipment and meet the ambulance.

Do not wait for visible burns to decide whether a person needs help. Serious internal, cardiac or neurological injury may exist even when skin injury is limited. Seek urgent medical assessment for every suspected lightning strike.

CPR and AED: a practical sequence for bystanders

First confirm that you can approach without entering an unsafe scene. Move the person only as needed to avoid immediate danger or perform necessary life-saving care. Check responsiveness and normal breathing quickly and ask another person to call emergency services and fetch an AED if one is available.

If the person is not breathing normally, begin chest compressions according to the dispatcher and your training. Continue until responders take over, the person shows normal signs of life or you cannot continue. If an AED arrives, turn it on and follow its voice instructions; it will advise whether a shock is needed.

Do not assume that a person struck by lightning will recover automatically after a brief period of unconsciousness. Do not give an unconscious person water, alcohol or medicine by mouth.

The government SAWS lightning safety communication confirms that it is safe to help victims and that CPR should be performed when trained and indicated.

Which emergency number should I call in South Africa?

For an emergency involving severe injury, a person struck by lightning or immediate danger, 112 is an emergency number from mobile phones, and 10177 is used for ambulance assistance. 10111 is a police emergency number and should be used for police emergencies, rather than routine weather queries.

The Western Cape Government emergency directory lists these contacts and describes additional local services. Emergency response arrangements can vary by municipality, so travellers should also know relevant local contacts, especially in remote regions.

A dispatcher needs the exact location, identifiable landmark, number of people involved, nature of the injury and whether the person is conscious and breathing. If a person is struck on a school sports field, give the closest gate or building for ambulance access.

Do not drive an unresponsive or seriously injured person through dangerous storm conditions when emergency assistance can be coordinated more safely. Follow the dispatcher.

Inside the house during lightning

A substantial building generally provides protection, but lightning can travel through wiring, plumbing and some conductive materials. During a nearby storm, avoid using corded electrical equipment, handling plugged-in devices, bathing, showering or washing dishes through connected plumbing.

A wireless phone used away from connected charging equipment is different from a corded telephone. It is generally appropriate to use a mobile phone to call emergency services from a safe indoor place; an emergency caller should not be deterred by an outdated blanket rule that ‘all phones attract lightning’.

Avoid standing beside large windows and glass doors, particularly when the same storm brings hail or strong wind. Keep young children inside, and do not send anyone onto a balcony to bring in furniture after lightning becomes active.

If the storm damages the building, seek a safe protected area and follow appropriate emergency directions. A lightning rule is not permission to remain in a structure that has become unsafe from fire or collapse.

Schools and children: make the instruction memorable

Children may be frightened by thunder but still feel tempted to watch lightning from a doorway. Teach them one action rather than an elaborate explanation: “Hear thunder? Go inside the proper building and stay with the teacher or adult.”

Schools should have a clear plan for fields, playgrounds, outdoor swimming, transport and dismissal. Teachers should account for children in the safe shelter and communicate with parents. A school bus arriving during a severe storm does not automatically make it safe to send children across an open field to board.

For school sports, the coach should have authority to stop play without waiting for a committee decision. The 30-minute period after the last thunder should be observed before returning outdoors, subject to any stronger local instruction.

Teach children not to touch fallen lines or explore flooded drains after the storm. Thunderstorm safety includes the secondary hazards created by heavy rain and wind.

Camps, festivals and other outdoor gatherings

Large gatherings need a refuge plan that can accommodate the crowd. A tent, concert canopy or open-sided stage shelter does not automatically provide lightning protection. Organisers should know which substantial buildings or enclosed vehicles are available and how long it will take to reach them safely.

When thunder is heard, stop the event and initiate the planned shelter process. Avoid crowd crush at narrow exits, and do not direct people to gather beneath trees or exposed metal scaffolding. Public announcements should identify the route and destination clearly.

If no adequate shelter can be reached quickly, that is a planning weakness that should influence whether the event proceeds when storms are forecast. A festival schedule should not rely on hoping that lightning will pass north of the venue.

Visitors should follow trained staff and emergency directions, while staying away from exposed areas.

Lightning at beaches, lakes and rivers

People at beaches, dams, fishing spots and rivers can be exposed both to lightning and to rising water during thunderstorms. Leave the shoreline and swimming area at the first thunder and go to proper shelter. A small open picnic shelter or isolated tree is not enough.

Avoid handling fishing rods or standing on boat ramps during lightning. If you are on a boat, use its safety procedure and seek an appropriate safe destination without making a dangerous manoeuvre. Do not swim to shore through a storm simply because a large building is visible nearby.

Rainfall can cause rapid current changes. Do not attempt to cross a swollen river or low-water bridge to get home after taking refuge on the safer side. Follow local flood and road information.

A single thunderstorm can require lightning avoidance first and flood avoidance later. Decisions should be updated as conditions change.

Hail and damaging wind: separate the hazard

Some South African thunderstorms produce hail capable of breaking glass, damaging vehicles or injuring people outdoors. Strong gusts can move signs, branches and loose roofing. Once inside, remain away from vulnerable windows and doors if hail or wind is severe.

Do not shelter under a tree during hail when lightning is active. An open carport may protect a vehicle’s paint but not provide adequate refuge for a person. Avoid rooftop inspection while wind and lightning remain active.

If windows break or a building becomes unsafe, move to a more protected interior area and contact emergency services for serious danger. Do not rush outdoors into the storm because a window has cracked.

Afterwards, keep away from fallen branches, power lines and unstable walls. Wait for appropriate clearance before attempting complicated repairs.

Flooded roads during thunderstorms

Intense rain can create fast runoff in urban streets and rural low crossings. A road may look familiar but be undermined, and flowing water can sweep a vehicle or pedestrian away. Never drive or walk into moving floodwater to finish a journey.

If a bridge or underpass is covered, turn around or wait at a safe location and seek updated road directions. Do not take a photograph from the middle of a flooded crossing. Avoid electrical poles and lines affected by water.

A driver who was safe inside an enclosed vehicle for lightning can still be in danger if the road floods. In that situation, the correct decision changes from merely remaining in the car to seeking safe road or rescue instructions.

Do not use ‘the car protects me from lightning’ as justification for driving into water.

Power outages and electrical damage

A thunderstorm may damage electrical systems or cause a local outage. Use battery lighting where available and avoid candles around damaged structures. Do not approach fallen lines or touch metal fences, standing water or vehicles in contact with them.

If you suspect wiring damage or a gas leak, move to safety and call the relevant emergency or utility service. Avoid operating damaged switches or equipment until inspected. Never attempt to reconnect a downed line yourself.

People who depend on powered medical equipment need an appropriate backup or medical support plan. For a family with an infant or vulnerable older adult, essential care may be more urgent than finding out when ordinary services will resume.

The end of the thunderstorm does not remove hazards from damaged electricity networks. Treat re-entry and restoration as separate safety steps.

How to prepare a home and family before thunderstorm season

Follow the South African Weather Service warnings for your district.
Identify the nearest substantial enclosed shelter for home, school, work and regular outdoor activities.
Agree that the first audible thunder stops outdoor activity, without waiting for visible rain.
Keep emergency numbers 112 and 10177 accessible and learn basic CPR.
Make sure prescribed medicines for asthma or other conditions are available.
Keep a phone charged and have a simple household contact plan.
Check that sports coaches, teachers and childcare staff understand the shelter procedure.
Arrange accessible assistance for people who cannot move rapidly.
Plan safe transport when weather threatens roads, not only the event venue.
Avoid exposing people to damaged trees, loose signs and dangerous electrical systems.
Teach everyone to wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming outdoor activity.
Know the local authority’s procedures for floods and other thunderstorm impacts.

The plan does not require advanced meteorological equipment. Its strongest feature is eliminating the debate about whether to continue outdoors once lightning is close enough to produce thunder.

Vulnerable people and access to shelter

People with mobility limitations may need more time to reach shelter. A reliable event or workplace plan must include accessible routes and a person responsible for assistance. It should not rely on moving someone across an open field after the storm is already overhead.

Older adults, pregnant people and people with medical conditions may need support if the storm interrupts power or transport. Keep medication and essential equipment available without making anyone carry dangerous loads through wind or lightning.

A person with hearing impairment may not hear thunder and therefore needs an accessible visual or digital warning and help from a companion. Staff should communicate quickly when the group is moving into shelter.

The aim is that everyone can act on the same safety threshold, even if their ability to perceive thunder or travel to shelter differs.

Why lightning injuries require medical assessment

Lightning can affect the heart, nervous system, hearing and muscles. Some people recover consciousness quickly but still have significant injuries. A person struck by lightning should receive emergency medical attention, even if they appear to improve.

Cardiac arrest requires immediate resuscitation; other injuries may include burns or trauma from falls. Do not assume that every unconscious person has only been frightened or that water and rest are sufficient.

If a person is awake and breathing, keep them in a safe position, monitor symptoms and follow emergency-service instructions. If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR as trained and use an AED when available.

Do not withhold assistance because you believe the victim remains electrically charged. That belief is false and can cost critical rescue time.

Scenario 1: a school football match in Gauteng

Imagine a school football match in Gauteng. The sun is still partly visible, but a distant thunderclap can be heard. Some players want to finish the last ten minutes and wait until rain starts.

The coach stops play immediately and moves pupils and spectators to a proper enclosed building. They account for participants and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder, checking official instructions before any return.

This is a fictional example, not a report of a current incident. It demonstrates why the first audible thunder is a better action trigger than visible rainfall.

Scenario 2: a farmer in Mpumalanga

A farmer is working in an open field when thunder begins. The nearest tree is tall and isolated, while an enclosed farm building is farther away. The farmer avoids the tree and heads safely toward the substantial building without stopping to secure tools.

Once inside, the farmer avoids connected electrical and plumbing contact and remains sheltered until the storm has passed and the 30-minute waiting period is complete. Work resumes only when safe.

The lesson is property and equipment are secondary to reaching adequate protection.

Scenario 3: lightning strikes a person near a gathering

At an outdoor gathering, a person collapses after a nearby lightning strike. A bystander hesitates because they believe touching the victim might deliver a shock.

Another person correctly understands that the victim is not electrically charged, checks the scene, calls emergency services and assesses normal breathing. CPR and an AED are used if indicated and available, following emergency instructions.

The fictional scenario teaches a critical fact: touching a lightning victim is safe once the surrounding scene is safe enough, and resuscitation should not be delayed.

Scenario 4: a driver approaches a flooded low bridge

A driver has been travelling during rain and is safely inside a hard-topped vehicle while lightning is present. Ahead, water covers a low bridge. The driver assumes the car is the safest place and considers proceeding through the water.

Instead, the driver turns back and uses verified road information. The car’s relative lightning protection does not make it safe against floodwater.

This example shows why combined thunderstorms require separate decisions about electrical exposure, rainfall and road conditions.

Common South African lightning-storm mistakes

“It is not raining yet, so there cannot be lightning danger.” Lightning can occur outside the heaviest rain.
“A lone tree is the best shelter.” Trees can create dangerous strike and ground-current exposure.
“Rubber shoes or tyres keep me safe outside.” They do not provide reliable lightning protection.
“A bus stop roof is adequate shelter.” Open-sided structures are not equivalent to substantial enclosed buildings.
“A person struck by lightning is electrically charged.” The victim is safe to touch when the scene is safe.
“A person who wakes up after a strike no longer needs medical assessment.” Serious injuries may remain.
“I should wait for a SAWS red warning before leaving the field.” Hearing thunder is already an action trigger.
“The rain has stopped, so play can restart.” Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
“My metal fishing rod is fine if I stand under a small canopy.” Water edges and open shelters remain hazardous.
“Being in a car means any flooded road is passable.” Floodwater is a separate threat.
“Every number in a warning map refers to lightning probability.” SAWS warnings cover multiple impacts and need their written description.
“Calling 10111 is the best way to request any ambulance.” 112 mobile and 10177 are relevant emergency or ambulance contacts; 10111 is for police emergencies.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first during a lightning storm in South Africa?

If you hear thunder, go immediately to a substantial enclosed building or fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle and stop outdoor activity.

How long should I wait before going outside?

At least 30 minutes after the last thunder, and longer if weather or authorities still indicate danger. A fresh thunderclap restarts the waiting period.

Is it safe to shelter under a tree?

No. Trees can be struck and conduct dangerous current into surrounding ground. Seek a substantial building or suitable enclosed vehicle.

Can lightning strike even if it is not raining?

Yes. Thunderstorms can produce lightning outside their heaviest rainfall area, so visible rain is not a reliable safety threshold.

What if somebody has been struck by lightning?

Call emergency services. The person does not retain electrical charge; it is safe to assist once the scene is safe. Check breathing, begin CPR if needed and use an AED as available and directed.

What ambulance number should I use in South Africa?

10177 is used for ambulance assistance. 112 from a mobile phone is also an emergency access number. Tell responders exactly where the victim is.

Is a hard-topped car safe in lightning?

A fully enclosed hard-topped metal vehicle can provide relative protection, with windows closed. Convertibles, motorcycles and open golf carts do not provide equivalent shelter.

Can a lightning storm also cause dangerous flooding?

Yes. Severe thunderstorms may generate heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hail and damaging winds. Do not cross flooded roads even if you are in a lightning-protective vehicle.

Can a sports match continue when thunder is distant?

No. When thunder is audible, activity should stop and people should seek adequate shelter. The match schedule is not a safety reason to continue.

Official South African sources and related eduKate guides

Editorial review: 5 November 2026. This is educational information, not a live South African weather warning or first-aid certification. Follow current SAWS, local authorities and emergency-service instructions.