Environment Canada warns Alberta residents to protect themselves from lightning

#lightningInAlberta; #EnvironmentCanada

Peace Country (AB), Aug 11 (Canadian-Media): Residents of Peace Country (Alberta) had been plagued by receiving heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, media reports said.

The month of July saw a number of thunderstorms and above average rainfall in Grande Prairie, which received 88.4 mm of rain. 

Albertans had been warned by Environment Canada to prepare and protect themselves from lightning.​

Lightning. Image credit: Pixaby

“The big thing is to keep your eye out for is lightning,” stated Meteorologist for Environment Canada Dan Kulak.

“In the last week or so we know of three incidents in the last week in Alberta, where people were caught hiking in the mountains during and caught in a lightning storm. On average more people in Canada die each year from lightning than hail, rain, wind, tornados, and hurricanes combined.”

In Alberta alone, there are roughly 400,000 lightning strikes per year.

Kulak reminds residents that if you do plan on spending an extended amount of time outside this summer to always check the forecast prior to heading out.

More tips to protect yourself from lightning can be found here.