Skip to content

Home Your Safety Be Weather Aware Staying Safe in Thunderstorms and Flooding

Staying Safe in Thunderstorms and Flooding

In the event of thunderstorms or flash flooding, please follow the below advice to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

During thunderstorms, sudden flooding could occur, especially after a period of dry conditions. Flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions, damage to homes and businesses, and possibly cause power cuts.

During thunderstorms:

  • Give vulnerable road users including cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians more room than usual. They are more likely to be blown around by side winds, so keep your speed down and keep a safe distance.
  • Give yourself more time to react while driving. Reduced visibility and wet roads will increase your stopping distance.
  • Do not attempt to drive through flood water. Just 30cm of moving flood water is enough to make your car float and potentially move you into deeper water where you could become stranded.
  • Do not move or ignore road closure signs. These signs are there for your safety, so please do not ignore them.
  • Do not let children play in flood water. It could be deeper than it seems.
  • Ensure good ventilation if using portable indoor heating appliances to dry out indoor spaces. Do not use petrol or diesel generators or other similar fuel-driven equipment indoors: the exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide which can kill.
  • Do not turn on gas or electrics if they are wet. Only turn them on when they have been checked by a qualified technician.
  • Ensure people and pets are upstairs if your building begins to flood.
  • Stay inside during a flood and call 999 if you are in danger – for example, if it is affecting electrics.

During lightning:

  • Do not go out onto the water. If you are on water, get to the shore or bank and away from the water as quickly as you can. Water will transmit lightning strikes from further away – so the quicker you can get off the water, the better.
  • Do not go paddle boarding during lightning strikes. Paddle boarding poles are made of metal or carbon fibre which are materials that conduct electricity.
  • For more information about going out onto the water during lightning, please see this Lightning Safety Alert from British Rowing.

Keep up to date with the weather warnings by visiting the Met Office website.