Safety Measures During Thunderstorms in the Alps
Knowing how to respond during a thunderstorm in the Alps can save your life
A thunderstorm in the Alps can develop within a matter of minutes—often faster than you can react. What matters then is not improvisation, but a clear sequence of actions. Knowing what to do first significantly reduces the risk.
As a general rule: The best way to protect yourself is to avoid getting caught in a thunderstorm in the first place. That’s why proper time management on the mountain plays a crucial role.
A simple but very effective rule of thumb can help you plan your hike.
At least 30 to 60 minutes before a typical thunderstorm develops (usually in the afternoon), you should leave exposed areas or already be on your way down.
In practice, this means:
If you follow this rule without exception, you’ll drastically reduce the risk of getting caught in a severe thunderstorm in the first place. Before your hike, always check the weather at your hiking hotel . Locals are better at interpreting regional weather conditions than visitors.
You can recognize an approaching thunderstorm in the Alps. If you are nevertheless caught off guard by a storm, there is one clear priority: immediately seek shelter in a closed space.
Safe options include:
What matters here is not so much the location as its “enclosed nature”: Only completely enclosed spaces offer real protection.
In a car, windows should remain closed. In cabins, do not stay on balconies, terraces, or open porches; instead, stay inside.
Open shelters or simple wooden structures often give a false sense of security but offer no protection against lightning strikes.
... lower your elevation as quickly as possible. If you are in open terrain and cannot take shelter in a building, the most important rule is: get down from high ground as quickly as possible.
Lightning tends to strike exposed points—such as peaks, ridges, or isolated, prominent structures. That’s why it’s crucial to leave these areas immediately.
Instead, you should try to reach lower-lying, even terrain. Flat hollows or gentle depressions that do not converge with watercourses or rock formations are particularly suitable.
On the other hand, stream ditches or channels with heavy water flow are not suitable, as water increases electrical conductivity.
Although common sense might tell you to seek out precisely these places, they not only offer no protection but are actually extremely dangerous:
Even if you think you’re safe under a rock overhang, that’s a fallacy. Wet rock attracts lightning, and the current can jump across, even if the lightning doesn’t strike you directly. The basic rule can be summarized simply: The more exposed and conductive a spot is, the more dangerous it is during a thunderstorm.
If no building is accessible, natural terrain features offer the relatively safest place to take shelter. Wide, flat hollows or slightly indented meadow areas below the tree line are particularly suitable.
These areas have two key advantages: They are lower than the surrounding terrain, thereby avoiding direct impact points. At the same time, they reduce exposure to lateral discharges.
If neither a shelter nor a suitable natural feature is within reach, the only option is the so-called lightning protection stance.
This is not about safety, but rather about risk reduction in an extreme emergency:
Crouch deeply, place your feet close together, and minimize contact with the ground. Keep your arms close to your body and tuck your head in. A dry backpack can serve as an insulating mat, but it is no substitute for protection. It is also important to maintain a distance from other people—ideally 5 to 10 meters—since electricity can spread through the ground. This position should not be misunderstood as a safe state; rather, it is solely a temporary solution.
During a thunderstorm, you should not underestimate the risk posed by your own equipment. Hiking poles, metal parts, or electronic devices should be moved as far away from your body as possible.
Hiking poles, for example, can be set down at least 10 meters away, ideally downhill, so they are not in your immediate vicinity. Smartphones, too, should not be held in your hand but placed in your backpack.
Even if the sky clears up again, caution is still important. Thunderstorm cells often occur in succession in the Alps. Therefore, you should wait at least 30 minutes and monitor the weather conditions before continuing or aborting your hike.
Safety during an alpine thunderstorm does not depend on individual measures, but on one clear priority:
Those who understand this sequence and act early significantly reduce the risk. What matters is not reacting at the last moment, but making timely, informed decisions on the mountain.
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