Meteorologist Dale Destin has issued a warning following a surge of lightning strikes, noting that 42 strikes have occurred over or near Antigua in just the last 45 minutes.

He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between different types of lightning, urging residents to hope that the strikes were mainly cloud-to-cloud or intra-cloud, as these pose less risk than the potentially deadly cloud-to-ground lightning.

Destin cautioned, “When thunder roars, go indoors and don’t return until at least 30 minutes after the last thunder was heard.”

He highlighted that 20-30% of all lightning strikes are the more dangerous cloud-to-ground variety, which can cause significant harm to both people and property.

The meteorologist shared that the frequency of lightning activity can be monitored through real-time updates, indicating that “the redder that dot, the more recent the lightning strike.”

Residents should stay alert and take safety precautions as storms develop rapidly.