Lightning: the non-negotiable stop-work
Every trade's weather rules have exceptions — lightning has none. If you can hear thunder, your crew is within striking distance. Here's the standard, and how CrewCast keeps sites ahead of it.
The rules crews actually use
- "When thunder roars, go indoors." Thunder is audible ~10 miles out; lightning can strike that far from the storm core. Hearing it = in range.
- The 30-minute rule. After the last thunder, wait a full 30 minutes before resuming outdoor work. Every new rumble resets the clock.
- Get off the high stuff first. Roofs, lifts, scaffolds, cranes, and open equipment are the priority evacuations. Shelter in enclosed buildings or hard-topped vehicles — not under trees or open structures.
- Assign it. OSHA recommends a designated weather watcher and a written lightning plan for outdoor sites.
How CrewCast helps
CrewCast pushes NWS severe-thunderstorm warnings for your saved job sites, shows live storm cells and strikes on radar, and flags storm-hour lightning risk in every trade's score. The briefing tells you the expected storm-arrival hour so outdoor work wraps before the first strike, not after.
Frequently asked questions
How far away can lightning strike from a storm?
Strikes commonly reach 10 miles from the parent storm — roughly the distance thunder is audible. That's why 'if you can hear it, you're in range' is the standard.
How long should a crew wait after thunder?
30 minutes after the last thunder, per NWS and OSHA guidance. Each new thunder resets the 30-minute clock.
Where should crews shelter on a job site?
Fully enclosed buildings, or hard-topped metal vehicles with windows up. Open structures, container shade, tents, and trees are not safe shelter.
Can CrewCast warn my crew before a storm arrives?
It pushes official NWS warnings the moment they're issued for your saved locations, and the daily briefing forecasts the storm-arrival hour so you can plan the stop in advance.
CrewCast provides weather
guidance, not a safety guarantee. Always verify conditions on site and follow NWS warnings, OSHA guidance, and local code. See our
Safety page.