Florida’s thunderstorms are legendary. In summer, they come in from the coasts like clockwork; in winter, they can arrive overhead suddenly, putting a damper on your hike. Thunderstorms bring a double whammy of dangers – lightning and tornadoes – as well as strong gusts of wind. If the wind whips up and you hear rumbling and crashing in the forest, take cover in a low area, a dry ditch if possible. Protect your head.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, lightning accounted for nearby half of all weather-related deaths in Florida for the past four decades. Central Florida, the “Lightning Capital of the United States,” has the highest number of lightning-related fatalities in the country.

What can you do when you’re out on the trail in a thunderstorm? If the time flash and bang is less than 30 seconds, immediately take cover—but don’t stand under a tree or picnic shelter. Look for a ditch or a shrubby area. If your pack contains a metal frame, get it away from you. Hikers in a group should spread apart. Cover your ears with your hands. Crouch down on the balls of your feet to present a low profile; keep as much of your body away from the ground, using your sleeping pad as insulation between you and the ground if possible. If a fellow hiker is struck, seek emergency medical help immediately—eighty percent of lightning strike victims survive the shock.