Lightning strikes

[Honeywitch]

Are there any areas of the Camino Frances that are known for thunderstorms, and are there any records of ppl being struck?

 

[MinaKamina]

Are there any areas of the Camino Frances that are known for thunderstorms, and are there any records of ppl being struck?

yes there are.

and then what? either you dig into the archives or, once on the Camino, you consult the daily weather forecast and decide accordingly.

 

[good_old_shoes]

I don't think there are areas (on the Francés) that have a particularly high risk for being struck by lightning.

I am very afraid of thunderstorms. So I totally understand the question.

But the good thing about the Camino is, that it leads through many towns and villages. Civilisation is usually near. So if you see a storm coming up, it is easy to stop walking and either wait in a café until it is over, check into an albergue and stop walking for the day, or walk into a bar and call for a taxi to bring you to your destination of the day.

Watch the weather radar and lightning maps, they're usually very accurate.

In Spain I got into a storm twice, both times because I ignored the forming storm, walking with others who didn't see the risk and said "don't worry it is still far away"... both times in Galicia in summer (warm temperatures + hills + lots of rain = good for lightning).

There's one section in the meseta (17km without shelter, all flat, you're the highest point) where I would check before I walk if a storm might be approaching. Same in the pyrenees. Mountains are always good for storms in the afternoon. Look at the weather report and / or ask locals, or finish walking early in the day.

But overall, don't worry too much.

Because of the good infrastructure it is very easy to plan around any storms, and they're quite rare in my experience, anyway, at least on the Francés. And I say that as someone who is horribly afraid of lightning and will take a day off walking when I know there's a risk of it in the forecast.

Buen Camino!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@Honeywitch , welcome to the forum. There’s a whole thread on this subject, (including some excellent advice) here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/lightning.84044/

Buen Camino!

 

[Petsu]

I don't think there are areas (on the Francés) that have a particularly high risk for being struck by lightning.

I am very afraid of thunderstorms. So I totally understand the question.

But the good thing about the Camino is, that it leads through many towns and villages. Civilisation is usually near. So if you see a storm coming up, it is easy to stop walking and either wait in a café until it is over, check into an albergue and stop walking for the day, or walk into a bar and call for a taxi to bring you to your destination of the day.

Watch the weather radar and lightning maps, they're usually very accurate.

In Spain I got into a storm twice, both times because I ignored the forming storm, walking with others who didn't see the risk and said "don't worry it is still far away"... both times in Galicia in summer (warm temperatures + hills + lots of rain = good for lightning).

There's one section in the meseta (17km without shelter, all flat, you're the highest point) where I would check before I walk if a storm might be approaching. Same in the pyrenees. Mountains are always good for storms in the afternoon. Look at the weather report and / or ask locals, or finish walking early in the day.

But overall, don't worry too much.

Because of the good infrastructure it is very easy to plan around any storms, and they're quite rare in my experience, anyway, at least on the Francés. And I say that as someone who is horribly afraid of lightning and will take a day off walking when I know there's a risk of it in the forecast.

Buen Camino!

Ooen fields and thunderstorm are allways an unpleasant combination. Once i went under a small bridge, when a storm suddenly came om. A muddy experience, so had to do some thorough rinsing by a little water pump before entering Los Arcoa .

 

[AlexHamilton]

Are there any areas of the Camino Frances that are known for thunderstorms, and are there any records of ppl being struck?

We ran into lightning from Roncesvalles to Zubiri. Dangerous for sure as we were walking with poles and no where to take cover. Gets your heart rate up!

 

[hecate105]

The best piece of 'Camino' writing I read - which was in an anthology of travel (I wish i could remember the title!) was indeed about lightning!
The author described walking across the Meseta (on Frances) and seeing a storm with lightning approach - he then realised that he was the tallest thing around - his description was amazing - and happily he did not get struck despite being right 'in it'!!

 

[henrythedog]

Has there been some kind of incident recently? This is the third time this topic has come up in as many months.

 

[Anniesantiago]

We ran into lightning from Roncesvalles to Zubiri. Dangerous for sure as we were walking with poles and no where to take cover. Gets your heart rate up!

What date were you walking? Just curious.

 

[AlexHamilton]

What date were you walking? Just curious.

First couple days of June 2023

 

[JustJack]

I had daily thunderstorms at between 4pm-6pm many days in June. Loved it so much!