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Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail? Bookmark This New Lightning Warning Tool
An example of what lightning warnings along the Pacific Crest Trail looks like.
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National Weather Service
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Topline:
The National Weather Service in Hanford has released an experimental new tool that warns hikers of lightning risk along the Pacific Crest Trail from Yosemite to Kern County. It’s accurate to about 1.5 miles and updates every six hours.
Seasons of concern: Thunderstorms can arrive in the Sierra year round, but tend to peak during monsoon season in July and August.
Highest risk areas: Lightning tends to strike at higher altitudes, which the Pacific Crest Trail tends to traverse. A hiker was killed by lightning in 2021.
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How to get warnings: If you’re out on the trail, you can tune into NOAA weather radio, which will announce thunderstorm warnings for the area. Otherwise you need to check the NWS Hanford website here.
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