A packed stadium. The roar of the crowd. Then – lightning.
In recent years, extreme weather has struck large public gatherings with little warning, turning moments of celebration into chaos. In one instance, golf fans were struck by lightning at a PGA Tour event. In another, the legendary Indianapolis 500 was abruptly cut short as a tornado passed just miles from the track.
With millions attending concerts, ballgames and festivals across the U.S. this summer, fans need to be prepared for the possibility of some of nature’s more dangerous outbursts.
A new study published by the American Meteorological Society warns that large outdoor gatherings across the U.S. – from concerts and sporting events to festivals and amusement parks – face significant risks from lightning and tornadoes, especially during the warmer months.
Analyzing data from 477 venues and more than 16,000 individual events, researchers developed lightning and tornado risk indices to identify which events pose the greatest exposure to attendees.
Lightning Risks
Notably, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival ranks highest for potential lightning exposure, drawing nearly half a million attendees each May – right in the heart of peak lightning season.
The study also found that amusement parks in Florida, including Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, dominate the top 10 in lightning exposure due to large crowds and frequent summer thunderstorms.
Tornado Risks
Tornado threats are equally alarming. The study found some of the country’s most iconic gathering places sit squarely in tornado-prone regions.
Among Major League Baseball stadiums, Denver’s Coors Field topped the list for potential tornado exposure. But it’s not alone.
Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Globe Life Field in Arlington, and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati also rank high for tornado risk, with hundreds of thousands of fans passing through their gates during peak severe weather season.
Festivals and fairs are especially vulnerable. The study flagged state fairs in Tornado Alley – like those in Oklahoma and Kansas – as high-risk, particularly because they involve temporary infrastructure like tents and rides, which offer little to no protection in a storm.
“Lightning and tornadoes kill more than 100 people per year on average throughout the United States,” the study notes, underscoring the need for better preparedness at high-attendance events. The authors recommend that emergency managers, event organizers and public safety officials use their risk list to make informed decisions about evacuation plans, shelter options and communication strategies.
As outdoor events continue to draw massive crowds across the country, especially in storm-prone regions, this study serves as a wake-up call: These get-togethers can carry a serious risk when the weather turns.
However, that doesn’t mean disaster is inevitable. Know the risks associated with a particular venue before you go. With better planning and awareness, you can help make sure that big moments don’t become memorable for the wrong reasons.
Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities in countless ways.