FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - A 17-year-old boy killed by lightning on Arizona's highest peak was hiking in an area that experienced more than 100 strikes within a one-hour period and is known for its extreme weather, authorities said.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office hasn't identified the boy who was killed early Wednesday afternoon after being struck by lightning close to the summit of Humphreys Peak near Flagstaff. The boy and two others from Tempe, Arizona, were hiking the peak when a strong monsoon storm rolled in. The group called 911 dispatchers shortly before 1 p.m. seeking help.
Cory Mottice, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said there were 106 on-the-ground and 393 cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes between noon and 1 p.m. in that area on Wednesday, and the intensity of the storm began waning after that. The monsoon season is when thunderstorms are most prevalent.
Still, emergency responders trying to reach the hikers were staved off by nearby lightning that made it unsafe for them to proceed, sheriff's spokeswoman Erika Wiltenmuth said. Rescuers were able to reach the hikers around 4 p.m.
Mottice said the National Weather Service only tracks ongoing or recent lightning storms and doesn't keep long-term data. But that area near Flagsatff is known for high monsoon storm activity, and the U.S. Forest Service warns visitors about the dangers of lightning on its website.
"The onset of these storms rolls in quite rapidly," said Darryl San Souci, the safety and occupational health officer at Coconino National Forest. "What we tell people is be prepared before you go out and know what you need to have with you and what you need look for in case of a lighting situation."
San Souci said the most important thing is to not be carrying or be near any metal or fiberglass. He said often times the things that seem intuitive to keeping safe are the most dangerous, like taking shelter under a lone tree or in a cave.
Another mistake people make is getting near each other when they're in groups. San Souci says individuals should disperse and be separated by at least 15 feet.
Coconino National Forest doesn't track the number of visitors but says Humphreys Peak is very popular among hikers.
The trail runs about five miles each way and ends at the highest point in Arizona.
The agency's website warns visitors about dangers and also includes tips on keeping safe, but there are no posted warning signs outside of the trail, nor do authorities close trails when the weather is bad.
"You can't really predict when somebody is gonna be in a really bad situation, that's why we really harp upon knowing the conditions of where you're about to go," spokesman Brady Smith said.