The National Weather Service states that a tent is never suitable shelter from lighting, and a tall pop up tent with metal poles is especially vulnerable. Follow these guidelines for lightning safety when camping with a pop up tent.
Lightning Dangers
Lightning can jump from tent poles to people many feet away. While you may feel safe with a tall “roof” over your head, you are actually at increased risk for a lightning strike under a pop up tent.
Tent Placement
Always set your tent in the safest possible place. Lightning is attracted to tall, isolated features, so never pitch a tent on top of a bare hill, at the edge of a stand of trees, or on flat, empty land.
Know the Weather
Study the weather before you go camping and know the local weather patterns.
Emergency at a Campground
If your pop up tent is at a developed campsite, ride out the storm in your car or a permanent building. Never seek shelter in an outhouse or shed.
Emergency in the Wild
When camping at a primitive site, seek emergency shelter in a low-lying area or under a rock overhang. Sheltering in the open during a lightning storm is extremely dangerous and should never be an option.