When there is lightning and thunder present, how long must you wait before resuming play?

• A. 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder
• B. 15 minutes after the last lightning or thunder
• C. 60 minutes after the last lightning or thunder
• D. 90 minutes after the last lightning or thunder

Answer: (A)

The important idea here is safety: you don’t resume play until a full 30-minute window has passed since the last lightning flash or thunderclap. Thunder means the storm is active or nearby, and lightning can strike even after you think the worst has passed. That 30-minute buffer helps ensure the storm has moved away and the risk has diminished before people return to activity. If another lightning flash or thunder occurs, you start the 30-minute count again from that moment.

Why the other options aren’t as appropriate: 15 minutes is often not enough time for a storm to clear, since lightning can occur well after an initial sighting. Waiting 60 or 90 minutes would unnecessarily delay safe play; the standard practice is the 30-minute rule, with the timer restarting if new lightning or thunder is observed.