'Tis the season...not for Christmas, but for thunderstorms and other such weather phenomena, including lightning.

Environment Canada recently spent a week raising awareness of the importance of being cautious when it comes to this piece of nature, the effects of which can be rather shocking.

"Lightning kills more Canadians than any other type of severe weather, so it's really important to remember that it occurs with all thunderstorms," stated Regional Meteorologist John Paul Cragg.

"We don't issue watches and warnings if it is the only threat. Reason why is because there are a lot of lightning strikes across Saskatchewan every year. However, it is a hazard, and it does kill and injure a lot of residents."

The rule that Environment Canada is promoting is, 'If Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.'

"Lightning can strike well in advance of a thunderstorm, and well behind it as well. If you can hear thunder, or see lightning, realize that you are at risk to be struck. It's important to seek shelter and wait until you can no longer see that lightning and thunder before you return outside," Cragg said.

"The lightning just follows the path of least resistance, and sometimes that's not just a straight line from the cloud down to the ground. It's called a 'bolt out of the blue', where you can have strikes quite a distance from the thunderstorm."

"Because of  that, you have to be very careful. It can hit quite a distance away, and so if you can see lightning or hear thunder it's important to seek shelter," he expressed.