Don't let a summer storm catch you off guard at home or on vacation

There are a lot of lightning strikes in Slovenia every year, as we are located in an area where different climates intersect. Due to the mixing of continental, Mediterranean and Alpine climates, we witness frequent lightning storms, especially in the summer months. That is why we are also much more exposed to lightning strikes than other European countries. Most lightning strikes are recorded in the northwest of the country. Disconnect all electronic devices from the electrical and telecommunications network before every storm so that they are not destroyed by a lightning strike. Telekom Slovenije subscribers can take advantage of the free Lightning Alert service with alerts about the possibility of lightning strikes in your area. 

According to the data of the Scalar measuring system, developed by the Milan Vidmar Electrical Institute, about 60,000 lightning strikes or 3 lightning strikes per km2 are recorded in Slovenia every year, but this number varies considerably from year to year, from calmer to very stormy years. Over the past three years the differences have been substantial: 2023 was an average stormy year, 2025 was quite close to the annual average, while 2024 was a distinctly stormy summer with more than 70,000 lightning strikes. At the same time, we have more and more electronic devices at home that can be damaged by a lightning strike. Devices are more energy-efficient, but there are more of them, they are operational for a longer period of time, and they are often connected all the time when in a stand-by mode or because they are Internet of Things (IoT) devices (source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia).

A lightning strike can cause serious damage to electronic devices such as modems, TV sets and computers, rendering them completely unusable, so that they have to be replaced with new ones. When it comes to devices that store documents, photos, audio, and videos, we can also lose valuable data stored on them. In order to avoid such unpleasant consequences, Telekom Slovenije advises customers to disconnect electronic devices from electricity and the communication network before every storm and whenever they leave home for a longer period of time, especially when going on vacation. It is a simple but effective measure that brings many advantages, from avoiding service failures and the hassle and sometimes even costs of replacing damaged equipment, to the fact that less damaged equipment also means less burden on the environment, which is in line with Telekom Slovenije’s sustainability focus. 

Free Lightning Alert notifications
Users of Telekom Slovenije's mobile services who use mobile and fixed services can take advantage of the free Lightning Alert service, which warns you by SMS message of the possibility of lightning strikes near your fixed connection. The service is based on lightning data from the Scalar system of the Milan Vidmar Electrical Institute. To activate the Lightning Alert service, send an SMS message to 041 145 000 with the keyword STRELA, add a space and then your username for Telekom Slovenije's fixed services (e.g. STRELA novakj). You can find your username in Moj Telekom and on your monthly invoice.

A warning about the danger of lightning strikes is also displayed to Telekom Slovenije TV subscribers on the TV screen when it is switched on.

If lightning strikes before you can act
If the telecommunications equipment owned by Telekom Slovenije (modem or NEO Smartbox set-top box) has malfunctioned following a lightning strike, you can report the error to the toll-free number 041 700 700, by e-mail at tehnicna.pomoc@telekom.si, in Moj Telekom or digital consultant Max (https://ts.si/maks-kontakt).

More recommendations on how to deal with storms, are available at http://ts.si/bliskoviti-obisk