6. Surviving a Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado

At any given moment, there are approximately two thousand thunderstorms happening throughout the world. That adds up to a whopping sixteen million storms every year. While I personally love a good thunderstorm, they can be dangerous, and under the right conditions, cause huge amounts of property damage and loss of vital infrastructure. They also have the potential to kill.

HOW DANGEROUS IS THE THREAT?

When compared to something like a hurricane, thunderstorms can seem relatively harmless. Unfortunately, seasonal summer storms can be incredibly dangerous and are responsible for taking numerous lives and causing billions of dollars in property damage every year.

Thunderstorms can produce a wide array of dangerous weather, including flash floods, tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and dangerous lighting strikes. Lightning can be particularly dangerous and is responsible for a large number of power outages, wildfires, injuries, and deaths every year.

Lightning

Tornadoes

Flooding

Hail

ATTRIBUTES OF A THUNDERSTORM

Thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the spring and summer months, with a majority of the storms happening in the afternoon and evening hours. This is because thunderstorms thrive under moist and warm conditions, which are the two most important ingredients in the formation of the unstable air that causes these storms.

Some signs of an impending storm include

  1. Bizarre animal behavior. Animals have a sixth sense when it comes to approaching natural disasters and storms; they often become nervous and jittery, and can be excellent predictors of foul weather.
  2. Pops and static on AM radio bands. If you hear an increase in noise on these bands, it’s a pretty good indicator that thunderstorms are near.
  3. A sudden increase in wind, a strong blast that seemingly comes out of nowhere, or a sudden change in wind direction are all signs of an approaching storm.
  4. Your nose can smell it coming. Believe it or not, some people are very good at noticing small changes in the air and can even sense moisture or the smell of rain before it arrives.
  5. Watch for red skies and/or dark and billowing clouds. In general, low-hanging, dark clouds usually indicate storms are on the way.

Summer storms have the potential to be very dangerous, so it’s important to take all alerts seriously—especially severe thunderstorm warnings.

UNDERSTAND OFFICIAL WEATHER WARNINGS

Severe Thunderstorm Watch. A watch means the potential for a storm exists, and you need to be on the lookout for bad weather. In general, you can still go about your regular activities, but keep a watchful eye on the sky, and listen for local weather updates.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning. A warning is issued when a thunderstorm is either occurring in the area or the conditions for one have been spotted on radar and weather officials believe a storm is imminent.

Tornado Watch. A watch is issued when there are storms in the area capable of producing a tornado. If a watch is issued, be ready to take action at a moment’s notice.

Tornado Warning. A warning is issued when tornadoes have been spotted in the area or conditions for one have been seen on radar and weather officials believe a tornado is imminent. If a warning is issued, take cover immediately.

Every year countless numbers of people are killed or severely injured because they ignored the warnings. When a severe storm or tornado warning is issued, take shelter and listen for local weather updates.

PREPARATIONS TO MAKE BEFORE THE STORM HITS

When it comes to summer storms, recognizing the danger is probably the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family. Unfortunately, a countless number of people are killed or injured every year because they underestimated the power of these powerful seasonal storms.

To prepare for a thunderstorm

PROTECTING YOURSELF DURING THE STORM

When the storm is in your area, there are some things you can do to stay safe:

PROTECTING YOURSELF IN THE STORM’S AFTERMATH

As with all natural disasters, after the storm passes you still need to be on alert. There may be other storms in the area, and there are dangers that can be present in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

TORNADOES—THE ULTIMATE SUMMER STORM THREAT

Tornadoes are one of the most violent and devastating storms you can face. Their destructive speed and power is unmatched by any other weather phenomenon. Tornado winds have been clocked in excess of 300 miles (483 km) per hour and can leave a path of destruction over 50 miles (80 km) long. They can last from several seconds to over an hour, with the average tornado lasting around five minutes.

How Real Is the Threat?

The level of threat tornadoes pose depends on where you live. Although they are often associated with areas in the central United States, tornadoes can occur in many other parts of the world as well, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America.

Tornadoes most often occur during the spring and summer in the late afternoon or early evening hours during certain types of atmospheric conditions. One of the biggest tornado-related concerns is the speed with which they can develop—sometimes forming without warning. Although tornados can seem to come out of nowhere, forecasters are getting better at predicting when they might occur so you need to take weather-related warnings seriously.

How Dangerous Is the Threat?

In the United States alone, more than one thousand tornadoes are reported every year. The path of destruction can be up to a mile (1.6 km) wide, and in some cases more than 50 miles (80 km) long.

Attributes of a Tornado

The best way to limit your risk is to pay attention to local weather reports. When a tornado watch or warning is issued, you need to take it seriously. Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to ignore these warnings since approximately 70 percent of the ones issued in the United States each year are false alarms. Although the science behind predicting them is far from perfect, when they do hit, these alerts can give you a ten-minute head start and can help you take the proper precautions.

Paying attention to local weather reports can help, but knowing what to watch for can save your life. Here’s what you need to watch out for:

What to Do During a Tornado

Take shelter. After a tornado warning has been issued, make your way to a basement or underground shelter. If you don’t have access to a basement, head toward an interior room at the lowest level of your home.

Stay away from doors and windows. Closets and hallways are going to be far safer than a room with windows or doors to the outside.

If you’re outside

Preparing a Tornado Safe Room

If you live in a high-risk tornado area, seriously consider building a safe room where your family can seek refuge during a storm. The best place to build your shelter is underground. If you don’t have the ability to build an underground shelter, other areas you may want to consider include:

Your shelter should be built to withstand high winds, and should be filled with emergency supplies and a way to communicate with the outside world. Other considerations include: