Storms
Hailstorms
Hail is precipitation in the form of a chunk of ice that can fall from a cumulonimbus cloud. Usually associated with multicell, supercell, and cold front-induced squall line thunderstorms, most hail falls from the central region of a cloud in a severe storm. Hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm, which means hail is a threat everywhere. When it hits, it can shred roof coverings and lead to water damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances, furnishings, and contents.
If you are Caught in a Hailstorm in your Car:
- Stop driving. If you see a safe place close by (like inside a garage or under a service station awning), drive to it as soon as you can. Make sure you pull completely off the highway.
- Do NOT leave the vehicle until it stops hailing.
- Stay away from car windows. Cover your eyes with something, like a piece of clothing. If possible, get onto the floor face down or lie down on the seat with your back to the windows.
- Put very small children under you and cover their eyes.
If you are in a Building During a Hailstorm:
- Stay inside until the hail stops.
- Stay away from windows.
- Account for all family members, building occupants, pets, etc.
- Do not go outside for any reason.
- To avoid the danger of electrocution from lightning, avoid using phones and electrical appliances during a severe storm.
If you are Outside During a Hailstorm:
- Seek shelter immediately. If you can’t find something to protect your entire body, find something to protect your head.
- Stay out of culverts and lowland areas that may suddenly fill with water.
- Seeking shelter under trees should be a last resort. It is common during severe storms for trees to lose branches.
Thunderstorms & Lightning
Thunderstorms
A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning.
Severe Thunderstorms
A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following: hail one inch or greater, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado.
When are Thunderstorms most likely?
Thunderstorms are most likely in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours, but they can occur year-round and at all hours.
Along the Gulf Coast and across the southeastern and western states, most thunderstorms occur during the afternoon. Thunderstorms frequently occur in the late afternoon and at night in the Plains states.
What Kinds of Damage can Thunderstorms Cause?
Many hazardous weather events are associated with thunderstorms. Under the right conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, or lightning. Lightning is responsible for many fires around the world each year and causes fatalities. Hail up to the size of softballs damages cars and windows, and kills livestock caught out in the open. Strong (up to more than 120 mph) straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms knock down trees, power lines, and mobile homes. Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.
Where are Severe Thunderstorms most common?
The greatest severe weather threat in the U.S. extends from Texas to southern Minnesota. But no place in the United States is completely safe from the threat of severe weather.
Stay Safe During Thunderstorms & Lightning
If you are under a thunderstorm warning:
- When thunder roars, go indoors! Move from outdoors into a building or car with a roof.
- Pay attention to alerts and warnings.
- Avoid using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet.
- Avoid running water.
Stay Safe After Thunderstorms & Lightning
- Pay attention to authorities and weather forecasts for information on whether it is safe to go outside and instructions regarding potential flash flooding.
- Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
Lightning
If you see lightning, watch closely to determine if the storm is approaching.
- If you can hear thunder or see a bolt strike the ground, you are within 10 to 15 miles of a storm. This is a high danger zone and you should move to a safe location within a building.
- Avoid using equipment or phones because energy from lightning may follow electric or telephone wires.
- Television sets are particularly dangerous at this time.
- Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors.
- Avoid the bathtub, water faucets and sinks because metal pipes can conduct electricity.
If you’re outdoors, observe the following safety rules:
- Try to get into a building or a vehicle.
- If no structure is available, get to an open space and squat as low to the ground as possible, covering your head.
- If you’re in an area with trees, find an area protected by low clumps of trees. Never stand underneath a single large tree in the open.
- Stay away from tall structures, such as trees, phone lines or power lines.
- Stay away from natural lightning rods, such as golf clubs, tractors, fishing rods, bicycles, metal bats or camping equipment.
- Avoid rivers, lakes or other bodies of water.
- If you feel your hair stand on end (an indication that lightning is about to strike), bend
forward, putting your hands on your knees. - Don’t lie flat on the ground.
- If you’re in your car during a lightning storm, pull onto the shoulder and stay in the vehicle.
- Don’t touch any metal on the inside of your vehicle.
