What should you do under a thunderstorm warning? What is the safest place to be?
Severe weather has recently been battering parts of the United States. What should you do when a thunderstorm warning is issued? Where should you go?
Parts of the United States have been suffering from harsh weather, and it’s important to know what to do when dangerous conditions arise due to weather events such as thunderstorms.
Severe thunderstorms range widely in terms of the risk they pose to life and the damage they can cause.
According to the NWS, a severe thunderstorm is defined as one which: produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50 knots or ~93 km/h), and/or hail at least 1″ in diameter. Structural wind damage may imply the occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. A thunderstorm wind equal to or greater than 40 mph (35 knots or ~64 km/h) and/or hail of at least ½” is defined as approaching severe.
But that is too broad a description for issuing warnings, which is why the NSW decided to break severe thunderstorm warnings into three separate categories to inform the public about the threat they pose and what action to take. Now, severe thunderstorm warnings, in order from the greatest possibility of damage to the least are: Destructive, Considerable and Base - rated in terms of the physical damage they could cause.
What is the difference between a Watch and a Warning?
When severe weather is forecast, the NSW will issue a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch. A watch differs from a warning in that it advises the public to be prepared for a storm, although the exact time and location of storm development will not be specified or known. They are usually issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours - well in advance of the moment when a storm could strike.
Destructive damage threat: At least 2.75-inch diameter (baseball-sized) hail and/or 80-plus-mph thunderstorm winds. Warnings in this category will automatically activate a activate a wireless emergency alert, or WEA, to your mobile phone within the danger zone.
Considerable damage threat: At least 1.75-inch diameter (golf ball-sized) hail and/or 70-plus-mph thunderstorm winds. These warnings will not activate a WEA.
Base Severe Thunderstorm Warning: At least 1-inch diameter (quarter-sized) hail and/or 58-plus-mph thunderstorm winds. These warnings will not activate a WEA. When no damage threat tag is present in the warning, damage is expected to be at this base level.
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What should you do under a thunderstorm warning?
The best safety advice is to make sure you are fully prepared for the worst case scenario. When a watch is issued, keep yourself informed about the storm’s development and projected path - a watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states. Have a contingency plan and an emergency kit (water, non-perishable food, medication) prepared.
If you have children, make sure they know and understand what a tornado is, what tornado watches and warnings are, what county or parish they live in (warnings are typically issued by county or parish), and where they can find a safe shelter quickly, whether at home or at school.
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What is the safest place to be?
When warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property, take shelter somewhere where you are protected.
Seek shelter in a well-built structure with walls, a roof, and a foundation, such as a tornado shelter. In your house, go to the basement or inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). Buildings provide protection from lightning strikes and flying debris. Avoid small sheds, picnic shelters, or open structures with metal roofs, as they offer little protection from lightning.
Once inside, stay away from windows, doors, and electrical appliances. Lightning can strike buildings and travel through wiring and plumbing, so avoid using corded phones, computers, or other electrical devices during a thunderstorm. Do not bathe, shower, or wash dishes during a thunderstorm, as lightning can travel through plumbing systems.
If you are outdoors and unable to reach a building, seek shelter in a hard-topped vehicle such as a car, truck, or SUV. Close all windows and doors, and avoid touching metal surfaces inside the vehicle, as they can conduct electricity in the event of a lightning strike.
Be ready with supplies and keep updated
Make sure you have essential supplies - new, unused batteries - access to a battery-operated TV, radio, or internet-enabled device to follow weather updates and information. Weather updates can be found on the official government websites - https://www.weather.gov/ and the National Hurricane Center: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/)
Keep a list of important information such as telephone numbers and contact details. If you are outside or in a mobile home, find a nearby building, preferably one which has a basement. If you are in a car, do not try to outrun a tornado, but instead find the nearest sturdy building and take shelter there.