Thunderstorms aren’t rare, that’s for sure. We’ve had plenty of thunderstorms already this year! But Severe Thunderstorms on the other hand, that’s different. A Severe Thunderstorm isn’t rare, either, however there are some extra precautions you will have to take in the case of this scenario.
Alright, let’s get down to the specifics. The National Weather Service office issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings when: a. Winds are Greater than 58 MPH or b. Hail is larger than an inch. However, even if thunderstorm meets the minimum criteria, you should still take cover and follow safety procedures that will be talked about at the end of this post.
One of the usual factors of thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms are lightning. Lightning causes nearly 60-70 deaths per year! Most of which, are because those citizens were outside, and not inside as they should be. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from your location where it may be raining. That’s a rough estimate of where you hear thunder. Thunder is caused by rapid changes of the sky heating and cooling. Lightning is VERY dangerous if you get struck. Lightning bolts are approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit — which is hotter than the sun. Remember, WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS!
Another deadly topic is Large Hail. Hail can fall at nearly 120 MPH, which gives you nearly no time to get to shelter if you are outside. Large hail produces over $1 million in damages per year! One of the worst times Iowa had hail was when Hardin County got hit in Early August of 2009, approximately one year after our launch.
The final topic we will talk about is High Winds. High Winds can reach nearly 125 MPH, which is a Category 3 Hurricane, which makes damage nearly equal to an EF2 tornado. High Winds are common in Severe Thunderstorms.
Below you will find Safety Tips and what some of the National Weather Service weather alerts mean. On our final day tomorrow, we will discuss Family Awareness. See you then!
- Leave mobile homes and take shelter if a Severe Thunderstorm Warnings is isssued.
- Take shelter in a study building or car. Do not be near windows or trees.
- If it is not safe to go outside, take shelter in a safe automobile with your windows up.
- Do not be near water. Get out of boats and take shelter!
- Do not shower or bathe.
- Unplug unnecessary appliances.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: The National Weather Service has determined that Severe Thunderstorms are occuring or are likely soon. Take cover and follow safety instructions.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Watch the Sky and listen for possible warnings. Severe Weather may be near within 3-6 hours.