Storm Warnings/Watches

I listen to the radio every morning as I’m getting ready for the day. I like to hear the DJ’s sounding off about this that or another thing and I often start my day by laughing!! Well, this morning, they must have had the weatherman from a local TV station on about every 15 minutes to warn us of a looming storm headed our way. It got me thinking that this is the start of storm season and I did some research on the various aspects of storms that I wanted to share with you all today.

Before I get started on the various aspects of things we should know about storms, I wanted to make sure to share with everyone in the Twin City Metro Area that this storm is supposed to hit us around noon today so please keep what ever methods you may have for tuning in the weather available. These storms are supposed to move fast so you need to be able to as well.

During my investigation on several sites this morning, I found out that severe thunderstorms kill more people each year than tornados! Just my humble opinion but I think it’s because we don’t think they are as bad as the weather service and the weathermen make them out to be so we are unprepared. Of the estimated 100,000 thunderstorms that occur over the US each year, only 10% are classified as severe!! I guess MN and our surrounding states must get them all!!

According to the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm is one that produces hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter, has winds of 58 mils per hour or more, or produces a tornado.

What the heck is the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING? This has plagued me since childhood and I don’t know about you, but I think we all need to know the difference!!

So…when the National Weather Service has issued a WATCH, it indicates that conditions favor the occurrence of a certain type of hazardous weather (thunderstorm, hail, tornado, etc). It also means that the storm could happen within the next six hours or so within an area approximately 120 to 150 miles wide.

When the National Weather Service issues a WARNING, it indicates that a hazardous event is occurring or is imminent in about 30 minutes to an hour. You are in danger of lightening if you can hear thunder. Many strong thunderstorms produce hail. Downbursts and straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms can produce winds 100 to 150 miles per hour! These are as bad as tornadoes, they can flip cars, vans and semitrucks.

What to do in these conditions?

• You need to postpone outdoor activities. Many people take shelter from the rain, but when a thunderstorm is coming, they continue their activities, this can be dangerous!
• If you see or hear a thunderstorm coming, go inside a sturdy building or car. Keep the car windows closed. Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightening!! I always thought they did!!
• If you can’t get inside, or if you feel your hair stand on end (that means lightening is about to strike!!) get to a low, open space immediately. Crouch down on the balls of your feet, place your hands on your knees and lower your head. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize contact with the ground.
• Stay way from tall things like trees, towers, fences, telephone lines or powerlines, they attract lightening!!
• Turn off your air conditioner and TV, and stay off the phone until the storm is over. Lightening can cause electrical appliances to become dangerous during the storm.
• Stay way from running water inside the house. Electricity from lightening has been known to come inside through plumbing, are you kidding? I never knew this either??
• For tornados, it used to be advised to go to the SouthWest corner for safety, however it is now believed that it is no safer than any other corner. You need to be on the lowest level away from windows to be the safest, it doesn’t matter the direction of the corner.
• In case of tornados, close all windows as well.
• If you are driving during a tornado, is to go to a nearby sturdy building and go inside. Or, get out of the vehicle and lay down flat in a low spot on the ground not subject to flooding, protecting your head and neck. Flying debris can be blown under overpasses and bridges or the weaker ones can be destroyed all together.

Tornado Danger Signs:

• Dark, often greenish sky
• Wall cloud
• Large hail
• Cloud of debris
• Funnel cloud
• Roaring noise (often compared to the sound of a train)

The biggest thing of all is to just heed the warning put forth by the National Weather Service, they aren’t kidding around. Make a plan with your family and make sure they all know where the flash lights are kept and what to do in an emergency. Your kids schools and daycares run fire and tornado drills, why don’t we at home?

I hope that you have found this information helpful and I hope you all stay safe this summerJ

Beth Riegger
Keys 2 Success
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