This upcoming week April 7-11 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in South Dakota and Minnesota. Our office will be pushing severe weather safety information throughout the week on our social media platforms. Each day will have a daily topic:
- April 7: Alerts and warnings
- April 8: Severe weather, lightning, and hail
- April 9: Floods
- April 10: Tornadoes
- April 11: Extreme heat
Severe weather awareness resources
Looking to learn more about severe weather, and severe weather safety for the upcoming season? The National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls is offering virtual, free, and open to the public severe weather awareness classes lasting approximately 1.5 to 2.0 hours. The classes will be offered on April 14-15, April 28 and April 30.
The following topics will be covered:
- Introduction to the National Weather Service
- Staying aware ahead of severe weather season
- Identifying important storm features
- Learning how to report severe weather
- Safety information and tips for the severe weather season
Go here more information.
More on lightning
Last week I covered some of the myths that concern lightning. This week I want to continue that discussion with facts about lightning.
The extent or severity of lightning can range from significant to insignificant depending on where it strikes and what structures are hit. Water towers, cellphone towers, power lines, trees, and common buildings and structures all have the possibility of being struck by lightning. People who leave shelter during thunderstorms to watch or follow lightning also have the possibility of being struck by lightning. The lightning history for the past 10 years denotes only five occurrences where damage was reported; however, the possibility exists that the information reported is incomplete. It is also important to note that while no damage was reported, lightning strikes are very common in all South Dakota counties.
Lightning is very common, and I imagine that everyone has a story about it. My experience with lightning occurred in Fort McClallen, Alabama, when I was stationed there in the 1980s. I was walking in an area that had a lot of cedar trees, it was a hot, humid day, overcast, no rain, and all of a sudden, the hair on the back of my head started to stand up. Yes, I used to have hair in case you were wondering. I had been taught to get as low as possible if lightning was around, so where I squatted was about 50 feet away from where lightning struck one of those cedar trees. The moral of this story is that it is not safe to be outside when lightning occurs.
When a safe location is not nearby
If youabsolutelycannot get to a safe location, you canslightly lessen the threat of being struck with the following tips. But don’t kid yourself you are not safe outside. Know the weather patterns of the area you plan to visit. For example, in mountainous areas, thunderstorms typically develop in the early afternoon, so plan to hike early in the day and be down the mountain by noon. Listen to the weather forecast for the outdoor area you plan to visit. The forecast may be very different from the one near your home. If there is a high chance of thunderstorms, stay inside. Furthermore:
- Avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top.
- Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees.
- If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members.
- If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine or other low area. Remember, a tent offers no protection from lightning.
- Stay away from water, wet items, such as ropes, and metal objects, such as fences and poles. Water and metal do not attract lightning, but they are excellent conductors of electricity. The current from a lightning flash travels through the air, and can extend several miles from the thunderstorm, making it dangerous even if you cant see the storm.
For even more specific information, check out the following tips, which can also be found here.
Motorcyclist/bicyclist
Protect yourself when on a bicycle, motorcycle or dirt bike. Carry a portable NOAA Weather Radio or listen to commercial radio. If you see threatening skies in the distance and you are near a safe building, pull over and wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before resuming your ride.
On the water
Most lightning injuries and deaths on boats occur on small boats with no cabin. It is crucial to listen to weather information when you are boating. If thunderstorms are forecast, do not go out. If you are out and cannot get back to land and safety, drop anchor and get as low as possible. Large boats with cabins, especially those with lightning protection systems properly installed, or metal marine vessels are relatively safe. Remember to stay inside the cabin and away from any metal surfaces. Stay off the radio unless it is an emergency!
Scuba divers
If the boat you are in does not have a cabin you can get in during lightning activity, then you are safer diving deep into the water for the duration of the storm or as long as possible.
Cavers
Cave entrances are dangerous during thunderstorms. Small overhangs can allow arcs to cross the gap. Even caves that go well into the ground can be struck, either via the entrance or through the ground. Going well into a cave increases your safety somewhat. Once as deep into the cave as possible, avoid touching metal, standing in water and touching both the cave ceiling and floor.
As always, keep an eye on the sky and be safe when outdoors.
Bob the EM.
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