Watching the Weather

a guide to weather observation and safety

Topics

Heat

• “Beat the heat – check the backseat”• Slow down• Drink water – once you feel thirsty,

it’s already too late.

Lightning

• If you’re close enough to hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning.

• Safe buildings/cars– Fully enclosed (roof, walls, floor)– Stay away from electronics

• Unsafe buildings/cars– Not fully enclosed (carports, golf carts)

Lightning

• There is no safe place outdoors in a thunderstorm

• If you cannot get inside a safe vehicle or building during a thunderstorm:– Avoid large open areas– Stay low (don’t be the tallest point)– Avoid metal, water and other objects

which can conduct electricity

Hurricanes

• Main threats:– Storm Surge–Winds– Inland Flooding

• Understanding the forecast models– There’s more than one way to watch

rain fall

Hurricanes

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

• Threat Levels: – Advisory– Watch– Warning

• What’s in a name?– Storm– Wall Cloud– Funnel Cloud– Tornado– Animation: http://bit.ly/tornado-formation

• Planes, Bridges and Cars, oh my!

Tornadoes

• Knowing what you’re looking at– Radar– Daytime development– Nighttime development

Tornadoes

Tornadoes

Tornadoes

Tornadoes

Floods

• “Turn around – don’t drown!”• 2 feet of running water can float

most vehicles.• If you can’t see the road through the

water – don’t risk it!

Winter Weather

• Threat Levels: – Advisory– Watch– Warning

• Hidden dangers– Black Ice– Wind chill

• Be prepared– Food/Water– Fuel for transportation– Gas vs Electric: Cooking and staying warm

Winter Weather

NOAA Weather Radio

• Every home and office should have a NOAA Weather Radio– Inexpensive– Easy to setup– Always monitoring

StormReady

• Other Resources:– http://www.nws.noaa.gov/stormready/ – http://www.ready.gov/

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