Severe weather safety reminders

FOX TOLEDO NEWS - Now that we have entered the spring season, there are several severe weather-related tips to keep you and your family safe when weather conditions take a turn.

Lightning poses a significant danger due to the simple fact that you never know when and where it will strike. A person has a 1 in 600,000 chance of being struck by lightning. In addition to the damage that can be caused by the electrical voltage, significant burns and fires can occur as a lightning bolt's return stroke is hotter than the surface of the sun.

Here are some lightning safety tips: stay off of land-line phones, don't use hand held electrical appliances, stay away from water, do not stand under or near tall trees or other tall objects, do not stand on or near hilltops, and if you're outside, crouch down in a ball.

Another major severe weather threat is flooding. It's the No. 1 weather-related killer in the united states. Most flash floods are caused by heavy persistent rains from slow-moving multiple thunderstorms moving over the same area or by tropical systems.

When there is a potential of flooding watch for rising water, and do not drive in high water. Motorists are in the greatest danger when flash flooding occurs. Be especially cautious at night as it is much more difficult to judge the depth of water, and do not allow children to play in flooded waters.

There's also hail, which ball of ice that grows as it's moving through updrafts and downdrafts in a thunderstorm, encountering other raindrops that then freeze to it. Eventually it becomes big enough that the updrafts can't hold it in the cloud, at which time it falls to the ground,
reaching speeds as fast as 100 mph.

Most of the damage from hail is done to property and crops totaling an average of nearly $1 billion every year.

Unfortunately there are some myths out there you should be aware of. A dangerous myth is that highway overpasses are a safe place for motorists to take shelter. Even though bridges are strong structures, you put yourself at greater risk for harm in a storm. Bridges are particularly dangerous because the winds will actually accelerate under an overpass.

Another myth is that opening your windows will equalize the pressure in your home and keep it from exploding when a tornado strikes. Studies have shown that the majority of damage from tornadoes is a result of the 100-300-plus mile per hour winds and not the pressure difference.

The idea that tornadoes never strike big cities is another myth that has been proven wrong in the past several years. A few recent examples of big cities being hit by tornadoes are: Miami on May 13, 1997; Nashville on April 16, 1997; and Oklahoma City on May 3, 1999 and May 26, 2001.

Many people believe that the safest part of a house to be in during a tornado is the southwest corner. This is also a myth. The south and west walls take the brunt of the storm force which means these walls are frequently penetrated by debris and are also more likely to fall inward than others.

Finally let's discuss the warnings and watches that are associated with the spring severe weather season.

A Severe thunderstorm and/or tornado watch: Conditions are favorable for the formation of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. When a watch is issued, monitor the weather as severe storms and tornadoes can develop suddenly.

Severe thunderstorm/tornado warning: A severe thunderstorm or tornado has either been observed by a trained weather spotter or detected by Doppler radar. Take shelter immediately.