Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Your Complete Safety Guide

🚨 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT 🚨

This is a TAKE ACTION ALERT. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means a severe storm has been detected by radar or reported by spotters in your area. Dangerous conditions are imminent or already occurring. Move to safety immediately.

What Does a Severe Thunderstorm Warning Mean?

Alert Type	Meaning	What You Should Do
Severe Thunderstorm WATCH	Conditions are favorable for severe storms to form.	Be Prepared. Review plans, monitor weather.
Severe Thunderstorm WARNING	A severe storm is happening NOW in your location.	TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY. Seek shelter.

Criteria for a "Severe" Thunderstorm (National Weather Service):

Hail 1 inch+ (Quarter-sized or larger)
Winds 58+ mph (Can cause structural damage)
Tornado possibility (Not required, but often accompanies)

Immediate Safety Actions: What to Do RIGHT NOW

✅ INDOORS (Safest Option)

Go inside immediately. A sturdy building is the safest place.
Stay away from windows. Flying debris is a major hazard.
Avoid corded electronics, plumbing, and concrete surfaces. Lightning can travel through wiring and pipes.
Go to an interior room on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, hallway).
Unplug sensitive electronics to protect from power surges.

🚗 IN A VEHICLE

Safely pull over away from trees, power lines, and overpasses.
Turn on hazard lights.
Stay in the car with seatbelts on. The metal frame offers protection from lightning (do not touch metal surfaces).
Avoid flooded roadways. "Turn Around, Don't Drown." Just 12 inches of moving water can sweep away a car.

⚠️ OUTDOORS (Last Resort)

Seek shelter immediately. Do not wait.
If NO shelter is available:
- Avoid isolated trees, hilltops, and open fields.
- Crouch low in a ditch, covering your head.
- Stay away from water and metal objects (fences, poles).

Primary Threats During a Severe Thunderstorm

1. ⚡ Lightning

Rule: "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors."
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck.
The strike can occur up to 10 miles away from the rain.

2. 🌪️ Damaging Straight-Line Winds

Can exceed 70-80 mph (hurricane force).
Can cause: Uprooted trees, downed power lines, structural damage.
Often mistaken for tornado damage.

3. 🧊 Large Hail

Size Guide: Pea (0.25") < Dime (0.75") < Quarter (1") < Golf Ball (1.75") < Baseball (2.75").
Can severely damage vehicles, roofs, and windows. Injure people and animals.

4. 💨 Tornado Development

Severe thunderstorms can rapidly spawn tornadoes.
Have a way to receive a Tornado Warning (weather radio, app alerts).

5. 🌧️ Flash Flooding

Heavy rainfall can cause rapid flooding, especially in low-lying areas.
Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

How to Stay Informed & Get Warnings

NOAA Weather Radio: The most reliable official alert system.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Sent to smartphones. Do not disable these.
Trusted Weather Apps: The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, or your local news station's app with alerts turned ON.
Avoid relying solely on outdoor sirens. They are meant for people outdoors, may not be heard indoors, and do not give specific instructions.

After the Storm Passes

Wait for the official "all clear" or until 30 minutes after the last thunderclap.
Stay away from downed power lines. Assume all lines are live.
Check on neighbors, especially the elderly or vulnerable.
Document damage for insurance with photos/videos.
Report life-threatening emergencies to 911. Report non-emergency damage (downed trees, power lines) to local authorities.

Preparation Checklist (Do This BEFORE a Warning)

Identify your safe room (interior, windowless, lowest floor).
Charge power banks and devices before storms approach.
Prepare an emergency kit: Water, non-perishable food, flashlight, batteries, first-aid kit, medications.
Secure or bring indoors outdoor furniture, garbage cans, and decorations.
Trim trees and branches near your home regularly.

Myths vs. Facts

Myth	Fact
"The sky isn't green, so it's not severe."	Not all severe storms have green skies. Rely on official warnings.
"Rubber tires protect you from lightning in a car."	It's the metal frame that conducts electricity around you, not the tires.
"If no rain is falling, there's no lightning danger."	Lightning can strike "out of the blue" miles from the rain core.

🔔 Final Reminder: A Warning means the threat is REAL, IMMINENT, and DANGEROUS. Your immediate action can save lives. When in doubt, take shelter.