driving severe thunderstorm

The safest way to drive in a thunderstorm is to, in fact, not drive at all. With reduced traction and visibility, simply driving behind someone can become a dangerous challenge in a thunderstorm. Contact Us. However, this is a not a wise choice. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. And remember: it's better to arrive at your destination late than to never get there at all! Privacy Policy | Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Ensure you have insurance paperwork and your license with you, as well as emergency equipment for your car (e.g. If you don't have a choice in driving during a storm, find a weather station on the radio so you can keep track of the conditions while driving. If driving is the only option, buckle up, and follow these rules to ensure safety: TURN LIGHTS AND WIPERS ON. Driving in thunderstorms is not recommended, as heavy rain causes reduced visibility in addition to slippery roads (and therefore, heightened potential for a car accident). The most important thing you’ll need in any kind of nasty weather is a good set of wiper blades. Try to find a relatively populated place to pull over - don't stay on the side of the highway or in the middle of nowhere unless there isn't another choice. It's possible your car may stop working. Pull over under a sturdy location if possible. This seems fairly self-explanatory, but it can make the difference between whether or not you suffer should lightning be prevalent in the area, and being fully enclosed in the vehicle can also help drivers avoid distractions from rain or thunder. To avoid this situation when driving, do not drive through water that's more than 9.8 inches (25 cm) deep, try to avoid roads that you know have dips, and drive. This article was co-authored by Simon Miyerov. Ideally a rest stop or gas station, but if you do have to pull over on the side of the road, make sure you’re well cleared off the driving lane and … According to the DOT, 1.25 million of those accidents are caused by inclement weather. Another very real possibility, hail not only makes a lot of noise, it can damage your car as well. These can collapse during or after severe weather. How To Drive In a Thunderstorm and Tornado. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Driving in perfect weather is hard enough, but when severe weather hits, it's important to take extra precautions. Tags: Dangers of driving in a thunderstorm, driving in a thunderstorm, driving in a tornado, driving in bad weathers, driving through a thunderstorm, driving through a tornado, how to drive in a thunderstorm, how to drive in a tornado, how to drive in sever weather, How to Drive through a Tornado, How to driver as safe as possible in a thunderstorm., Safety tips for driving in a thunderstorm, Home | Driving in hail is similar to driving in the rain, but the ice has a greater chance of causing damage (including smashing windows) and can be difficult to drive on, particularly when thick. A reinforced safe room (or above-ground tornado shelter) is as good as an underground shelter in most situations. The tornado may drop objects on your car, which could end up crushing you, or it could blow your car off you, removing your shelter. Prepare yourself this summer by understanding the dangers of driving in thunderstorms and how to protect yourself—and your insurance rates—from these disasters. While driving in a thunderstorm, you may still encounter impatient drivers who tailgate, pass, or speed during the storm. Leaving space between yourself and the car in front of you is always a good idea, but if you’re battling a storm it becomes a necessity. While being in your car is actually one of the safer places to wait out a storm (excluding walled and roofed houses), lightning poses more dangers than just electrocution. In vehicles, avoid driving through severe thunderstorms. These surfaces include door handles, window handles, gear shifts, the car radio, and even the steering wheel. Driving Instructor. When winter comes, we face additional risk on the roads due to severe weather. If severe weather strikes when you are in your vehicle, do not seek shelter under an overpass or bridge, as drivers in Oklahoma did during a hailstorm on March 23, 2019. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment. A typical storm will last around 30 minutes. This means it will take longer to brake and reduce your overall control over the car. However, if it isn't possible to escape through a door or window, call emergency services or yell to someone nearby for help. If you know a storm is coming, it is highly advisable to simply wait it out at your current location. Along with this strong wind comes the objects it can carry. Hydroplaning while in cruise control will cause your car to go faster than if you were driving the car manually. Instincts often lead us astray here, and it’s important to know what you should do and what you shouldn’t do if you are driving when a tornado strikes. Credit: Steve Pegg via Storyful A sturdy building is the safest place to be during a severe thunderstorm. Your plan at home should be known by everyone in the home and practiced at least twice each year. Of course, all of this changes if you’re not marching through a thunderstorm but towards a tornado. Stay near the scene and encourage the driver to turn off their car if the crash is minor, to reduce a risk of fire. Should your car's windows fog up due to the rain, turn on your defroster or AC to clear them. Prior to a severe thunderstorm's arrival, move vehicles into garages or under carports to help prevent damage. driving with family or with a pet). 1. Due to the rain, your car will have very low traction during a thunderstorm. AccuWeather's Severe Weather Map provides you with a bird's eye view of all of the areas around the globe experiencing any type of severe weather. When conditions exist for severe thunderstorms, forecasters from the NWS will issue a "severe thunderstorm watch" that covers a large area of numerous counties and even states. During severe thunderstorms, the wind can grow strong enough to jerk your car, forcing your to keep a firm grip on the wheel to avoid ending up in the grass or the wrong lane. From these weather-related accidents, there are nearly 6,000 fatalities. You should always drive at or even below the speed limit when it’s raining, especially on … While many people take shelter from rain in these locations, they are often isolated structures in otherwise open areas, and, therefore, a … The truth is, it’s both. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Tips for driving in ice or snow Do not lean against the door of your car. Again, the key to tornado survival is a safety plan. If there are buildings around, enter one and go to its lowest level without windows. Instead, tunnels may act as a channel that increases a tornado’s wind, making it a more dangerous place to be. Remember that visibility is low, and one of the best ways to be seen by other drivers is to have your car lights on. Driving during severe weather of any kind becomes more deadly than it already is. Driving in severe weather conditions can significantly increase the potential for a dangerous situation. % of people told us that this article helped them. Driving in Severe Weather Every day when getting behind the wheel, we take precautions to stay safe – buckle our seat belts, use turn signals, obey traffic signals. flooded roads, muddy roads, or roads blocked by debris), Tires (newer tires are less susceptible to hydroplaning). Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Because next thing you know, you’ll be in the eye of a severe thunderstorm and a tornado watch. Drivers should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. No one can dispute the beauty of a thunderstorm, but the fact is, driving in one can be hazardous. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. It’s tempting to floor it when you see a funnel cloud tunneling down from a dark sky. If you see someone who has crashed, pull over a safe distance away from the accident and call emergency services. Turn on your headlights and set them to low beam - in some states, this is required by law. These puddles can also be misleading to the eye, as even a small bit of water that appears harmless can be hiding mud, a pothole or dangerous depth. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 16,693 times. Whether or not car insurance covers the damage to your car depends on your insurance company and what insurance packages you have. References. Check out this article How To Survive A Flash Flood In Your Car. Driving below the speed limit will also give you more time to react if another car on the road swerves, skids, or even crashes. If nearby drivers are driving too fast for these difficult conditions, they can make it even more dangerous for you and your passengers. Keeping yourself and your passengers safe, as well as driving safely for the benefit of other drivers, should be your priority when driving in severe weather conditions. Severe thunderstorms can occur year-round and at any hour. Speed limits are set for normal driving condition and should be reduced in aberrant weather. 4 December 2019. Severe weather can strike at any time, so it’s important to think ahead and be prepared for whatever Mother Nature may bring. How to driver as safe as possible in a thunderstorm. Bring your cell phone with you. This, perhaps, is the great threat of all. There are 40 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Reviews | Contact your local emergency management office, local National Weather Service office, or American Red Cross chapter for more information. Just as how driving during heavy rain isn't optimal, driving during a thunderstorm is not encouraged, but sometimes you don't have another option. Don't park under trees or power lines (as the hail may knock them down) or in ditches (as water may fill the ditch). Standing bodies of water may occur on the road during a thunderstorm. You could be driving away from a tornado when it’s suddenly charges down your path. Copyright © 2021, American Safety Council. If there are no suitable buildings nearby, pull over (but do. Wind this strong is able to break off large branches, knock over trees or cause structural damage to trees. Even F1 tornadoes (the least powerful class) can have winds up to 3o0 mph and speeds up to 70 mph. Waiting it out is not always possible and the majority of drivers are more inclined to rough it out instead. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. Terms & Conditions | This may seem like the logical choice, but it’s a deadly mistake. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment. Other parts of … Your car can be swept away. Louisiana State Police offer information, driving tips prior to expected severe weather Top Stories. Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. If you must or persist to drive in a storm, be aware of the dangers. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Canterbury Plains and North Otago, with heavy rain and hail likely to batter the regions. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. While the safest decision is to stay off the roads during such times, it's not always an option. Bring in pets. Refund Policy. This article has been viewed 16,693 times. Posted: Jan 9, 2021 / 01:18 PM CST / Updated: Jan 9, 2021 / 01:18 PM CST. But these extra precautions for specific kinds of weather can help you get to your destination safely. In the US, you can be ticketed for driving at the speed limit during heavy weather conditions. Be extremely careful if glass has shattered in your car to avoid injuring yourself, and make sure other passengers don't touch it. All Rights Reserved. Last Updated: January 9, 2021 However, only get out of your car to help the people involved if doing so won't endanger anyone. What Are The Driving Dangers Of Thunderstorms? Adjust the supplies based on your personal circumstances (e.g. However, do not stay under a bridge or overpass. Rain will be pouring down, so it’s likely you can’t even see the car in front of you very well. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you’re driving in a storm, don’t expect to see much of what’s in front of you. Safe rooms are specially-designed reinforced tornado shelters built into homes, schools and other buildings. Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for travelers. Severe thunderstorms are officially defined as storms that are capable of producing hail that is an inch or larger or wind gusts over 58 mph. spare tires). When you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle and faced with a sudden thunderstorm, road conditions can quickly become treacherous. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Keep in mind that if you get stuck, you may have to dig your car out, which is not something you want to be doing in a thunderstorm. Driving has its risks on a clear day, but what about when the weather turns sour? Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. This is because the blinking lights can be a distraction to already dangerous driving and can make it harder to see turn signals or brake lights. Try to avoid places with trees or other objects that might get picked up by the tornado. Regularly perform checks on your car to make sure it's running in good condition so that if you're caught in a thunderstorm without warning, you can still manage the storm. The safest thing to do in a thunderstorm or severe weather is to find somewhere to safely take shelter and wait out the storm. The longer it's been since it's last rained, the more slippery the roads will be, as the oils on the road will have accumulated and won't have had a chance to be washed off yet. You should also be aware of local laws regarding hazard lights; in Florida and many other states, it is illegal to drive with hazards in the rain. Avoid unprotected gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, golf carts, baseball dugouts and bleachers. Again, the best tactic is to avoid driving in these conditions, but if you find that an unfeasible option, please drive safe and follow as many safety precautions as possible. Again, this should go without saying. These simple tips can help you stay safe on the road when severe weather hits: Tornadoes: Avoid trying to outrun the storm. A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least 1 inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Sometimes the best decision drivers can make is to stay put until the storm passes. by: Nancy Cook. Thunderstorms and heavy rainstorms can quickly reduce visibility and increase the risk of you losing control of your vehicle. Bridges have a higher chance of collapsing during a thunderstorm, so wait for it to pass before crossing one. A raft of heavy rain and thunderstorms are set to sweep the country on Saturday, hitting the North Island from midday. Many of the problems that occur while driving in bad weather can be solved long before the first storm clouds even form. Children who may be at home alone should know what to do and where to go even if no adults are there. Learn how to manage anxiety like a therapist. While there is no safe way to drive through thunderstorm or during a tornado, here is some advice to help you stay as safe as possible. Simon Miyerov. If you know a storm is coming, it is highly advisable to simply wait it out at your current location. If you finding yourself driving in a thunderstorm, the safest thing for you to do is to turn on your emergency brakes and pull onto the side of the road to wait it out. Keep your radio on to monitor severe thunderstorm warnings in your area. Inexperienced drivers should generally not drive in severe weather; if you're a new driver, either wait out the storm or get a more experienced person to make the drive. Warnings mean there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the storm. 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