Weather Hazards to Watch for While Outdoors
Posted: March 15, 2018 | Author: Kevin Koontz | Read Time: 2 minutes
Be mindful of the weather when hiking and participating in outdoor activity. Weather hazards include tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightning, and winter weather. It is important to identify warnings and dangers for each and know what to do when one is encountered.
Nine Weather Hazards and Warning Signs
Lightning
Warnings: thunder, sudden cloudburst or enormous raindrops or hailstones, fast-moving cold-fronts, signs of highly charged air
Dangers: burns, shock, cardiac arrest, muscle spasms, brain and nerve damage, ruptured eardrums, death
What To Do: spread out, stay away from tall trees and water, lightning position (crouch) on top of your pack or boulder resting on top of other boulders
Flash Floods
Warnings: water suddenly gets deeper, faster, muddier, or beings carrying twigs, needles, or leaves; heavy storm in the area
Dangers: fast, high flowing water out of nowhere; swept off feet, abrasions, drowning, death
What To Do: immediately get to higher ground, evacuate to safe location
Fire
Warnings: high temperatures, dry terrain, windy, low humidity, dry lightning, unstable air
Dangers: smoke and ash inhalation, sever burns, death
What To Do: evacuate immediately, get to a safe area
Tornadoes
Warnings: dark, often grey sky; wall clouds and approaching clouds of debris; large hail in absence of rain, calm before the storm
Dangers: flying debris, violent winds, severe body and property damage, death
What To Do: seek shelter; if no shelter, lie flat and face down on low ground; cover your head and neck with arms, get away from trees and cars
Earthquakes
Warnings: no known signs, use caution
Dangers: extreme ground shaking, falling debris, liquefaction, flooding, fires, injury, death
What To Do: stay put, move away from buildings and other objects, remain calm until shaking stops, do not panic
Dust Storm
Warnings: giant wall of debris and dust approaching, high winds
Dangers: reduced visibility, flying debris, eye damage, respiratory problems, high winds, death
What To Do: seek coverage, go indoors if possible, pull over if in car, wait out the storm
Extreme Heat
Warnings: extreme high temperature, dry, hot, humid
Dangers: heat exhaustion, heat stroke, headache, dizziness, fatigue, rapid heart rate, unconsciousness, death
What To Do: cool off immediately, ice water immersion, hydrate, shade
High Winds
Warnings: unequal heating from the sun; high pressures move into low pressures; the bigger the difference between high and low pressure, the higher the wind speed
Dangers: flying debris, downed trees and broken branches; death
What To Do: find shelter, take cover inside if possible, stay clear of loose objects, stay away from trees
Hail Storm
Warnings: thunderstorm clouds present, gray clouds, rain, thunder, lightning, high moisture content and cloud layer at freezing temperatures
Dangers: welts, bodily injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), death
What To Do: find shelter, cover up with any gear around if outside, wait out storm
Visit SUU Outdoors or contact the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC) for more information.
This article was published more than 3 years ago and might contain outdated information or broken links. As a result, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Tags: Outdoor Recreation Outdoors SUU Outdoors
