by Kate Evans
Fall brings welcome cooler temperatures and enjoyable pastimes but it can also herald the onslaught of severe weather.
Hurricanes pick up in fall and they, along with tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and extremely high winds can knock out power, air conditioning and heating and communications to homes and businesses for days.
In a May 23 press release, NOAA National Weather Service forecasters predicted an 85% chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.
Major hurricanes so far
Hurricane Beryl broke records as this season’ s first hurricane for being the earliest-forming Category 5 Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. It occurred in late June and early July. Hurricane Beryl impacted areas like Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, the Yucatan Peninsula, the Gulf of Mexico and the United States, according to Wikipedia.
Widespread flooding and wind damage were seen in Texas. A total of 67 tornadoes were confirmed, mostly in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, New York and Ontario. Some 64 people were killed during the hurricane.
The second hurricane of the season-Category 1 Hurricane Debby — brought widespread flooding from heavy rains in early August and nearly 20 inches of rain near Sarasota, Florida. Two dozen tornadoes were confirmed as the storm moved up the east coast. Locally, it produced heavy rainfall that flooded low-lying areas.
Debby caused 10 fatalities.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes can cause massive property damage from inland flooding from heavy rains, storm surges, dangerous waves along the coast, destructive, high winds, accompanying tornadoes and flooding along with considerable loss of life, according to NOAA.
Storm surge can travel inland through rivers, bays and estuaries.
Areas far inland from where a hurricane or tropical storm makes landfall can receive devastating damage as well as coastal regions.
Hurricane winds can reach 200 miles an hour and can cause major damage to buildings and homes. Widespread torrential rains often cause flooding hundreds of miles inland.
Public safety officials recommend people have two weeks of emergency supplies on hand if they need to shelter in place in the aftermath of a hurricane or tornado. Be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can accompany severe thunderstorms. Tornadoes can produce intense winds of up to 200 miles an hour. Telltale tornado signs are a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris and a roar like a freight train. Tornadoes can occur any time of the day or night or year. Tornadoes have been reported in all 50 states.
NOAA officials noted that violent tornadoes can cross rivers of all sizes and that tornadoes have also crossed high elevations in the Appalachians, Rockies and Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Hurricane Debby created tornado warnings in this region.
Severe thunderstorms
The National Weather Service defines severe thunderstorms as storms that are capable of producing hail that is an inch in size or larger or wind gusts over 58 miles per hour. Hail that size can damage plants, roofs and vehicles. Wind of that velocity can break off large branches, knock down trees or structurally damage trees.
Some severe thunderstorms can cause winds over 100 miles per hour or hail the size of softballs. They can also cause tornadoes, dangerous lightning and flash flooding from heavy rains.
The National Weather Service advises that people watch the skies and weather and stay tuned to their NOAA weather radio or local TV or radio station when severe thunderstorms watches and warnings are issued.
Treat severe thunderstorm warnings as if they were tornado warnings and take immediate cover and safety precautions, weather officials said.
What to do
The National Weather Service urges people to take shelter inside a sturdy building or shelter until the severe thunderstorm, hurricane or tornado is over. This will protect you from large hail, deadly lightning, damaging winds, flooding rains and tornadoes. Usually a thunderstorm will pass your area within an hour.
Once sheltered, stay away from the windows and doors and avoid electrical equipment and plumbing. Take pets inside. If you have time, secure loose outside objects outdoors so they don’t become dangerous flying projectiles in high winds.
If you’ re caught outdoors
in a severe thunderstorm, take shelter in a sturdy enclosed building or hard top vehicle immediately. Avoid open spaces, isolated objects, high ground and metallic objects.
If a tornado is sighted, move quickly to the lowest level or basement of your home or shelter. Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. Drive to the nearest shelter if you can. If you can’t make it to safe shelter, get down in your car and cover your head or leave your car and seek shelter in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.
Get out of boats and away from bodies of water. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.
Have a battery-powered or hand-cranked portable radio to listen for emergency broadcasts and a NOAA
weather radio to stay abreast of approaching severe weather conditions. Sign up for local emergency alerts. Keep your cell phone charged.
Flooding, high water
Flooding from rain, hurricanes, coastal storms, storm surges and dams and water systems overflowing can also develop slowly or quickly, along with flash floods.
Never walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn around and don’t drown, officials urge. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down and one foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. Avoid driving, except in emergencies.
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
Families are urged to always have plenty of emergency supplies on hand.
