Traveling in Bad Weather

When traveling for any distance, bad weather can cause  everything from slight delays to major accidents. When you  have advanced warnings and know what to do in severe  weather situations, you can keep yourself, your family and  your vehicle safe. 

Sometimes sever weather is completely unavoidable. In severe  and hazardous weather conditions, there are a lot of variables.  All the technology in the world cannot predict the path of a  tornado and no one can predict storm damage. You cannot  prepare or predict the behavior of other drivers on the road  either. You need to be aware of your situation and stay in  control of your own actions to avoid a state of panic.  Remember, your vehicle has insurance and can be replaced.  Your life and your family’s lives cannot. So don’t take  unnecessary risks. 

Watch The Sky

The sky gives its own warning signals, which is helpful when  out of range of radio and mobile coverage. Anvil-shaped  clouds usually give an idea that storms are nearby. Wall clouds  look like an alien spaceship landing, which is indicative of  tornado weather. If you can see “eddies” in the clouds, those  can turn into microbursts. Sudden appearance of clouds in the  summer could mean flash floods on the horizon. Pay attention 

to the road, drivers and other obstacles. However, taking the  occasional moment to see what the sky is doing can give you  a better heads-up than waiting for the warning to come through  on the radio or your smartphone. 

Hail

Hail is a forceful form of precipitation. Don’t confuse it with  sleet. Hail can range from a fraction of an inch to six inches in  diameter and is created from sudden differences in air  temperature and pressure. It is usually accompanied by an  upward draft. The natural reaction you may have with hail is to  find cover, usually under an overpass or parking garage. This  may not be the safest choice. You can be at risk when parked  under an overpass. Hail storms reduce visibility, can break  windshields, and make the road very hazardous. Just because  your car is parked, does not mean the vehicles behind you can  see you! One parked vehicle under an overpass can easily  get hit from behind, causing a massive pile-up. Sometimes the  be choice is to get off the road entirely and wait things out.  Remember how we mentioned earlier that hail was caused by  a difference in pressure systems which cause an updraft? Hail  could mean something worse is close by. 

Tornadoes and Traveling

Tornadoes are formed by a clash in pressure systems. These  usually occur between spring and summer. Apart from the hail, 

tornadoes are more dangerous than regular wind storms  because a tornado vortex is completely unpredictable.  

Meteorologists may guess where tornadoes will strike, but no  one predicts where a funnel will connect with the ground and  the clouds. Nor can they predict the path it heads. What makes  them hazardous is when they form at night, when visibility is  low. Parking under an overpass is the exact opposite of a  good idea. Have you ever held your thumb at the end of a  water hose? A similar effect is created in the space beneath an  overpass with high speed winds. If there are big trucks there  too, keep in mind that they are not the most aerodynamic  vehicles, and have a lot of surface to catch wind. Tornadoes  can pick up and carry a truck, or blow smaller cars.  

Try to find any nearby structures you can access and get  indoors. If you cannot find a building or house, get out of your  car and get in a ditch or the lowest area you can find. This  does not mean under your vehicle! Stay alert to areas of  flooding. There will be a lot of rain after a tornado passes.  Sadly, there is not much more you can do to be safe. 

Bring The Basics In Your Care

Keep supplies in your car to keep yourself safe. Putting  together a survival kit should consist of the following: 

• First aid supplies 
• Flares 
• Rechargeable flashlight 
• Water
• Jumper cables 
• Thermal blankets 
• Gloves 
• Change of clothes 
• Portable phone charger 
• Auxiliary power unit 

With a little planning, you can make it through even the worst  weather conditions. Always be aware of your surroundings and  check on weather reports frequently especially during tornado season. Be safe on the road, mind the sky, and make sure you know how to handle bad weather and extreme road conditions.