Severe Weather Awareness Week: Lightning Safety

Lightning is one of the most fascinating phenomenon that catches our eyes. These "light shows" peak in the summer, but can occur year round. Despite its beauty, lightning is extremely dangerous and is a potential killer. On average, 25 million lightning bolts strike across the United States every year. Hundreds are injured, and approximately 55 people are killed every year.

Lightning can travel at speeds of 140,000mph and heat up to 55,000°F. Additionally, lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from the parent storm. Due to this spontaneous activity, you need to take any thunderstorm seriously whether it's severe or not.

If you year thunder, make sure to get indoors immediately because if you can hear it, it can strike. The National Weather Service (NWS) sends out the following message: "If Thunder Roars, Go Indoors."

Best place to be during a lightning event is in a sturdy building. An overhang on the golf course is not safe enough. If there is time, make sure to get back to the clubhouse. Additionally, if you are driving on the road, a car is safe as well, but don't leave your car until the storm clears.

While inside, stay away from elements that conduct electricity. Examples include devices that are plugged into outlets and even plumbing as lightning can travel though metal piping and water.

Keep these simple tips in mind when lightning strikes and you will be safe.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Flood Safety

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Despite all of the attention gearing towards large hail, lightning, extreme wind, and even tornadoes, flash flooding happens to be one of the most dangerous elements severe thunderstorms produce. When you look at each type of severe weather independently, flooding happens to cause more fatalities than other related hazards.

One of the contributing factors is our under estimation of how powerful water can be. It only takes about 6 inches of moving water to knock over an average sized adult and only 24 inches of rushing water can pick up a car. Very small amounts of water can cause hazards that can generate mud slides, erode solid rock, shape shift rivers, and even destroy houses. Unfortunately, most fatalities occur in drownings while thoes caught off guard are stuck in their vehicle.

However, there are some very simple tips you can use in the event of flooding or if flooding is forecasted to threaten your area. When meteorologists at that National Weather Service (NWS) foresee a large area to be affected by flooding, a FLOOD WATCH would be posted.

When flooding conditions are expected to occur or are imminent, a FLOOD or FLASH FLOOD WARNING will be posted for specific areas, namely certain roads, streams, rivers, or urban locations.

Best advice is to stay off the roads and especially away from those areas that are flooded. However, in the event that you are driving and you see a road covered with water, NEVER drive though it. You never know how deep that water is and as explained above, it does not take a lot of water to pick up your car. Make sure to steer away from a water covered road and take an alternate route to your destination.

The NWS states: "Turn Around, Dont Drown." Simple words of advice that can save your life. If you see water covering a street Additionally, if you are aware that an area is expecting to have flooding conditions, do not park your car near a stream, or low elevation (dip) where water can collect easily. Finally, seek higher ground in the event of flooding.

I hope these tips will help you the next time flooding conditions are expected for your area. Keep it safe and here with KAGS-HD, we will always keep you ahead of changing weather conditions.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Tornado Safety

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As we continue to bring you up to speed before the core of severe weather season, there are still many more safety tips to help prepare you and your family for whats to come. One of the most violent phenomenon are tornadoes that spawn from rotating thunderstorms. These columns of air can vary in size, and magnitude. Some tornadoes could be as thin as 25 yards wide, or as large as 2 miles in width. Additionally, some tornadoes have the ability to generate winds over 200mph, destroying everything in its path.

No matter the size or fury, every tornado should be taken seriously. In the event a thunderstorm has the capability of creating a tornado, or one has been spotted, a TORNADO WARNING will be issued from your local National Weather Service (NWS) office.

If your current location is within the path of a tornado, you first need to seek a sturdy shelter. A house, office building, mall, or grocery store provide the best shelter.

-If there is a basement or tornado shelter, move there immediately.

- No basement? Take shelter in an enclosed area, away from exterior walls and windows. A bathroom or closet would work.

- In a bathroom, sit in the tub and cover your head with a pillow and/or blanket, just in case debris falls from the ceiling.

A mobile home offers very little protection and is not safe during a tornado. You must leave immediately and find a safer structure, or tornado shelter.

What if you happen to be outside?

- Get into your car immediately and get to a safe shelter. Also, NEVER drive under and overpass during a tornado because wind accelerates in smaller spaces and will cause even more serious damage.

- No car? In the worst case scenario, if you are outside and have no way to get to a sturdy shelter, seek a ditch or low lying area. Lay down and cover your head until the storm passes.

Not only are these guidelines to follow during a TORNADO WARNING, but always have an emergency kit handy. Basic items are essential such as, a first aid kit, extra batteries, flashlight, and water. Furthermore, a NOAA Weather Radio will let you know if a WATCH or WARNING is in place for your area.

Stay in the know, and you will be ready to take every safety precaution until the storm passes.

Finally, KAGS-HD will always be there on-air, online and on your mobile device to keep you informed with the latest information.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Watch vs. Warning

The first week of March typically kicks off Severe Weather Awareness Week across the country, especially in areas that experience extreme weather. This week is used to keep you up to speed about nomenclature that will be used if a severe weather outbreak is imminent, plus tips to keep you as safe as possible.

Know this: The heart of severe weather season here in the Brazos Valley occurs from Mid-March to the beginning of May. However, as we know, severe weather can happen any time of the year.

Staying abreast with changing weather conditions helps you plan properly to keep you and your family as safe as possible. Severe weather can pop up quickly and storms can take a turn for the worse in a matter of minutes. Therefore, knowing two key words will help you stay informed: Watch and Warning.

Watches and Warnings are two different beasts, but work together well when severe weather is forecasted.

WATCH:

There are two different types of watches: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Tornado Watch. Watches are outlined for large areas, sometimes thousands of square miles, indicating that the weather conditions are favorable for producing severe thunderstorms, or storms producing tornadoes. This does not mean a severe thunderstorm is occurring, but rather as a way to heighten your awareness that rough weather might come soon.

Below is an example of a Tornado Watch Box, that outlines an area where tornadic storms are possible.

www.weathercall.net

These boxes are issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman Oklahoma. No only is there an area depicted within this box, but a description for the length of time this watch will be in effect.


WARNING:

In the event a thunderstorm turns severe, a warning will be issued for an individual storm. Your local National Weather Service (NWS) will place specific locations in the path of a storm under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or a Tornado Warning, depending on the threat.

Below is an example of a Tornado Warning "polygon":

www.vastormphoto.com

On the left hand side is a doppler radar image with a red tornado warning polygon superimposed drawing interest to the most dangerous part of the thunderstorm is with a possible tornado. The right hand side illustrates what cities/towns/roads are in the path of this storm.

A severe thunderstorm warning will be issued under these criteria:

- A storm creating winds over 58mph.
- Hail greater than or equal to one inch in diameter.

If a tornado is indicated by doppler radar or from a storm spotter, a tornado warning will be issued.

Now you know the two most used terms during severe weather. I hope this helps you make proper decisions when storms strike.

Severe weather should be taken seriously, and KAGS-HD will make sure you are informed with the latest on-air, online and on your mobile device.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.