Good bye winter and hello spring! While we are happy to see the winter season come to an end, spring brings its own set of challenges. Safety on the road extends beyond the wheel, being aware of the weather around you is also a key component in being a safe driver.  With March being the start of tornado season for most of the country it’s important to review some safety tips to practice in dangerous weather conditions.

Be Prepared

Investing in a NOAA Weather Radio will help keep you informed on changing weather conditions 24 hours, 7 days a week. Each state and county has different storm siren policies, by investing in a NOAA radio you will have the most current information available to you. The National Weather Service broadcasts weather warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information. They also work in conjunction with the Federal, State and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials to broadcast environmental emergencies as well, such as chemical releases or oil spills. NOAA radios can be purchased at most electronic stores and cost anywhere from $10-$60.

"Noaa all hazards". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia.

Be Alert

Being alert is your best defense on the road. During the spring and summer month’s small thunderstorms can change to a supercell thunderstorm in an instant. Like most thunderstorms, they form when warm, wet air rises and meets the cold and dry air above it. The warmer the rising air, the stronger the storm it creates. While common thunderstorm cells can be several miles wide and extend around seven miles into the sky, a supercell thunderstorm can raise up to 11 miles into the atmosphere. Knowing this, it’s important to have a plan while on the road. Ideally, a truck stop would be the best place to go for shelter, but that’s not always an option. Get out, get down and cover up. Hail, wind and heavy rain will be the biggest threat. Choose a place that offers protection and if possible, a low lying area like a ditch or culvert. Highway overpasses are not shelters. The most common time for bad weather to strike is in the evening around 5:35 p.m.

Be Cautious

While on the road driving in bad weather is sometimes unavoidable, but being mindful of the situation around you is one thing you can control. Be cautious and know the difference between a watch and warning. A watch means that the conditions are favorable for a tornado, a warning means that a tornado has been spotted on the ground. Knowing the difference could save your life and possibly those around you. If you have to drive 20mph because it’s raining too hard, you might consider pulling over. Storms typically move between 35-50 mph, so chances are pulling over and waiting it out is the safest option. After the obvious danger passes, the biggest concern then is flash flooding. It takes about six inches of running water to knock you off your feet and about three feet to knock over a semi-truck. The safest practice is to turn around or if you are already in the middle of water, abandon ship. There is no such thing as being too cautious. Trust your instinct and take it seriously.