myth

WELCOME TO THE BILLWX STORM SAFETY MYTHS PAGE

Here you will find all the things you SHOULDN'T do during a storm situation. I plan on adding stuff from here from time to time. If YOU have a question about something someone told you to do during a storm and you question if it's true or not, feel free to email me at: billwx@earthlink.net
and I will be happy to try to respond on this page. Also, if you know of a myth that would be appropriate here, let me know and I will investigate it!

This pages was started on June 16, 2001 - but will hopefully grow.

TORNADO SAFETY MYTHS

If a tornado warning is issued or you see a tornado approaching, you should quickly "crack" or open all the windows in your home or business to "equalize pressure". THIS IS WRONG! YOU WASTE VALUABLE TIME DOING THIS WHILE YOU SHOULD BE SEEKING SHELTER. IN ADDITION, DAMAGING WINDS CAN BLOW INTO THOSE WINDOWS AND KNOCK DOWN OPPOSITE WALLS - NOT TO MENTION ALLOWING DEBRIS TO EASILY BLOW IN. YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED CURTAINS/DRAPES CLOSED AND ALL INTERIOR DOORS CLOSED - AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN WHILE ON YOUR WAY TO SAFETY, DO NOT WASTE TIME.
If you're on the road and a tornado is approaching, you should seek shelter under a bridge or overpass. WRONG AGAIN! CONTRARY TO A WELL-VIEWED VIDEO INVOLVING A STUPID NEWS CREW GETTING A STORY, THIS IS A REAL DANGER. THE STRONG WINDS CAN PULL YOU (AND VEHICLES) FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE EASILY, NOT TO MENTION DEBRIS THAT COULD BE BLOWN AROUND UNDER THE BRIDGE/OVERPASS. Note: That "infamous" video clip usually has a NON-Factual statement that the tornado want directly over the overpass, when IN REALITY is passed closeby and the winds "they" experienced were part of the inflow. Had the storm moved directly over the girder/overpass, the video you see on TV probably wouldn't exist - and neither would the "survivors".
It is OK to watch a distant tornado and take pictures/videos of it. NOPE...THERE IS AN OLD SAYING THAT SAYS "IF YOU CAN SEE THE TORNADO, YOU'RE ALREADY TOO CLOSE." WHILE THE DRAMA OF SEVERE WEATHER MAY MAKE YOU WANT TO WATCH, YOU REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR A PLACE OF SAFETY. "REAL" STORMCHASERS USUALLY (WE HOPE) HAVE SOME METEOROLOGICAL BACKGROUND AND USUALLY (WE HOPE, AGAIN) OBSERVE STORMS FROM CERTAIN ANGLES WHICH ARE USUALLY SAFER. UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DIRECTION THE STORM IS MOVING RELATIVE TO YOUR LOCATION, YOU'RE DUMB FOR STANDING THERE. IF SOMEONE YELLS AT YOU TO "GET IN" OR "LET'S GO" - THEY ARE THE SMART ONES. REMEMBER, DEBRIS FROM A 'DISTANT' TORNADO MAY BE CARRIED MILES, THEN DROPPED, NOT TO MENTION STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS FAR FROM THE STORM.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SAFETY MYTHS

If you're outdoors and feel your hair stand on end, you should run quickly OR lie completely flat on the ground because lightning will strike you. YES AND NO...IF LIGHTNING IS ABOUT TO STRIKE IN YOUR IMMEDIATE VICINITY, YOUR HAIR WILL LIKELY STAND ON END (UNLESS YOU JUST PLASTERED IT DOWN!). YOU SHOULD NOT RUN FROM THAT AREA. INSTEAD, CROUCH DOWN, "STAND" ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET (SO AS TO MAKE THE SMALLEST AREA OF YOUR FOOT ACTUALLY TOUCH THE GROUND), PLACE YOUR HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEAD BETWEEN YOUR KNEES. BASICALLY, YOU WANT TO MAKE YOURSELF "SMALL". THE LESS "SIZE" YOU HAVE AND LEAST AMOUNT OF GROUND CONTACT WILL MAKE YOU LESS OF A STRIKE TARGET. DO NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND - YOU'RE ACTUALLY MAKING YOURSELF INTO A GREAT "GROUND" SINCE A LARGE AREA OF YOUR BODY IS TOUCHING THE GROUND.
The sky is turning vivid green, that means the storm is almost over and it will soon be safe to go back outside. NOPE...A GREEN SKY IS A VERY GOOD SIGN OF ICE UP THERE IN THE CLOUDS. DURING A THUNDERSTORM, THAT MEANS HAIL - AND PROBABLY LOTS OF IT! IF YOU RUN BACK OUTSIDE, YOU MIGHT GO OUT JUST IN TIME TO BE PUMMELED BY FALLING ICE BALLS - IF THE STORM IS VERY STRONG, THAT ICE COULD BE OVER 1" IN DIAMETER, ENOUGH TO BREAK WINDOWS, DENT CARS AND MAKE YOU A VERY UNHAPPY PERSON IF YOU'RE OUT IN IT.
You hear a severe thunderstorm warning is issued for your county and you see dark, threatening clouds approaching. Since you like to watch storms, you park next to the nearest window to watch the fury of nature. BAD IDEA...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN HAVE WINDS OVER 58 MPH, HAIL OVER 3/4", TORRENTIAL RAINS OR A MIXTURE OF ALL OF THEM. WINDS OVER 58 MPH, LIKE A TORNADO, CAN CAUSE FLYING DEBRIS THAT CAN SMASH WINDOWS OR BLOW THEM OUT. EVEN WOTHOUT A TORNADO, SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN, AND DO SOMETIMES REACH OVER 100 MPH. OF COURSE YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAIL CAN DO BY READING ABOVE! ALSO, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCSSIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVACE WARNING. PLAY IT SAFE...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS DURING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.