SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK: Tuesday's topic highlights severe weather, lightning and hail - KBJR 6

DULUTH, MN-- After talking about how weather alerts are sent and received along with the difference between a watch, warning and an advisory, Tuesday's topic covers lightning, hail and severe weather events.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS

For a thunderstorm to become severe, it needs to one of the following criteria:

• Hail at least 1" in diameter
• Winds of at least 58 mph or greater
• Tornadic activity

In the Northland, we average around 120-150 severe thunderstorm warnings, 5-10 tornado warnings and 5-10 flash flood warnings every year.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS

Any thunderstorm can produce damaging winds, and in some cases, they can produce straight-line winds that can reach 100 mph. The strong rush of wind from the thunderstorm is called a downburst, where rain-cooled air accelerates downward, which can produce the damaging wind gusts.

In some cases, stronger downbursts can be mistaken for tornadoes as they often are accompanied by a loud roaring that's very similar to what you would hear if a tornado is approaching.

Looking into the downburst aspect a bit more, you can have what's known as either a microburst or a macroburst, and you can click here to read about what both of those are, along with other phenomena such as a heat burst and a derecho.

HAIL

Along with damaging wind gusts, thunderstorms can also produce hail, which is formed when the updraft of a thunderstorm carries raindrops up into the freezing levels of the atmosphere. As this process goes on, additional layers of ice form each time it's swept up. Eventually, the weight of the ice outweighs the updraft forces and the hailstone then falls to the ground.

Hail causes nearly a billion dollars in damage annually and in some cases, can fall at speeds of up to 100 mph. The stronger the updraft speed, the larger the hailstone that will fall. Shown below is the most common hail sizes we see.

FUN FACT: The largest hailstone ever recorded in the U.S. took place in Vivian, SD on July 23, 2010. The hailstone measured 8" in diameter! Click here to read more on the record hailstone, and here for a more in-depth look at the process of hail.

LIGHTNING

Some people may not know this, but all thunderstorms produce lightning, and it can have some deadly consequences. In fact, it actually kills more people in a given year than tornadoes do. According to data from the National Weather Service, lightning kills dozens of people every year and injures hundreds.

So what should you do if lightning is in or approaching your area?

First and foremost, seek shelter inside a sturdy structure as no place outside is safe. If you are outside and no sturdy building is nearby, seek shelter in an enclosed vehicle.

Here's some tips on seeking shelter indoors:

• Avoid using corded phones, computers or any electrical equipment that comes in direct contact with electricity
• Avoid plumbing, which includes sinks, toliets, faucets and bathtubs
• Stay away from windows and doors
• Avoid lying down on concrete flooring and leaning against concrete walls

Now, if you happen to be caught outside and not near a sturdy shelter or vehicle, follow these tips:

• Crouch down immediately and put your hands on your knees, but don't lie flat on the ground
• Avoid elevated areas like hills and peaks
• Avoid shelter under an isolated tree
• Don't seek shelter under a cliff or rocky overhang
• Get off and away from any bodies of water
• Avoid objects that can conduct electricity

Here's a few facts vs. myths about lightning:

• MYTH: If someone is struck by lightning that you should avoid touching them as they carry an electrical charge. FACT: If someone is struck by lightning, you must attend to them immediately.
• MYTH: There's no danger from lightning if no rain is present. FACT: Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from an area of rainfall.
• MYTH: The rubber tires on a car or rubber soles of shoes will prevent you from being injured. FACT: While rubber provides no protection, the steel-frame of a vehicle provides increased protection from lighting as long as you don't touch anything metal)

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SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK: Tuesday's topic highlights severe weather, lightning and hail - KBJR 6
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