Keep away from tall trees, tall objects, or isolated trees
In a forest, keep close to a lower stand of trees
Stay away from bodies of water like ponds, lakes, rivers and even wet items
Stay away from metal objects like fences, poles, and towers
If the hair on your arms, neck, and head stand on end, a lightning strike is coming. Make yourself as small a target as possible. If possible, find a ditch or shallow depression. Crouch down with your feet together. Do NOT put your hands on the ground. Instead, place your hands on your knees. Also do NOT hold hands or hug another person.11
12 Curious Facts about Lightning
Florida is the lightning capital of the United States.
The most lightning deaths happen during fishing, camping, boating, soccer, and golfing.
82 percent of lightning victims are male.
70 percent of lightning strikes are during the months of June, July, and August.
In the United States, about 22 million lightning flashes strike the ground each year.
Lightning can also strike in the winter during a rare thunder snowstorm.
People can survive a lightning strike, but many are badly hurt.
American park ranger Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times between 1942 and 1977. He survived them all. People nicknamed him the Human Lightning Rod. He earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Lightning strikes can melt sand. The sand turns into glass-like tubes. These are called fulgerites.
Many cloud-to-ground lightning strikes are forked. This means they strike many different points on the ground.
Once lightning hits the ground, it can spread more than 60 feet from the strike point.
Fear of lightning is called keraunophobia.
Fear of thunder is called brontophobia.
(See endnotes. From sources 9-11, 15)
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
OF THUNDERSTORMS
TRUE OR FALSE?
Lightning never strikes the same location twice.
The rubber tires on a car protect you from lightning.
Lightning can start forest fires.
A 5-second delay between a flash of lightning and the rumble of thunder means the thunderstorm is 1 mile away.
If there aren’t any clouds overhead and it’s not raining, you’re safe from lighting.
It’s dangerous to use your cell phone during a storm.
You’re pretty safe inside an airplane during a thunderstorm.
If it starts to thunder, you should shelter under a tree.
If someone is struck by lightning, do not touch them.
If trapped outside during a storm, do not lie on the ground.
ANSWERS
False – Lightning will strike the same spot many times. The Empire State Building is struck almost 100 times a year.
False – The metal sides and roof of the car protect you, not the tires. The metal conducts the lightning to the ground. During a storm, do NOT lean on the car doors.
True – In the Western United States and Alaska, lightning is the main cause of forest fires. In the past, 15,000 lightning strikes have burned more than two million acres of forests across the United States.
True – Sound waves travel slower than light waves. You see the flash of light right away. But it takes the sound of thunder 5 seconds to travel 1 mile.
False – Lightning can strike more than 3 miles from a thunderstorm. And “bolts from the blue” have hit 10 to 15 miles away from the storm’s center.
False – You can use a cell phone during a thunderstorm. But you should NOT use a corded phone. Electricity from lightning can travel through the phone wires.
True – A commercial airplane’s metal skin will conduct the current outside the airplane. The plane’s fuel tanks are made to keep electrical charges from setting the fuel on fire.
False – Trees are tall and often struck by lightning. Only if you’re in the forest and unable to get to a safe shelter can you shelter under a group of shorter trees.
False – A person struck by lightning will NOT be electrified. You can give them first aid as soon as possible. Lightning strike victims may need CPR and/or care for serious burns.
True – If you can’t find shelter, make yourself as small a target as possible. Crouch down with your hands on your knees. Do NOT put your hands on the ground. Crouching in a low spot or ditch will also help.
(See endnotes. From sources 10-11)
HURRICANES
Hurricanes are the largest storms on earth. They cause billions of dollars in damage. And they are responsible for many deaths.
Depending where you live, hurricanes are called by different names. Storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean are called hurricanes. If they begin in the Western Pacific Ocean, they’re typhoons. Those that form in the Indian Ocean are called cyclones. Scientists call all of these storms tropical cyclones.
Tropical cyclones form over the warm ocean water near the equator. This super-warm, moisture-filled air rises as it heats up. The air then cools. As it goes higher into the atmosphere, the moisture in it condenses into water droplets. When the air rises, the surface air swirls in to take its place. This swirling air spins as it grows. Warm ocean water and evaporation fuel it.
The rising, moist air forms clouds and rain bands. Dry, cooler air sinks between these bands. It drops down through the center of the storm.
Tropical cyclones south of the equator spin clockwise. Those north of the equator spin counterclockwise. As the storm grows, an eye forms at its center. Inside the eye, the weather is clear and calm.
Hurricanes usually move at 10 to 15 mph toward the west. Later, they turn northwest. This gives people who live on the coast time to get ready.
If the winds are 38 mph or less, the storm is called a tropical depression. If the winds reach 39 mph, it is a tropical storm. Then it is named. (See “Why Hurricanes Have Names.”) When winds are 74 mph or more, it is called a tropical cyclone or a Category 1 hurricane.
(See endnotes. From sources 11-14)
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale26
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale measures how destructive the hurricane is. The categories are as follows:
Category 1 - winds from 74 to 95 mph, causes little damage on land, and has a 4 to 5 foot storm surge
Category 2 – winds from 96 to 110 mph, some damage, and 6 to 8 foot storm surge
Category 3 – winds from 111 to 130 mph, extensive damage, and 9 to 12 foot storm surge
Category 4 – winds from 131 to 155 mph, extreme damage, and 13 to 18 foot storm surge
Category 5 – winds greater than 155 mph, catastrophic damage, and 19+ foot storm surge
Winds and rain are heavy during a hurricane. But the storm surge is the deadliest part of the storm. The low pressure inside a hurricane can suck the ocean water up several feet. As the storm nears, the high winds also push on the water. The water can rise 15 or more feet higher than the normal tides. When a hurricane reaches land, this swell of water, plus the wind-driven waves, floods low-level areas on the coast.
Most tropical cyclones weaken when they reach land. They no longer have the warm ocean water that fuels the storm. But, before the storm weakens, it can still carry high winds and heavy rainfall, and cause plenty of damage.
The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. The peak season is from mid-August until late September. Most years, eleven storms are named during the season. Six usually become hurricanes. Of those, two or threes are major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).
In 2005, there were twenty-eight named s
torms. Fifteen of them became hurricanes. Four were Category 5 hurricanes, setting a record. The 2005 season also caused more than 2000 deaths.
The year with the least number of tropical cyclones was 1914. Only one was recorded all season.
(See endnotes. From sources 11-14)
HURRICANE SAFETY16
Hurricanes cause many dangers. They bring high winds, flooding, heavy rain, storm surges, and tornadoes. It’s good to be prepared well ahead of the storm. Listen to the news on the storm’s status.
Some websites post storm data and landfall predictions. Check the National Weather Service (www.weather.gov), the National Hurricane Center (www.nhc.noaa.gov), and Weather Channel (
www.weather.com ). If you are outside or lose power, listen for weather alerts on the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR).
Always get ready before hurricane season starts. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says to do the following:
Find safe routes for evacuating
Know where the official shelters are
Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators, cell phones, and your NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver
Buy food that will keep
Store plenty of drinking water
Buy wood to protect your home if you don’t already have it
Trim trees and bushes so branches don’t fly into your home
Clear clogged rain gutters and downspouts
Decide where to move your boat
Review your insurance policy
Find pet-friendly hotels for when you evacuate
The NHC suggests you do the following if your home is in a Hurricane Watch area:
Listen to radio, TV, or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards to hear about the storm’s progress
Be sure your vehicles have gas and are drivable
Check mobile home tie downs
Make sure you have extra cash on hand
Get ready to cover all windows and doors
Check batteries in radios, phones, and flashlights
Buy canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medicine
Bring in lightweight objects, such as garbage cans, garden tools, toys, and lawn furniture
The NHC suggests you do the following if your home is in a Hurricane Warning area:
Listen closely to radio, TV, or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards to find out about the storm
Close storm shutters.
Obey the local officials. Leave immediately if ordered!
Find a safe place to stay or go to a shelter outside the flood zone
DO NOT stay in a mobile or manufactured home
Tell neighbors and a family member who lives outside the area about your plans
Take pets with you if possible. But remember, most shelters do not allow pets unless they are needed by people with disabilities.
Find pet-friendly hotels where you can stay
Emergency Supplies
It’s helpful to have emergency supplies. Pack them in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container. And put all important documents in a waterproof container.
The emergency supplies kit should have the following items:
At least a 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day)
At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food
At least one change of clothing and shoes per person
One blanket or sleeping bag per person
First-aid kit
Battery-powered NWR and a portable radio
Emergency tools
Flashlight and extra batteries
Extra set of car keys
Credit card and cash
Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members
Prescription and non-prescription medicines
12 CURIOUS HURRICANE FACTS
The word hurricane comes from hurucane. This is a Taino Native American word for evil spirit of the wind.
A hurricane can generate up to 20 billion tons of rain per day.
The strongest winds of a hurricane are in the eye wall. This is the ring of thunderstorms and clouds around the hurricane’s eye.
The costliest hurricane to hit the United States was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm caused $125 billion dollars in damage and killed more than 2,000 people. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was the second costliest hurricane in the Untied States. Superstorm Sandy caused $68 billion dollars worth of damage and killed 354 people.
The deadliest hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean was the Great Hurricane of 1780. On October 10 it hit the Caribbean, killing 25,000 people. The deadliest hurricane in the United States hit Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. It had 145 mph winds. Its storm surge killed more than 8,000 people.
Hurricanes can also produce tornadoes. But these tornadoes last only a few minutes. They are weaker than tornadoes caused by supercell thunderstorms.
In 1967, a hurricane that hit Texas caused 140 tornadoes.
A major hurricane gives off as much energy every second as 10 atomic bombs.
Hurricanes move about 250 miles per day. The giant waves they create move 900 miles per day. Before weather satellites, these big waves alerted people that a hurricane was coming.
The red spot on Jupiter is really a ginormous hurricane. It has been raging on the planet’s surface for more 300 years. The size of that hurricane is larger than Earth.
Slow-moving hurricanes can cause more damage than faster-moving storms. The slower pace allows more rain to fall, causing heavy flooding.
Most hurricanes die before they reach land. This can happen if the storm passes over cooler water.
FAMOUS ATLANTIC HURRICANES20
(See endnotes. From sources 11, 17-19)
Galveston 1900
Atlantic-Gulf 1919
Miami 1926
San Felipe-Okeechobee 1928
Florida Keys Labor Day 1935
New England 1938
Great Atlantic 1944
Carol and Edna 1954
Hazel 1954
Connie and Diane 1955
Audrey 1957
Donna 1960
Camille 1969
Agnes 1972
Tropical Storm Claudette 1979
Alicia 1983
Gilbert 1988
Hugo 1989
Andrew 1992
Tropical Storm Alberto 1994
Opal 1995
Mitch 1998
Floyd 1999
Keith 2000
Tropical Storm Allison 2001
Iris 2001
Isabel 2003
Charley 2004
Frances 2004
Ivan 2004
Jeanne 2004
Dennis 2005
Katrina 2005
Rita 2005
Wilma 2005
Ike 2008
Gustav 2008
Paloma 2008
Igor 2010
Tomas 2010
Irene 2011
Sandy 2012
*This list does not include every notable storm in history.
WHY HURRICANES HAVE NAMES
By Jenna Snyder
The first person to name hurricanes was Clement Wragge, from Australia, in the late 1800s. At first he used the Greek alphabet and characters. Later he turned to naming the storms after politicians he didn’t like. He could make fun of the politicians by talking about the storm using their names. Wragge’s idea did not catch on, however, and not until World War II did people started naming hurricanes again.
The military and navy needed an easy way to identify hurricanes during the war. So meteorologists named them after their wives or girlfriends. In 1945, the National Weather Service used the military phonetic alphabet to label hurricanes. But they ran out of names by 1953. Once again they used women’s names.
In the early 1970s, Roxcy Bolton fought for women’s rights. She complained that naming hurricanes after women implied that women were disasters who destroyed everything in their paths. She suggested a similar system to Wragge’s. But she wanted to use senator’s names instead. Her idea was rejected. In 1979, the National Weather Service chose to alternate between men’s and women’s names. And it has been that way ever since.
Hurricane Names
2014-2018
Hurricane names are picked ahead of time for each season. The names change every six years. The list includes names from many places around the world where hurricanes have hit. Hurricanes that do a lot of damage and cost many lives have their names retired, such as Katrina, Irene, and Sandy. A new name replaces their names on the list. For example, Irma replaced Irene.
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