Lightning
Severe Weather Awareness Week
by National Weather Service
April 21, 2016
This is Severe Weather Awareness week in Wyoming.
Today we will discuss lightning safety and ways to receive national weather service (NWS) products and services.
There have been 5 lightning deaths and 67 injuries since 2000 in Wyoming. Lightning is ranked first in severe weather related fatalities and injuries in Wyoming from 2000 to present.
Lightning, by definition, occurs with every thunderstorm. Thunderstorms typically impact the Cowboy State from April through October peaking in late spring into early summer, with a secondary peak during the monsoon in August. Lightning is one of the deadliest weather phenomenons. Most lightning fatalities and injuries in Wyoming occur in the mountains, but anywhere outside is vulnerable to lightning.
Lightning safety begins with knowing the weather forecast and watching for approaching storms. If thunderstorms are imminent, postpone outdoor activities until the thunderstorms pass. This is your best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation. However if you are outside and hear thunder, seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building. If a sturdy building is not available, take shelter in a hard topped vehicle. Do not seek shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees or in a soft topped convertible automobile. If caught outdoors and no shelter is nearby, find a low spot away from trees, fences and poles. If you are boating, get to land and find shelter immediately. When thunder roars, go indoors!
Additional information about lightning can be found at:
www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
Methods for receiving severe weather information:
All hazards NOAA Weather Radio, discussed on Tuesday, broadcasts continuous weather information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During severe weather, such as during a tornado or flash flood event, the normal broadcast of NOAA Weather Radio will be interrupted by a tone alert, followed by critical life saving information.
Television and radio stations do a very good job of providing severe weather coverage. They provide valuable information including National Weather Service watches and warnings. In addition, many broadcast stations participate in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) which assures warning transmission when radio stations are in automatic mode.
There are numerous weather web sites that supply weather information. All National Weather Service home pages provide real-time radar data, updated weather and river forecasts and information about Weather Service programs such as preparedness.
Also get warnings and other weather information from your wireless devices at:
mobile.weather.gov for http enabled wireless devices
cell.weather.gov for WAP enabled wireless devices
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