Here at 11 alive, we're making sure
you and your family are prepared
if and when severe weather strikes.
First, we're focusing on thunderstorm.
Safety meteorologist Andrew Wilson shows
us the tools and terms that we use as
we're tracking severe weather threats.
Leading up to her severe risk,
we always talk about the risk categories
from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman,
OK, starting off with a
marginal risk or level one,
that's the lowest risk that we have here
on the scale means an isolated severe
thunderstorm could be possible or two.
Those are typically limited in duration
and or intensity and then a slight risk.
A level 2 risk in other words means that
scattered severe storms are possible,
so a few more storms could be possible there.
And enhanced risk means that
numerous severe storms are possible.
That's the Level 3.
And then when we talked about moderate risk,
that means that we have widespread severe
storms likely notice the wording there
that's a level 4 and then the high risk
a level 5 right here in North Georgia.
But sometimes it happens,
widespread severe storms could
end up being expected.
It's always also important to remember the
difference between a watch and a warning.
Now with a watch,
it means the ingredients are there,
indicates risks of hazardous weather
is possible for the region and then a
warning means that the event is occurring
imminent or likely whenever we're
talking about there severe thunderstorm.
Watches and warnings now sometimes severe
thunderstorm warnings can have a special tag.
A base severe thunderstorm means
that we have 58 mile per hour
winds or quarter sized hail.
Considerable severe thunderstorm
warnings mean we have 70 mile per
hour winds or golf ball sized hail.
And then when you see that tag of
destructive it means that we could
have those eighty mile per hour
winds with baseball sized hail.
Always remember to stay weather aware as
we head throughout severe weather season
11 alive weather team wants to
make sure you are ready in the
event of a weather emergency.
Meteorologist Melissa Nord.
Explains how to prepare your family
in case severe weather strikes.
Get together with your household
and review your severe weather plan.
Where will you go to take shelter
from storms, including tornadoes?
And most importantly,
how will you get notified when
severe weather is moving in?
Don't rely on sirens.
Here are three ways you can stay
informed of severe weather in your area.
First, a NOAA weather radio.
These are programmed to your
county so you can be alerted 24/7.
Second, turn on wireless emergency
alerts to your phone in the settings.
Action you'll be notified when your
location is under a tornado warning,
flash flood emergency,
or a destructive thunderstorm warning.
Third, download the 11 Alive app.
Enable notifications so you can be
alerted when severe weather is arriving.
Have multiple ways to get warnings,
especially overnight while you're asleep.
Nearly everyone knows what it's
like to experience severe weather.
Georgia sees its fair share of tornadoes,
and lightning meteorologist
Andrew Wilson talks to us.
About the importance of lightning safety.
It comes and goes in a flash.
It was like a huge bomb.
Lightning can strike anywhere where we
heard it inside the church knocked off.
The electricity being hit is rare.
Most people survive but can
face serious health issues.
You can lower your risk by going
inside when you hear Thunder,
says Ron Holly with the National
Lightning Safety Council.
Don't ask questions.
Simply go to a large substantial
building or a building.
Closed metals out vehicle.
A lightning safe structure is one that.
Has grounded wiring and plumbing.
Like most homes and buildings in the US,
tents and places like sheds,
dugouts,
and picnic shelters are not safe from
lightning strikes during a storm.
You should also stay away from
porches or balconies and things
that may conduct electricity,
like corded electrical devices.
Or you don't want to be touching
the water running in the sink
or in the shower in the bathtub.
Those are very good conductors.
Trees and lightning are a
dangerous combination, Holly says.
The strike can hit a tree and conduct.
Around current to a victim.
There can also be a side flash where
the tree is hit and a portion of
the current hits someone near it,
or a lightning can cause the
bark or a limb to explode.
It only lasts a few tenths of a second,
but during that time it
was incredibly strong.
There are several claims
about what is and isn't safe
to do during a thunderstorm.
Our verify team is looking at some
of the most common myths about
Thunder and lightning.
To see what's true,
here's Brandon Lewis.
We asked verify viewers to send us
questions about storm safety tips
they've learned over the years and took
them straight to these sources. 1st.
Were you ever told as a kid to
count the seconds between the flash
and the boom to figure out how
far away a lightning strike is?
So let's verify. Does each second
really mean a storm is a mile away?
We'll need to do some math here,
but don't worry.
The Weather Service says the sound of
Thunder takes 5 seconds to travel one mile.
So if you see a lightning strike and
it takes 5 seconds to hear Thunder,
then the Lightning is one mile away.
If it takes 10 seconds,
then the strike was two miles.
Anyway, so no,
each second between lightning and Thunder
does not mean the Lightning is one mile away.
It's actually one mile for every 5 seconds.
And regardless,
our experts say if you can hear the Thunder,
then it's time to head indoors.
All right, let's say the storm
looked and sounded really close.
Several verified viewers asked us will
lightning always strike the highest point?
So let's verify.
Generally, our experts say lightning
will strike the tallest point,
but it depends on what's nearby.
If you're next to a giant building with
a sophisticated lightning rod system,
then that'll probably get hit.
If you're standing next to a
single tree and an empty field,
then you may be more at risk.
This is because lightning is always looking
for the least resistant path to the ground,
which could mean hitting a shorter
object or even the ground itself.
Since there's no way to
predict this ahead of time,
it's best to just head for
safety when you see lightning.
So no, lightning does not always strike
the highest point, and it's safest.
To just make sure you're not the
tallest object during a storm.
OK,
finally,
let's say you counted the seconds
and realized the storm is on the
way and you're now safely indoors.
What now?
Amanda asked us if you should avoid taking
a bath or shower during a thunderstorm.
This question may seem a little far fetched,
but our experts say there are
rare cases where lightning can
travel through metal piping.
This can carry an electrical
charge to anyone using water,
whether it's in the shower,
doing dishes,
or even on the toilet.
Even people with plastic piping should think
twice about using water during a storm,
the CDC says.
Since water is a conductor of electricity,
plastic pipes can also carry a charge.
So yes,
you should avoid taking a bath or shower
during a thunderstorm with the OR verify.
I'm Brandon Lewis.
Here's something to keep in mind
when storms are approaching.
The number 2 weather related killer in
the United States each year is flooding.
Meteorologist Melissa Nord explains why.
You gotta remember this saying,
turn around, don't drown. Here's why.
This car is driving across the road,
comes across a barrier,
and they see floodwaters beyond it.
Well, what you don't know about those
floodwaters is how deep they are,
how quickly those floodwaters might
be moving, what's in the water,
and what is the integrity of the
road underneath those floodwaters?
This car decides I'm going to risk it.
Bad decision.
They go into the floodwaters and that
water is too deep and moving too swiftly.
And it floats the car away.
In fact, it only takes 1 foot of swiftly
moving water to float this small car.
If you have a large truck or SUV, 2 feet
of swiftly moving water is all it takes.
So remember the saying,
turn around, don't drown.
It is not worth your life.
Thank you for joining us for this
11 alive severe weather special.
Please remember these steps in
order to keep you and your family
safe and download the 11 alive
app for all the latest weather
updates in your neighborhood.