We love summer because of the warm, sunny days, pleasant evenings, holidays, and vacations, and being in the bosom of nature. Unfortunately, the summer also brings some risks related to extreme weather phenomena. Storms, tornadoes, hail, and other weather phenomena can cause serious damage to our surroundings, threaten people’s safety and lead to material losses. It is worth being aware of these risks and taking appropriate precautions to minimize them.
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are one of the most common summer weather phenomena. These are dynamic weather events with heavy rainfall, lightning, thunder, and strong winds. Storms can flood streets, flood homes and even lead to large scale flooding. Lightning strikes are a particular hazard because they can cause fires, damage buildings or the power grid, and cause accidents due to electric shock.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes , on the other hand, are one of the most dangerous atmospheric phenomena. It is a funnel-shaped swirling air mass formed due to complicated atmospheric processes, including pressure and temperature differences. A tornado can do tremendous damage, destroying everything in its path. Strong winds, swirling branches, fragments of damaged fences or buildings, and sometimes cars and other large objects, and simultaneous heavy rainfall can cause serious damage, uproot trees, and destroy residential and commercial buildings. Tornadoes are very often the cause of serious bodily injury and loss of life for many people who did not find shelter in time.
Hail
Hail is a phenomenon that often accompanies thunderstorms. It is the precipitation of ice balls that can be of different sizes. Hail can damage roofs, cause damage to vehicles, destroy crops, and pose a real threat. Heavy hail can be especially dangerous to people and animals out in the open, so it’s important to seek shelter in a safe place in the event of an approaching storm and don’t wait until the last minute.
Other
Other weather phenomena during the summer include droughts, heat waves, and wildfires. Drought can lead to water scarcity, damage crops on a large scale and cause general ecological and economic problems. Heat waves, in turn, are dangerous to health and lead to heat stroke and dehydration of the body, especially for older people. Wildfires are often associated with the previous two phenomena due to high temperatures and lack of humidity, and their effects can be disastrous for the environment and local communities.
How to minimize the risk
To minimize the risks of these summer weather events, there are some important precautionary steps you can take. First, you should monitor the weather forecasts and respond to any warnings issued by the local meteorological service. In the event of an impending storm or tornado, seeking shelter inside a solid building, away from windows, is essential.
If there is a risk of hail, remember to park your vehicles in safe places, such as garages or covered car parks, provide shelter for pets and stay inside yourself.
If a heatwave is anticipated, avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day, and drink adequate fluids regularly to prevent dehydration.
Regardless of the weather hazards, keeping adequate emergency equipment at home, such as a flashlight, batteries, fresh water, and food supplies, is crucial. In addition, it is worth establishing a plan of action in the event of weather hazards and discussing it with the family so that everyone knows how to react in emergencies. It is also impossible to overestimate proper insurance coverage, which in the event of losses, will help financially return to the state from before the event.
To sum up, summer storms, tornadoes, hail, and other weather phenomena can threaten people’s safety and threaten property damage. It is important to be aware of these risks and take appropriate precautions. Monitoring weather forecasts, seeking shelter in case of threats, and maintaining proper emergency equipment are key activities that will help minimize risk and stay safe in difficult weather conditions. Remember this and care for ourselves and others during the bad weather in the summer.