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Jun 12
2020

Monsoon Safety

Posted by Scott  filed under Safety

Monsoon Safety

We are at the beginning of the annual wet monsoon for the American Southwest – Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, southern Nevada, and southwest Texas.  The period – 15 June thru 30 September – starts off with extreme heat and is followed by almost daily rains and thunderstorms, with some variation among the included areas.  The suddenness and severity of the weather changes bring several weather-related dangers of which residents should remind themselves and anyone traveling the region should be aware. 

Monsoon Safety Week (14 – 20 June) efforts hope to educate and reduce the incidents of death, injury, and damage. 

Types of dangers (from Monsoonsafety.org):

  • Flash Floods
    • Flash floods are the #1 thunderstorm-related killer
    • Most flash flood deaths occur in vehicles
    • Moving water 1-2 feet deep will carry away most vehicles
    • Keep children away from creeks and washes when heavy rain is in the area
    • Be especially careful at night when water depth and road conditions are harder to see
  • Downburst Winds
    • Thunderstorms frequently produce strong downward rushes of air, called microbursts
    • These winds can gust in excess of 100 mph, and cause extensive property damage
    • Downbursts may generate areas of dense blowing dust
    • If downbursts approach move inside a sturdy building and stay away from windows
  • Lightning
    • No place outside is safe from lightning during a thunderstorm
    • Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a storm
    • If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you
    • Move inside a strong building or an enclosed hardtop vehicle
    • Avoid contacting inside wiring and plumbing during a thunderstorm; this includes appliances and corded phones
    • Stay in shelter for 30 minutes after the last thunder
    • If someone is struck by lightning, call for help immediately
  • Thunderstorms and Dust Storms
    • Thunderstorms frequently produce strong downward rushes of air, called microbursts that spread out along the ground that spread dense blowing dust or haboobs
    • DO NOT drive in a dust storm
    • If you do get caught up in a dust storm while driving, avoid running into another vehicle and make your vehicle less likely to be hit:
    • Pull off the road and put the vehicle in park
    • Turn off the lights
    • Take your foot off the brake pedal
  • Extreme Heat
    • Nation's #1 weather-related killer
    • Heat stroke is an emergency — call 911
    • Stay inside a cool ventilated place whenever possible
    • Restrict outdoor activities to early morning or evening
    • If you must be outside, wear loose-fitting, light clothing
    • Drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks
    • Frequently check on the young, elderly, and those with health conditions
    • Don't leave small children in vehicles
  • Wildfires
    • Early in the monsoon, hot and dry conditions make fires very susceptible to ignition by lightning, mechanical, or human activities
    • Thunderstorms may produce lightning, but little rain, and can easily spark a fire
    • Fires are spread quickly by gusty thunderstorm winds
    • Prepare your home and the area (within 30') around it for fire season
    • Have an evacuation plan if fire threatens your area
    • Follow instructions from local officials

Warnings:  The National Weather Service employs RADAR, weather satellites, and a host of detection sensors and early warning tools to predict the time and scope of significant events.  Warnings can be generated and transmitted in very little time to inform people via the government, news media, Internet, even cellular phone networks.  Being familiar with the terms they use helps keep the information in perspective: 

  • Watches:  widespread severe weather is possible
  • A watch:   severe weather has not occurred yet, but weather conditions are becoming highly volatile. You should pay close attention to the weather, and tune into TV, radio, or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts frequently.
  • Warnings (Severe Thunderstorm, Flash Flood, Dust Storm, or Tornado):  life-threatening weather is about to occur or has been reported. Take action immediately.
  • Flood Advisories:  heavy rains will or have already cause minor flooding of washes, streams, and typical flood-prone areas. Flooding in this situation is usually not serious. If the flooding does become life threatening, then the flood advisory is upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning.

Please note: Warnings are not issued for lightning, mainly because most thunderstorms, no matter how weak, produce deadly cloud-to-ground lightning. 

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