FAQ

Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. Learn More >>

Hurricanes are categorized according to their wind strength using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Category 5 is the strongest.

Galveston: 1900, 8,000+ Deaths; Lake Okeechobee: 1928, 1,836-2,500 Deaths; Katrina: 2005, 1,833 Deaths Learn More >>

The Florida Keys Labor Day hurricane in 1935 was recorded at 892 mb. It struck the Florida Keys as a Category 5, the highest ranking possible. It generated wind speeds of up to 200 miles per hour (322 km per hour). In all, more than 400 people died in Florida. Source: USA Today

A warning means hurricane conditions are expected, usually within 24 hours. Get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions every 30 minutes. Bring inside anything that can be picked up by the wind. Cover all windows. Listen to local officials, and leave if they tell you to. Learn More >>

Lightning is a gigantic electrostatic discharge between the cloud and the ground, other clouds, or within a cloud. Learn More >>

The odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are less than one in a million. Source: CDC

Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. While metal does not attract lightning, it does conduct it so stay away from metal fences, railing, bleachers, etc.

Most vehicles are safe from lightning, but it is the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, NOT the rubber tires. When lightning strikes a vehicle, it goes through the metal frame into the ground. Don't lean on doors when lightning is present. Source: National Weather Service

Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it's a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building is hit an average of 23 times a year. Source: National Weather Service

People struck by lightning can suffer from nerve damage, memory loss, personality change, and emotional problems. The intense heat of a lightning strike can turn sweat instantly into steam.

The tremendous pressure of the steam has been known to blow people's boots, shoes, and clothing off of them. In places where metal is in contact with or close proximity to the body, burn marks are found.

A thunderstorm is a rain shower that includes thunder. A severe thunderstorm can include: hail three-quarter inch or greater, wind gusts over 57.5 mph, a tornado, and lightning. Learn More >>

The National Weather Service urges the public NOT to shower when lightning is present since a bolt could strike one of your home's water pipes and electrify your bathroom. Myth Busters actually deemed this as plausible. Source: Myth Busters

Go to a low-lying, open place away from tall trees or metal. If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter. If shelter isn't available, squat low to the ground and place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Learn More >>

The thicker the cloud, the less sunlight can come through. If there is a cirrus cloud above another cloud, it will shade the lower cloud making it a little darker. Cloud drop size also has an effect on how much sunlight gets through, with smaller drop sizes blocking more sunlight.

There are about 100,000 thunderstorms each year in the US, and an estimated 16 million each year worldwide. At any given moment, there are roughly 2,000 thunderstorms in progress.Source: NSSL

A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Learn More >>

Movement can range from almost stationary to more than 60 mph. A typical tornado travels at around 10-20 miles per hour.

Tornadoes can last anywhere from seconds to more than an hour. Most tornadoes last less than 10 minutes. Source: NOAA

The "Tri-state" tornado of March 1925 killed 695 people as it raced along at 60-73 mph in a 219 mile long track across parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, producing F5 damage. The death toll is an estimate based on the work of Grazulis (1993). The deadliest of the modern era (since 1950) was on May 22, 2011, when a large EF5 tornado crossed Joplin, MO, causing 158 direct fatalities. Source: NOAA

On average, tornadoes have killed about 69 people per year (1991 - 2020) — most from flying or falling (crushing) debris. Source: National Weather Service

Winter storms are often accompanied by strong winds. They can create blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, extreme cold temperatures, and/or dangerous wind chill. Learn More >>

Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Source: National Weather Service

No. Eating unmelted snow will lower your body temperature. Melt it instead. Source: National Weather Service

Listen to local radio, TV stations, or apps for further updates. Keep moving your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay warm. Stay in your car. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna for rescuers to see. Use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour. Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen. Learn More >>

It rarely snows when the temperature drops below zero degrees Fahrenheit because the atmosphere is too stable. When it is said, “it is too cold to snow,” in reality it means there is not enough lifting of air to cause snow to reach the surface. Source: NOAA