Spring Time in Texas! Bluebonnets and... uh oh!

Texas Weather

People that live in Texas can be sure of two things to happen during Spring, the Bluebonnets blooming and severe weather. The weather in Texas is a bit unpredictable, but it's almost a sure thing that there will be strong storms during Spring. That includes lots and lots of rain, hail, high winds, flash flooding and of course Tornadoes.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are the biggest cause of damage in the Spring storm season in Texas, and are probably the most feared natural phenomena. There is little known why one super-cell spawns a tornado and another does not, but with the advances in technology there is more of a longer warning time, now more than ever before; from 15 minutes to up to 30 minutes. A tornado is formed when a super-cell begins to rotate. Most people think that storm rotation is in a circle, counter-clockwise, around the storm, but actually the rotation starts within the heart of the storm itself when winds, traveling in two different directions, meet in the middle of the storm. it causes a circular rotation to occur and a horizontal "tube" of wind forms high above the ground. when the storm's updrafts lift this spinning column of wind, vertically, it will begin the process of spawning a tornado. Tornadoes are not just a Spring occurrence,  According to the website  https://www.tornadoalleyarmor.com,

 "An average of 132 tornadoes touch Texas soil each year. The annual total varies considerably, and certain areas are struck more often than others. Tornadoes occur with greatest frequency in the Red River Valley of North Texas." Texas is ranked 11th in the US for tornado density, due to its size, but more tornadoes touch down in the Lone Star State than any other state in the union. 

Hail

Usually accompanying these tornadoes is hail, ranging from the size of a pea to dime-sized, quarter-sized, golf ball, baseball, and even softball sized. Hail is rain that gets caught in the storm's powerful updrafts, freezes and then falls to earth. Hail stones get bigger when the updraft is considerably stronger. The "seed stone" gets caught in a horizontal vortex and freeze and refreeze multiple times until they are too heavy for the updraft to lift and then they fall with a velocity of up to 70 mph. Hail has caused an estimated average of about $700 million in damage, in Texas, for Spring time alone. It can shatter a car's windshield and leaves dents all over the surface. It costs dealerships an average of, a little over, one quarter of a billion dollars each spring. This estimated cost makes hail one of the most damaging, cost-wise, of a storms power if you exclude wind damage.

        

Straight-line Winds

Another cause of damage, in severe weather, is straight-line winds. Straight line winds are sudden downdrafts in the leading edge of a supercell thunderstorm. These winds can pack a real punch, sometimes having wind speeds of up to 70-80 mph, uprooting trees, tearing shingles off of a roof and can even break car windows. They sweep out in front of the storm like a large bow and show up on the radar as something called a "bow echo", pictured below.

Flash-flooding

lastly, flash-flooding is caused by torrential downpours during these storms. it causes a large amount of runoff of water and it fills the streams and rivers at such a high rate that they crest above their banks quite suddenly. sometimes even the runoff can gather so quickly that it can become a river of its own, damaging roads and bridges. One of the biggest dangers of flash-flooding is when it crests over a road. it can cause vehicles to be swept away in waters from 6 inches to one foot. one of the biggest mistakes drivers make is underestimating the depth of the water and being swept into the now swollen stream or river. the best rule of thumb is, if you see a large amount of water on the road, DO NOT CROSS. A saying that rescuers like to tell people is "Turn around or drown, find another way around".

With the Spring storm season upon us, we need to be watchful and keep an eye on the weather. Listen to local news stations or invest in a weather radio and tune it to the weather station closest to you. Put together a storm kit with flashlights, water bottles, first-aid kit, batteries, and a battery powered radio. Also, have a storm response plan ready. Sit down with your family and talk about what to do in case of any of the events listed above. Know what to do when a tornado warning is in effect in your area. Here is a list of steps to take in preparation, if a tornado is suspected in your area, according the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma:

WHAT TO DO...

 In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you. Head protection, such as a helmet, can boost survivability also.

 In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail. A helmet can offer some protection against head injury.

 In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.

 In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, it is not as safe as an underground shelter or permanent, sturdy building. Go to one of those shelters, or to a nearby permanent structure, using your tornado evacuation plan. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. 

 At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or windowless room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

 In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely risky in a tornado. There is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Seek shelter in a sturdy building, or underground if possible. If you are caught by extreme winds or flying debris, park the car as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the traffic lanes. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, or other cushion if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.

 In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.

 In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.

 In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.