|
Track the Monsoon (Jun 15 - Sep 30)
|
WEATHER
SAFETY TIPS
Much of the time, the weather across
southern Arizona is beautiful. However...mother
nature still presents the desert dweller with
a number of hazards including monsoon thunderstorms...flash
floods...heat waves and occasional tornadoes.
Knowing what to do when one of these hazardous
situations occurs could potentially save your
life. Below are a number of safety tips/procedures/instructions
for the most common Arizona weather hazards.
THUNDERSTORMS
Before the Storm
-
Know the county in which you
live and the names of nearby major cities.
Severe weather warnings are issued on a county
basis.
-
Check the weather forecast before
leaving for extended periods outdoors.
-
Watch for signs of approaching
storms.
-
If a storm is approaching, keep
a NOAA Weather Radio or AM./FM radio with
you.
-
Postpone outdoor activities
if thunderstorms are imminent. This is your
best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous
situation.
When Thunderstorms Approach
-
If you can hear thunder, you
are close enough to the storm to be struck
by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately!
-
Move to a sturdy building or
car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under
isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
-
If lightning is occurring and
a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside
a hard top automobile and keep the windows
up.
-
Get out of boats and away from
water.
-
Telephone lines and metal pipes
can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances
not necessary for obtaining weather information.
Avoid using the telephone or any electrical
appliance. Use phones ONLY in an emergency.
-
Do not take a bath or shower.
-
Turn off air conditioners. Power
surges from lighting can overload the compressors.
If Caught Outdoors and
no Shelter is Nearby
-
Find a low spot away from trees,
fences and poles. Make sure the place you
pick is not subject to flooding.
-
If you feel your skin tingle
or your hair stand on end, squat low to the
ground on the balls of your feet. Place your
hands on your knees with your head between
them. Make yourself the smallest target possible,
and minimize your contact with the ground.
-
If you are boating or swimming,
get to land and find shelter immediately.
FLASH
FLOODS
-
Get out of areas subject to
flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons,
washes, etc.
-
Go to higher ground - climb
to safety!
-
Avoid already flooded and high
velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross
flowing streams.
-
If driving, be aware that the
road bed may not be intact under flood waters.
Turn around and go another way. NEVER drive
through flooded roadways or washes!
-
If the vehicle stalls, leave
it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly
rising water may engulf the vehicle and its
occupants and sweep them away. Remember, it's
better to be WET than DEAD!
-
Be especially cautious at night
when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
-
Do not camp or park your vehicle
along streams and washes, particularly during
threatening conditions.
-
Even 6 inches of fast-moving
flood waters can knock you off your feet,
and a depth of 2 feet will float your car!
NEVER try to walk, swim or drive through such
swift water. If you come across flood waters,
STOP! TURN AROUND AND GO ANOTHER WAY!
HEAT WAVE
TORNADOES
-
In a home or building, move
to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
-
If an underground shelter is
not available, move to an interior room or
hallway on the lowest floor and get under
a sturdy piece of furniture.
-
Stay away from windows.
-
Get out of automobiles.
-
Do NOT try to outrun a tornado
in your car; instead, leave it immediately.
-
If caught outside or in a vehicle,
lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression.
-
Mobile homes, even if tied down,
offer little protection from tornadoes, and
should be abandoned.
-
Occasionally, tornadoes develop
so rapidly that advance warning is not possible.
Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado.
Flying debris from tornadoes causes most deaths
and injuries.
|
|
|
Webmaster
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Phoenix Weather Forecast Office
P.O. Box 52025
Phoenix, AZ 85072
Tel: (602) 275-0073
|
Disclaimer
Information Quality
Credits
Glossary |
Privacy Policy
Freedom of Information Act
About Us
Career Opportunities
|
National Weather Service Mission: "The
National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather,
hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for
the United States, its territories, adjacent waters
and ocean areas, for the protection of life and
property and the enhancement of the national economy.
NWS data and products form a national information
database and infrastructure which can be used by
other governmental agencies, the private sector,
the public, and the global community." |
|
|