Severe Thunderstorm Safety

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia, and today's topic is Severe Thunderstorm Safety.

In Georgia, the biggest threats from severe thunderstorms are damaging straight line winds and large hail.

Straight line winds can reach speeds in excess of 100mph and produce damage similar to a tornado. These winds happen, on average, 19 days per year in Georgia. These severe weather events have happened every month of the year, but they are most common in the spring and summer months. And most events happen in July.

Large hail affects the state an average of 7 days per year. April is, however, the peak month. Generally, most large hail is between 1 and 2 inches in diameter in Georgia.

In order for a thunderstorm to be called severe, the National Weather Service follows a criteria. Winds must be greater than 57mph and hail greater than 1 inch in diameter or about the size of a quarter.

Typically, a severe thunderstorm lasts about 30 minutes and happens in the afternoon and evening hours during the spring and summer months. However...severe weather is possible any time of the day and any time of the year.

A special class of severe thunderstorms called supercells are particularly violent and can last for several hours. Tornadoes are often produced from these supercell thunderstorms.

So here's what you can do to protect you and your family...
1. Have an action plan in place before severe weather hits
2. Know the difference between a Watch and Warning
A Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop, but there is NOT an imminent threat
A Warning means a severe thunderstorm has been detected and an imminent threat to life and property has developed
3. Know the county of where you live and work
4. Listen to a weather radio, local TV or radio reports
5. If you're inside when a storm hits, move to an interior room away from windows and go to the lowest floor of the building
6. If you're caught outside, try to seek shelter in a sturdy structure