Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel the same way I do. I sure do love a good summer thunderstorm as long as it isn’t super destructive and people are not harmed in any way, of course. I love to sit on my porch, smell the air, see the lightning off in the distance, hear the thunder roll, and watch the magnificent summer storm unfold.
I do not live in a fantasy world, though. I do understand that there are concerns over the severity of lightning, hail, and flash flooding in Pennsylvania, Ohio, my home state of Michigan, and many other parts of the country that are even more prone to destruction from severe thunderstorms.
Summer’s intense heat and moisture can sometimes create the most ideal conditions for powerful updrafts and storm cells to develop quickly and cause damage to people’s homes, businesses, and even to our precious national forest lands, which lightning strikes can potentially ignite a wildfire that no one could have predicted.
Why thunderstorms are so common in the summer, according to The National Weather Service, is because of the following, “Moisture is necessary to produce the thunderstorm clouds and precipitation. In the summertime, most areas of the United States have sufficient moisture to generate thunderstorms if the other ingredients are present.
Atmospheric stability, or more importantly, instability, also plays an important role in thunderstorm development. Rising air is needed to produce clouds, and rapidly rising air is needed to produce thunderstorms. For air to rise rapidly, it must become buoyant compared to the surrounding air. When the atmosphere is unstable, air near the ground can become buoyant and rise rapidly through the atmosphere. In general, the warmer the air is near the earth’s surface and the colder the air is aloft, the more unstable the atmosphere is. In addition to temperature, moisture near the ground can also contribute to the instability of the atmosphere.
The third ingredient needed for thunderstorm development is something that will trigger motion in the atmosphere. This may be some sort of boundary such as a front, heating caused by the sun, or cooling aloft. Once a thunderstorm has developed, it will continue to generate boundaries that can trigger additional storms.
In the summer, thunderstorms typically develop in the afternoon when the sun heats air near the ground,”.
Difference between a thunderstorm watch and warning
I can remember when I was a small child, my mom and I would sit on our large, covered front porch and could smell a thunderstorm coming even before the skies changed and the thunder rolled. Gratefully, my mom taught me how not to be afraid of storms, and then I passed that on to my sons as well.
My mom would also put the radio on to listen for updates on warnings and watches because if there were a warning of severe weather, we would hunker down, batten down the hatches (so to speak), and take cover.
Today, as a single mom of two sons and a sole homeowner, I have taught my sons what to do in the event of severe weather warnings. We usually take the following precautions:
- Cover up and secure the fire pit
- Cover up and secure the grill
- Fold up and secure the deck furniture
- Take down the hammock swings and put them in our large deck box
- Put the outdoor pillows and cushions in the deck box
- Fold up the hammock and put it in the deck box
- Bring in the chair cushions from the front porch chairs
- Close all the windows
- Take cover in the basement (if the storm is severe enough)
- If the storm is not severe, we sit in our sun porch in the back of the house and watch the lightning light up the sky and listen to the thunder roll (Note: We are not experts -always listen and do what the local authorities suggest in the event of severe weather)
- Make sure the dogs are inside
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines the difference between a severe thunderstorm WATCH and a severe thunderstorm WARNING in this way, “A Severe Thunderstorm WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center meteorologists who are watching the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather conditions that are favorable for severe thunderstorms. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued.
A Severe Thunderstorm WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch a designated area 24/7 for severe weather that has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings mean there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the storm. ACT now to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger,”.
Is it okay to use the toilet during a thunderstorm?
Where I live in Southeast Michigan, in an area nicknamed the Lakes Area, many homes are on a well. When a home is on a well and we lose power, say from a thunderstorm, our wells cannot function as the pump works off of electricity. Some people have whole-house generators that solve that problem, but for us we only have a small gas-powered generator that will power our refrigerator and freezer.
As a camper and a scouting mom, I am always prepared for the unexpected. For example, when we lose power, I have many jugs of water that we can use for our toilets and handwashing. Additionally, I have other jugs of water for drinking purposes. Thankfully, we have a gas stove so we can still cook food.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports whether it is safe or not to take a shower or bath during a thunderstorm by stating, “No. Lightning can travel through plumbing. It is best to avoid all water during a thunderstorm. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands. The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck,”.
Why are thunderstorms so common in summer
In conclusion, thunderstorms are a fascinating yet common summer phenomenon, driven by the season’s unique atmospheric conditions. Understanding these factors helps us appreciate the dynamic nature of our Earth’s weather patterns.