North Carolina thunderstorm season is just around the corner - here's how to stay safe
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- As the weather warms up, thunderstorms become more of a threat for central North Carolina. Each year, the state usually has between 40 and 50 thunderstorm days. At least 10 percent of those storms are usually classified as severe - meaning they meet one of the following criteria: hail of at least one inch in diameter, winds of 58 miles per hour or greater, or the capability of producing a tornado.
PHOTOS: Severe weather in North Carolina
These storms often bring heavy rain, large hail, strong winds, isolated tornadoes and lightning. Lightning is one of the most important things to guard against.
Follow the tips below to stay safe in a lightning storm:
1. NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!
2. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
3. When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter (A safe shelter is an enclosed substantial building with electricity or plumbing, such as a home, office building, school, restaurant, or a store. Sheds, tents, picnic pavilions, porches, and ball-field dugouts DO NOT offer any lightning protection whatsoever and may actually increase your danger of being struck.
4. If no substantial building is available for shelter, enclosed metal-topped vehicles offer protection from lightning, but make sure the windows are in the up position.
5. Stay in your safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.
6. When indoors, stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity. Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.
7. If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby, the following actions may reduce your risk: Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks and never lie flat on the ground.
8. Never shelter under an isolated tree
9. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
10. Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)
