What Makes a Thunderstorm Hazardous? | SERVPRO® of Beaver County

5/6/2021 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms can pop up at any moment. Contact SERVPRO of Beaver County if you experience any damage.

Sometimes it starts with a breeze that turns into stronger gusts, or maybe you first see the deep gray rain clouds. But then you hear the sky rumble and you instantly know: A thunderstorm is rolling in.

These common, but sometimes very dangerous storms, are known for their springtime arrival, but can last later into the year, often bringing with them hail, high winds, lighting and flooding.

As is adequately named, a thunderstorm is defined as any storm that has thunder (and lightning, by definition, comes with it as well). For it to be classified as a severe thunderstorm, it must have a minimum straight-line wind speed of 58 miles per hour and hail that is at least one inch in diameter.

Being prepared is the most important way to keep your family and property safe during turbulent weather, so we’ll look at some hazards that could make these storms most threatening.

The Most Dangerous Elements of a Thunderstorm

Lightning strikes. While most people consider lightning to be a scary phenomenon associated with a thunderstorm, many don’t know the full extent of the damage it can take on person and property. A recent report showed that lightning injures about 300 people every year. Furthermore, the damage that lightning, let alone high winds, can do to your property includes starting a house fire and being responsible for felling trees that could land on homes or vehicles. The most important thing to remember is that even if you may not see it yet, lightning will tag along in every thunderstorm, so the danger is a possibility even if it’s not made itself visible yet.

Damage from hail. Hail can sound quite scary falling against a roof or a window, and oftentimes it inflicts as much damage as it sounds like it might. It most commonly causes damage to uncovered cars, people and pets who don’t have adequate protection, and roofs and sidings of houses.

Flash flooding. If you’ve ever experienced how quickly flash floods can happen, you’ll know the danger that it can do in a short period of time, especially for drivers on flooded roadways. In an instant, a storm drain that is not properly draining or a small ditch can overflow and cause driving on these roads a life-threatening situation. Damage to vehicles is very possible, as is having a car carried away by the tide in severe circumstances.

Thunderstorms are part of the natural rhythm of weather disturbances, but severe storms can mean serious damage to person and property. If a storm has caused damage to your property, contact us ²⁴⁄₇ to see how our storm restoration processes can help.