June 2018

OUTDOORS
by Cynthia MacGregor
South Florida’s
ther Weather Hazards
For most South Floridians, the biggest weather worry is
hurricanes. But there are other weather hazards that can
affect us, some of which are statistically more likely to occur
than our being hit with a hurricane.
According to Robert Molleda, warning coordination
meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Miami
office, the number-one
weather risk factor
for South Florida is
something most of
us don’t even think of
in terms of weather.
But to the weather
service it definitely
qualifies: rip currents.
Rip currents, which
are often confused
with undertow but are
not the same thing,
are driven by weatherrelated
factors. Onshore
winds, which do not
have to be strong, can
generate choppy seas.
In these conditions, the
outflow current moves
faster through breaks in
the sandbars and is too fast to swim directly against. Swim
across it, not against it, to avoid being pulled out to sea.
Rip currents have killed more people in Florida than
hurricanes, tornados, and other weather hazards put
together. Right now the danger is at its highest. Rip current
incidents typically increase in March and April, which happen
to coincide with spring break, although as the temperatures
warm up, more people go to the beach and put themselves
at risk as well.
Another hazard to be aware of during March and April is an
increase in the number of storms, including tornados. That
is when there is an increase in the number of thunderstorms
with potentially damaging winds. The weather service
classifies storms with winds of 58 mph or greater as severe,
whether or not accompanied by tornados. These storms are
usually associated with advancing cold fronts. In May, when
the rainy season starts, daily thunderstorms are more likely
through the end of summer, but they are less likely to be
severe.
Straight-line winds can be as damaging as tornados if they
are strong enough. “Wind is wind,” Molleda said. An 80 mph
wind will do similar damage whether straight-line or tornadic.
Fog is mainly a driving hazard. It’s a cloud that forms at the
surface, usually on clear, calm, humid nights. All the heat the
earth absorbed the previous day radiates out and creates
a temperature
inversion as the
cool air on the
ground gets
trapped at the
surface. Fog is
more common from
November through
April. If driving in
fog, use your low
beams. The high
beams will reflect
off the fog cloud
and back into your
eyes.
During a
thunderstorm,
the safest place
to be is inside a
building. If you are
caught outside and there is no available building in which
to seek shelter, get into a ditch. Stay away from trees and
metal objects such as fences. Get down as low as possible.
If you’re in a car, if it’s a convertible, you’re not safe. In a
hardtop, don’t touch the outer shell of the car, the windows,
or the steering wheel.
The term “clear blue sky lightning” is a misnomer. The
lightning came from somewhere, even if the cloud is 10
miles away. Normally lightning strikes radiate downward from
the cloud’s base, but if the lightning bolt forms at the top, it
can first strike horizontally before heading downward. Don’t
assume you’re safe just because it isn’t raining. If you hear
thunder, lightning could strike.
Finally, Molleda advises, “Always stay updated every day
at least once a day to be aware of weather conditions.
A weather radio is a good thing to have, but you can get
weather alerts from your radio or TV, your computer, or
smartphone. Be aware.” P
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JUNE 2018