National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

• Home
• Site Map
• News
• Organization
• Search for: NWS All NOAA 

Missouri Summer Safety & Lightning Awareness Day May 24, 2013 "Playing it Safe in the Ozarks"

Join us in promoting Summer Weather Safety Day May 24, 2013.  Weather hazards from lightning to extreme heat can affect those in Summer outdoor activities.  This page includes important safety information that can save lives. Please help spread the word about Lightning, Flood, UV and Heat safety so we can have a safe summer.

Lightning Safety  |  Heat Safety  |  UV Safety  |  Flood Safety

Be Weather Ready for Summer Plans & Activities

Before heading to the park, lake, scenic river, ball game or to any outdoor activity be ready for unexpected or even hazardous weather conditions.

• Get the latest forecast before heading out
• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, local media, or favorie weather app.
• Pay attention to changing weather conditions (changing skies , winds, or tempertatures)
• Listen for thunder
• Monitor stream levels
• Be aware of the effects fo excessive heat

Lightning Safety

Lightning Safety Resources:  Ready.Gov   |   NWS Lightning Safety According to statistics kept by the National Weather Service, the 30 year average for lightning fatalities across the country is 61.  Lightning usually claims only one or two victims at a time, and because lightning does not cause mass destruction, such as from a tornado event or a hurricane, lightning generally receives much less attention than the more destructive storm-related events. Due to under reporting, it is estimated that, more realistically, about 100 - 120 deaths per year occur because of lightning. Documented lightning injuries in the United States average 300 per year; however undocumented lightning injuries are likely much higher. Missouri Lightning Fataliites Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 Deaths 0 3 1  2  1 2 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 In Missouri there have been 97 deaths attributed to lightning from 1959 - 2011, an average of 2 deaths per year. Lightning Deaths Nationally for 2011

Heat Safety

Summers get hot and humid here in the Ozarks.  Although the Ozark Plateau prevents us from reaching temperatures as high as surrounding areas, summer heat can reach dangerous levels, especially when accompanied by humid conditions.  This causes the apparent temperature to feel even hotter.

Go to our Heat Index forecast page for expected heat index values.

Missouri Heat Related Deaths: 1980 - 2012: 1048 |  Missouri Heat Related Deaths: 1995 - 2011: 508

Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)

Heat Safety Resources

Heat Card  |  NWS Heat Safety  |  NOAA Heat Safety  |  DHSS Hyperthermia & Guidebook |  CDC
 

Heat Index Chart

 
Heat Wave Safety Tips 

Drink plenty of water or non-alcoholic fluids.
Your body needs water to keep cool.  Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty.  Persons who 1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, 2) are on fluid or restrictive diets, or 3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.

Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
Persons on salt restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.

Spend more time in air-conditioned places.
Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air-conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air conditioned environment affords some protection.

Don't get too much sun
Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.

Slow Down
Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the  coolest time of the day.  Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

Dress for Summer
Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.

Put less fuel on your inner fires.
Foods (like proteins) that increase meabolic heat production also increase water loss.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages.Het Index ad Related Heat Disord

Sunburn

Redness and pain.  Swelling of skin, blisters, fever, headaches. Heat Cramps Painful spasms usually in muscle of legs and abdomen. Heat Exhaustion Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy.  Fainting and vomiting. Heat Stroke High body temperature (>105).  Hot dry skin.  Rapid pulse.  Possible unconsciousness.  

To advise you of the potential of excessive heat, NWS Springfield will issue a :

Heat advisory: Heat index around 105 degrees or greater, or 4 days or more of a heat index greater than 100.

Excessive Heat Warning: Heat index of 105 for 4 days OR a heat index of 110 degrees or greater.

Hazardous weather outlook: Daily at 6 am and 1 pm to highlight the potential of any hazardous weather over the next few days.  

UV Safety

UV Safet Tips
Do not burn.	Five or more sunburns doubles your risk of developing skin cancer.
Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds.	UV light from tanning beds and the sun causes skin cancer and wrinkling.  If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Generously apply sunscreen.	Generously apply sunscreen to all exposed skin using a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.  Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days and afater swimming or sweating.
Wear Protective Clothing.	Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses where possible
. Seek Shade.	Seek shade when appropriate remembering that the sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm.  Remember the shadow rule when in the sun:  Watch your shadow.  No shadow, seek shade!
Use extra caution near water, snow and sand	Water, snow and sand reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
Watch for the UV Index	The UV index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun.  Developed by the National Weather Service and EPA, the UV index is issued daily in selected cities across the United States.
Get Vitamin D Safely	Get vitamin D safely through a diet that includes vitamin supplements and foods fortified with vitamin D.  Don't seek the sun.

  Flood Safety

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard.  Why?  The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water.

Be especialy alert when camping near or floating on area streams and rivers.  Water levels can rise rapidy and without little if any notice.  Heavy rain upstream can cause flash floods even thougth it may be sunny at your location.

Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream.  Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive across a flooded road.

One of the primary flood hazards and causes of flood related deaths across the Ozarks is driving into low water crossings.  Every year a few adventurous drivers attempt to cross flooded roads and fail.  Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, Turn around Don't Drown. You will not know the depth of the water nor the condition of the road under the water.

But the biggest factor is bouyancy.  For each foot the water rises up the side of the car, the car displaces 1500 lbs of water.  In effect, the automobile weighs 1500 lbs less for each foot the water rises.  Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles!