Weather alert for thunderstorms and strong winds in North Texas Friday morning
The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 6:18 a.m. on Friday, warning residents of thunderstorms and strong winds until 7:15 a.m. The alert is for Wise, Denton, Collin, Tarrant, Dallas, Rockwall and Kaufman counties.
Residents can expect wind gusts of up to 50 mph.
"At 6:15 a.m., area observations indicated winds gusting between 40 and 50 MPH across much of the DFW Metroplex," states the NWS. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects."
Expect thunderstorms and strong winds in the following locations:
• Dallas, Mesquite, and University Park around 6:20 a.m.
• Garland and Sunnyvale around 6:25 a.m.
• Rowlett around 6:30 a.m.
• Forney and Heath around 6:35 a.m.
• Rockwall around 6:40 a.m.
• Terrell around 6:50 a.m.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Westminster, Frognot, Joe Pool Lake, Sand Branch, Mountain Creek Lake, Providence Village, Ponder, Stony, Weston, and Lewisville Lake.
According to the NWS, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building."
This alert is in effect until 7:15 a.m.
Actions to take when lightning threat is imminent
Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually. The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS. The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead. This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm:
• To decrease the risk of getting struck by lightning, when you go outside, establish a plan to reach a safer place.
• If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
• Once inside, avoid contact with corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors.
• Wait for 30 minutes after the final lightning or thunder before heading outside again.
If finding indoor shelter is not an option:
• Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
• Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures. When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
• If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members.
• If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low area. Remember, a tent offers no protection from lighting.
• Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects. While water and metal do not draw lightning, they are proficient conductors of electricity.
What to do in the rain on the road?
• Turn on headlights — Even in daylight, using headlights can help improve visibility and let other drivers know where you are.
• While on the road — Opt for the middle lanes and remain on higher ground. Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.
• Avoid puddles — Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
• Don't tail large vehicles closely — Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
• Steer clear of flooded areas — When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back. Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways. Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems.
What is hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.
This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle’s weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. Hydroplaning is primarily caused by three factors:
1. Vehicle speed — When a vehicle’s speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
2. Water depth — The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. It doesn’t matter how deep the water is, even a thin layer can lead to hydroplaning.
3. Tire tread depth — Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here’s what to know:
• Ease off the accelerator — Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
• Turn into the skid — Turning into the skid can help the vehicle’s tires realign to regain control.
• Make sure the tires reconnect with the road — During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
• Brake gently as needed — Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
Source: The National Weather Service
