Missouri – March 4th through March 8th, 2024, is severe weather awareness week. On March 7th, the National Weather Service is touching on severe wind and hail damage.
Severe thunderstorms can produce a wide variety of threats, one threat being damaging straight-line wind (up to 60 mph) and large hail. High winds can strike suddenly and without warning with the power to overturn boats and put campers and houses at the risk of damage from falling trees.
Hail is a form of precipitation that consists of solid ice that can be the size of baseballs or bigger. The estimated fall of hail is anywhere from 25 to 40 mph and can damage aircraft, homes, and cars, and be deadly to livestock and people. For more information on hail visit, https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/hail/.
High winds can blow objects around and cause severe damage at windspeeds of 100 mph and greater. During strong winds, you want to immediately take shelter in a sturdy building in an interior room or basement. If you cannot get to any shelter, avoid trees, and power lines (standing or down), and stay away from the road. Try to find a place that can block blowing or falling debris. You can sign up for weather text alerts and listen to your local radio station for warnings and weather updates. For more information on high-speed winds visit, https://www.weather.gov/safety/wind.
For more information on severe weather awareness week visit, https://www.weather.gov/eax/SevereWeatherPreparednessWeek#:~:text=Join%20the%20NWS%20and%20Missouri,to%20promote%20severe%20weather%20preparedness, or contact the National Weather Service at 417-869-4491.
