Know what to do if a hailstorm strikes

Hail is formed when updrafts in thunderclouds carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere. The raindrops freeze and merge into lumps of ice. When the lumps become too heavy to be supported by the updraft, they fall to the ground, and we have hail.

Hail can be extremely dangerous and can cause extensive damage in only a few minutes. To lessen the chance of injury or property damage when hail occurs:

• Get inside and stay inside.
• Stay away from skylights and doors.
• Hail can break windows, so close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent broken glass from blowing inside.
• Park your vehicle in a garage. If you don't have a covered place for your car, thick blankets tied to the hood, roof, and trunk will offer some protection against hail.

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Quick tip #6

You are safe from a lightning strike in a car with a solid metal top and the windows and doors shut if you are not touching a metal part of the car. The lightning charge would travel over the car's metal surfaces to the ground (it's not the rubber tires that protect you). It could jump through an open window, though. Don't stand right outside a car or lean on it in a storm.