Thunderstorm safety a priority as severe weather season continues

With thunderstorm season underway safety should be a top priority for many, especially with dark clouds on the horizon.

Those can bring severe weather in many forms besides lightning, including hail, severe winds, and potentially flooding rains.

All those come with the territory of thunderstorms, which often pair themselves with fronts moving across the prairies.

With all of the severe weather that can come through, City Safety Officer Helen Fornwald gives some details on what people can do to make sure they're safe.

"You need to estimate how far away the lighting is. Every second between the flash of lightning and the thunderclap equals about 300 meters, so if you count fewer than 30 seconds we want everyone to take shelter immediately. If you're indoors, stay away from the windows, doors, fireplaces, sinks, bathtubs, appliances, metal pipes, telephones, and other lines that could conduct electricity."

As well people should unplug their radio, computers, and television, and not go out to get the laundry on the clothesline.

If you end up getting caught in a storm outside, there are also tips to make sure you stay safe even during bigger systems.

"If outdoors, take shelters if you are in a building, a ditch, or a culvert, but never under a tree. If you're caught in the open, don't lie down, but crouch in a leapfrog position and lower your head. don't ride bikes, motorcycles, or golf carts, or use metal tools as they conduct electricity."

Hail has also been falling from a number of storms this summer, and there's always a chance they can hit residential areas and cause a good amount of damage.

Fornwald advises that people prioritize their own safety over any possessions.

"Hailstones can vary in size from pea-sized to grapefruit size, and fall at great speed. People have been seriously injured, so what we want people to do is take cover when hail begins to fall. Do not go outside to cover your plants, your cars, or garden furniture or rescue your equipment. At this point, if it's hailing, take cover inside."