Weather warning for severe thunderstorms in Baldwin County on Tuesday evening

The National Weather Service issued a report at 8:36 p.m. Tuesday predicting severe thunderstorms until 9:15 p.m. for Baldwin County.

Residents could have to contend with wind gusts of up to 80 km/h.

“At 8:35 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles southeast of Creola through 5 miles west of Daphne to 4 miles west of Dauphin Island. Movement was eastward at 45 miles per hour,” the weather service said. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow over unsecured objects.”

Places affected by the warning include Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Bay Minette, Foley, Orange Beach, Spanish Fort, Robertsdale, Point Clear, Loxley, Lillian, Magnolia Springs, Stapleton, Bon Secour, Summerdale, Silverhill, Perdido Beach, Elberta, I65 and AL 225, and Fort Morgan.

The weather service comments: “If you are outdoors, seek shelter in a building.”

How to protect yourself from lightning strikes: Safety tips from experts

Lightning strikes occur about 25 million times each year in the United States, with the majority of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning strikes claim the lives of about 20 people each year, according to the Weather Service. The risk of lightning strikes increases as thunderstorms approach, peaking when the storm is directly overhead. However, it gradually subsides as the storm recedes.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, follow these recommendations:

1. Lightning protection plan:

• If you are outdoors, it is important to have a lightning protection plan.
• Stay alert by watching the skies for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it is a clear sign of lightning nearby.
• Immediately seek shelter in a safe place, preferably indoors.

2. Indoor safety measures:

• If you have found shelter in a building, refrain from using corded telephones, electrical appliances or plumbing and do not approach windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive paths.

3. Wait for the all-clear:

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or clap of thunder before resuming outdoor activities.
• Remember that lightning can still strike even after a storm appears to have passed, so be careful.

If no shelter is available in the house:

If you are outdoors during a thunderstorm and do not have access to shelter, take the following steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops or mountain ridges where the risk of lightning strikes is greater.
• Stay away from tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you are traveling in a group, make sure that everyone is spread out to prevent lightning current from being transmitted between people.
• It is strongly discouraged to camp outdoors during a thunderstorm. If there is no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine or other low area. Remember that a tent does not provide protection from lightning strikes.
• Do not approach bodies of water, wet objects, or metal objects. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they are good conductors of electricity and can pose significant risks.

In summary, vigilance and preparation are your best allies when you are at risk of being struck by lightning. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning accidents and put your safety first.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rain

In heavy rain, safety is paramount. Follow these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid danger:

Be careful with fast water flow:

• Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as fast-flowing water may sweep you away during heavy rain.

Keep the safety distance:

• In heavy rain, the two-second following rule is helpful. Increase it to four seconds to ensure a safe following distance in adverse conditions.

Reduce speed and drive carefully:

• On wet roads, it is extremely important to slow down. Ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane carefully:

• Stay in the middle lanes as water often collects in the outside lanes.

Prioritize visibility

• In heavy rain, turn on your headlights to improve your visibility. Watch for vehicles in your blind spot as rain-smeared windows can obscure their view.

Be careful on slippery roads:

• Be especially careful in the first half hour after the rain starts. Dirt and oil on the road surface mix with water and make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

• Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid following them too closely and overtake them quickly and safely.

Pay attention to your windshield wipers:

• Overloaded wiper blades can reduce visibility. If rain is severely affecting your visibility, pull over to the side of the road and wait for conditions to improve. Seek shelter in rest areas or places sheltered from the wind.
• If the side of the road is your only option, pull over as far as possible, preferably to the end of a guardrail, and wait for the storm to pass. Keep your headlights on and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers to your position.

In heavy rain, these precautions can go a long way to keeping you safe on the road. Remember to check weather conditions and follow the instructions of local authorities to ensure a safe journey.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.