If you are like me and love being outside when it is nice, then you should take heed to some weather safety tips.

First of all, we are all taught to go inside when we see lighting, but what if we are outside, away from buildings, such as if we were camping. Through my experience from the Boy Scouts, you are told to go to the lowest lying area staying away from metal and extremely high trees. The Philmont Scout Ranch's "Guidebook to Adventure" has a few more suggestions. "A dense forest located in a depression provides the best protection. Avoid taking shelter under isolated trees or trees much taller than adjacent trees. Stay away from water, metal fences and other objects that will conduct electricity long distances. By squatting or kneeling on a pad with your feet close together you have minimal contact with the ground, thus reducing danger from ground currents.” These are a few suggestions for you while you are enjoying yourself outside. Most of all stay weather aware.

Another weather event you should be aware of while outdoors is Flash Flooding. If you are near a waterway in a large rain event, you need to be aware of how it's acting. If you notice that the water is rising and flowing faster, than you need to get away from it nd get to higher ground immediatly. Flash Flooding is most common in the evening to overnight hours, though it is not limited to these times.

When you are out camping and see a shelf cloud you can almost count on strong winds and possibly some hail. With a storm like this, all you can do while outdoors is find shelter. You may want to find shelter in the woods but remember that there may be the chance of flying or falling debris or hail. Another thing you always want to have along is rain gear, if you get wet while outside you are very vulnerable to hypothermia.

If you are ever caught camping when a tornado hits, get to the lowest possible area and cover your head, if you are near a cave, or something you can walk into, which is naturally attached to the ground in more ways then one, taking cover in that would be your best option. The main idea is to get out of the wind and protect you from flying debris. Almost all deaths from tornados are caused by debris. A tornado is NOT the cloud, but the wind, once you see a debris cloud at the base of a funnel then it is officially considered a tornado. Overall you are responsible for your own safety and those that are with you. Please take these safety tips into consideration the next time you go out this summer. Be Safe, Play Safe, Have a plan, and everyone will make it home.