No matter how you spend your time outdoors, from golfing to kayaking, being aware of your surroundings is essential to staying safe. Storms can be spectacular and terrifying, but getting caught in one unprepared can be dangerous. Sudden weather changes can lead to hazardous conditions, such as lightning strikes, floods, and high winds. Early recognition allows you to seek shelter, protect your belongings, and prepare for the storm’s impact.

Vigilance is not only a matter of convenience but also a necessary step in risk management and personal safety. Identify ways to know if a storm is heading your way and how to enhance storm awareness.

Sky Color

Take a cue from the sky. It often gets cloudy and takes on a dark, greenish hue, especially before severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The sky darkens when a storm approaches due to the dense accumulation of water-laden clouds. Thick clouds comprise vast amounts of water droplets and ice crystals, which cluster together and block sunlight from passing through. As the cloud base lowers and the density increases, less light penetrates the cloud mass, casting a shadow over the landscape below.

Cloud Formations

The clouds can also tell you about an impending storm. Cumulonimbus clouds have a towering presence and anvil-shaped tops, signaling the likelihood of a thunderstorm. These clouds result from strong updrafts carrying moisture high into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses. Other foreboding signs include mammatus clouds, which are bulbous extensions hanging from the underside of a cloud base and are often associated with severe weather patterns.

The presence of altocumulus castellanus clouds—small, cotton ball-shaped turrets—can indicate the onset of instability in the atmosphere and the potential for thunderstorm development. Keeping an eye on the sky and learning to read the clouds can give you time to react before a storm strikes.

Animal Behavior

Animals can sense an approaching storm before humans do. Birds flying low or seeking shelter and pets displaying anxiety could hint at an incoming weather system. Observing changes in local wildlife behavior can provide important clues about incoming weather.

Lightning Detection Equipment

Lightning is synonymous with thunderstorms. If you hear or see lightning, you might be in the pathway of a storm. Lightning can occur as far as 10–15 miles from the storm’s center, meaning the storm itself could be several minutes to half an hour away, depending on its speed. Lightning detectors for golfers can help those on the course stay aware of incoming thunderstorms. Alerts of lightning can encourage people to seek shelter before the storm arrives.

Knowing the different ways to tell a storm is heading your way can increase your safety while enjoying time outdoors. Don’t let storms ruin your experiences!