Santa Clara Valley Together with San Jose, Jap Santa Clara Hills and East Bay Hills are underneath an up to date climate alert for robust thunderstorms by the Nationwide Climate Service on Monday at 12:22 p.m. The alert is in impact till 12:45 p.m.
Wind gusts of as much as 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are foreseen.
“At 12:22 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near East Foothills, or 6 miles east of Milpitas, moving east at 25 mph,” in accordance with the NWS San Francisco CA. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”
Places impacted by the alert embody San Jose, Fremont, Milpitas, East Foothills, Alum Rock and Sunol.
In keeping with the NWS, “Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. Storms will be capable of producing large quantities of accumulating hail. This may result in slick and hazardous driving conditions. Slow down and use caution if driving.”
Shielding your self from approaching lightning: Knowledgeable security tips
Every year, lightning strikes the USA roughly 25 million occasions, with nearly all of these electrifying occasions occurring through the summer season months. Sadly, lightning is chargeable for claiming the lives of roughly 20 folks yearly, as reported by the NWS. The specter of lightning turns into extra pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is instantly overhead and regularly waning because it strikes away.
To guard your self throughout a thunderstorm, take these suggestions into consideration:
Lightning security plan:
When venturing outside, it’s essential to have a lightning security plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening indicators and pay attention for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a sign that lightning is close by.
Search shelter promptly in a secure location, ideally indoors.
Indoors security measures:
When you’ve discovered shelter indoors, abstain from utilizing corded telephones, electrical home equipment, or plumbing fixtures, and chorus from approaching home windows and doorways.
Lightning can observe conductive pathways, and these precautions cut back the danger {of electrical} surges.
Await the all-clear:
After the final lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at the least half-hour earlier than resuming outside actions.
Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly handed, so train warning.
When indoor shelter isn’t obtainable:
If you end up outside with no entry to indoor shelter throughout a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximise your security:
Keep away from open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to higher lightning threat.
Keep away from tall, remoted timber and different outstanding objects. In wooded areas, keep near decrease stands of timber.
In case you’re in a gaggle, make sure that people are spaced out to forestall lightning present from transferring between folks.
Tenting in an open setting throughout a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. You probably have no various, arrange camp in a valley, ravine, or different low-lying areas. It’s essential to notice {that a} tent gives no safety in opposition to lightning.
Don’t method water our bodies, moist objects, or steel gadgets. Though water and steel don’t appeal to lightning, they conduct electrical energy successfully and may pose important dangers.
In abstract, when dealing with the specter of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your greatest allies. By following these tips, you may considerably cut back the probabilities of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your security.
Driving by means of downpours: Security tips for moist roads
Rain can flip roads into hazards. Keep knowledgeable and observe the following pointers from the NWS to make sure security throughout heavy rainfall:
Watch out for swollen waterways:
In heavy rain, chorus from parking or strolling close to culverts or drainage ditches, the place swift-moving water can pose a grave hazard.
Keep secure driving distances:
Use the two-second rule to keep up a secure distance from the automobile in entrance of you and permit an additional two seconds in heavy rain.
Scale back pace and drive cautiously:
On moist roads, slowing down is paramount. Steadily ease off the accelerator and keep away from abrupt braking to forestall skidding.
Select your lane correctly:
Follow the center lanes on multi-lane roads to attenuate the danger of hydroplaning, as water tends to build up in outer lanes.
Visibility issues:
Flip in your headlights and watch out of different autos to the rear and in blind spot areas as they’re particularly tough to see by means of rain-spattered home windows.
Be careful for slippery roads:
Be further cautious through the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the highway floor combine with water to make the highway slippery.
Hold a secure distance from massive autos:
Massive vans and buses can cut back your visibility with tire spray. Keep away from tailgating and go them swiftly and safely.
Thoughts your windshield wipers:
Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your imaginative and prescient, pull over and anticipate situations to enhance. Search refuge at relaxation areas or sheltered spots.
When stopping by the roadside is your solely choice, place your car as far off the highway as doable, ideally past guardrails. Hold your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert different drivers of your place.
By following these security measures, you may considerably cut back dangers and guarantee your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Keep knowledgeable about climate situations and heed recommendation from native authorities to make your journey secure and sound.
Initially Printed: March 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM PDT
