You’re working on a sunny day, checking emails. Suddenly a loud noise emits from your phone— it’s a hurricane watch alert from your local weather station’s app. So what does this mean? Should you batten down the hatches and run for your safe room? Or disregard it altogether?
A hurricane is a severe storm and it takes form over warm tropical or subtropical waters. When a hurricane happens, it brings heavy rain, crazy high winds, and sometimes hail. There is a hurricane season for every region and there are many areas on high alert over the summer for these devastating storms.
What Happens During a Hurricane Watch?
A hurricane watch is a warning, issued by meteorologists that warns of a hurricane possibly making landfall in the next 48 hours. Therefore, this warning informs residents that conditions are favorable for a hurricane to form.
What Information Is Included in a Hurricane Watch?
Hurricane Timing: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) will usually issue these warnings 48 hours ahead of the expected hurricane. This gives residents time to prepare. Sometimes, news stations warn of a hurricane before 48 hours, making it no surprise! Also, the 48-hour buffer allows us (and the authorities) time to prepare for the worst.
Potential Impact: This is what we can expect in terms of impact on our area after a hurricane. During a hurricane watch, we should keep a close eye (and ear) on weather updates. Listen for any changes in the severity or trajectory of the storm.
Precautionary Measures: During a watch, residents are advised to take emergency measures in preparation for a severe weather event. This is when you should start securing areas of your property, putting away fragile yard decorations or plants, and making sure everyone is inside safe (including your pets). Also, this is a good time to go to the grocery store and stock up on supplies. However, we are hoping you have your emergency preparedness kit ready to go at all times!
A hurricane warning comes after a hurricane watch. Usually 36 hours in advance, residents will receive a hurricane warning alert from the NHC. This is the big one! Your area will experience a hurricane, this is when you make your way to your safe room or a safe area and batten down the hatches.
Remember, for a hurricane watch: conditions are possible. For a hurricane warning: conditions are expected.
Signs of a Hurricane Watch
You may be able to spot some signs of an incoming hurricane before the alert comes in. Especially if you live near the water. When we had a big hurricane here in 2014, I could feel in the air that something was coming. The calm before the storm is a real thing, the air pressure actually decreases before a storm.
Signs of an Incoming Hurricane
There are a few signs that you may notice before a hurricane strikes.
Increased Ocean Swells: Did you know ocean swells increase to 2 meters (6 feet) in height and waves will hit the land every 9 seconds on average before a hurricane? Watch the sea for the earliest signs of an incoming hurricane, it tells a story!
Barometric Pressure Drops: The barometric pressure will begin to drop 36 hours before a hurricane makes landfall. It will steadily drop from 30 hours pre-hurricane and on until the storm hits. This is the time that people with arthritis or migraines may complain of aches and pains or flare-ups… Yes, your body can provide signs of an incoming storm!
Wind Speed: You may notice the wind pick up before a hurricane hits. The winds could get as high as 167 kilometers per hour by the time the storm makes landfall. This is why you need to secure your yard items and decor before a hurricane hits!
Heavy Rain: Around 18 hours before the hurricane, rain will begin moving in. The rain will be intermittent, and get worse as the hurricane comes closer to your area.
As useful as your personal experience and watching the skies is, it’s important for you to keep an eye and ear on the weather forecast for your area. Storms can change course or become stronger. Which would turn the hurricane watch into a hurricane warning.
How to Prepare for a Hurricane
When a hurricane watch is issued, it’s important to prepare for the worst. Be sure to do this promptly, there are many things to do, and a watch can turn into a warning quickly. As always, we recommend prepping for an emergency before it happens, but we know this isn’t always possible.
When hurricane Arthur hit our area, we were not prepared. By we, I mean almost everyone in our area. There had been hurricane watches leading up to Arthur that didn’t pan out. So most of us rolled our eyes when we got the alerts for Arthur. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the worst hurricane to hit our area in years. It was a category two hurricane when it hit here, causing extensive damage and power outages all over Atlantic Canada.
No one was prepared, many of us didn’t generators, large supplies of water, or non-perishable food items. Luckily, our community banded together and stores even hosted barbeques and offered their facilities for charging devices, coffee, and having showers/using the bathroom. Most of us were out of power for at least a week (us having lost power for 10 days!). This is why you should never underestimate a weather watch or warning.
Tips for Preparing for a Hurricane
- Prepare your family for the worst with an emergency plan. Have a communication source
- , evacuation route, and designated meeting spots pre-arranged.
- Ensure you have about 2 weeks’ worth of water for your household. A good rule of thumb is one gallon, per person, per day.
- Gather non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, entertainment (puzzles, books games), and medication/toilet paper in the area you plan to take cover in.
- Prepare a power source (generator) by buying gas. Ensure your devices are properly charged and ready to go.
- Secure your home. Trim trees that have weak limbs, secure items, and bring in anything that could blow away or cause damage to your home. You should bring your planters, barbeques, flags, and patio furniture inside to avoid damage or loss.
- Move items on the lower level of your home to the upstairs, or higher ground. Don’t keep cardboard boxes on the floor. Flood waters will damage your stuff!
- Make sure your pets are safe and indoors before a hurricane. They’re your family, they need protection too.
During a Hurricane
- You should pay attention and heed evacuation orders from authorities. Hit the road early to avoid being in congested traffic, and have a pre-arranged place to go.
- Communicate with your family and friends. Take care to check on your older family members, and make sure they are in a secure area and have what they need.
- Stay inside during the storm. Don’t linger outside to take photos, take cover and wait for the storm to pass. We would advise keeping clear of all windows, as the wind can shatter them, or a tree/limb can bust through and injure you!
- Follow any advice from local law enforcement, including evacuation orders. These orders are only issued if danger is imminent and should be taken very seriously.
By taking these precautions and listening to authorities, you will keep your home and property as safe as possible until the storm passes!
What Happens After A Hurricane?
After a hurricane, you can go outside and survey the damage to your property and begin to recover. Typically crews from the government will be out to assess the overall damage to a hurricane-striken area. Watch out for hazards like downed power lines, broken glass, and flood waters during your personal property assessment.
Power crews will likely be in your area to restore services. Power companies usually concentrate on city epicenters and areas with hospitals first and rural areas tend to take longer to get back to normal. This of course depends on the emergency plan your government has in place, resources, and how safe it is for the crews to be in the area at the time.
You will begin your personal cleanup while city crews begin cleaning debris from roadways. Make sure you make a list of all of the damage your property incurred, and take photos as well, just in case. If you have damage that requires repair, keep any receipts for items or services rendered. The Red Cross/insurance sometimes covers these costs!
Lean on your neighbors and allow them to lean on you! This is a good time to come together and help each other. The bonds that form during this critical time may surprise you.
Hurricane Watches Are Serious
No matter if watches have panned out in the past or not, be sure to take all alerts from weather centers seriously! Failing to prepare for a storm can leave you and your family in harm’s way. Prepare accordingly, keep in contact with your loved ones, have a solid plan, and listen to the authorities and you will weather the storm.
Be aware, and stay safe!
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