Greetings to everyone and Happy Spring Equinox for folks in the Northern Hemisphere! This week, we’ll continue our focus on severe weather preparedness. This week’s post contains more severe weather safety links with a focus on taking shelter during flash flooding and lightning. There are also several new, interesting stories to review, so let’s get started.

• The sciences are unique in the fact that they are ever changing in terms of the pursuit of knowledge and advancements in technology. But, there are some changes that are not for the common good. “Science Goes Rogue” by Lawrence M. Krauss goes into further detail.
• Here are some amazing images of a very inhospitable planet. No probe sent to Venus has lasted very long due to the intense heat, toxic atmosphere, and crushing atmospheric pressures.
• Speaking of rovers on other planets, check out the sounds of a rover on Mars as it’s on the move!
• A very good read on the connection of pollinators and climate. “Pollinators are our secret weapon in the fight against global warming.” Pollinators have a critical, but largely unappreciated, role to play when it comes to climate change.
• Science has finally returned to the US government. “Facts Are Back, And So Is The EPA’s Climate Change Website.” “The website currently links to resources on climate research, clean energy programs, information for kids, and it says it will be adding more soon.”
• A very challenging but worthwhile goal for the USA. “The race to zero: can America reach net-zero emissions by 2050?”
• This is an excellent and important read from NOAA. “Government Interventions Rather Than Climate Conditions Primarily Curb COVID-19’s Spread, NOAA and International Team Say.“
• We’ve all seen photographs of snowflakes, but these take a specialize kind of photography to a new level. “Snowflakes as You’ve Never Seen Them Before.”
• The World Meteorological Organization recently made some changes in how it will use tropical cyclone/hurricane names and the Greek alphabet.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

• Let’s start with an excellent two-page printable PDF file from NOAA that covers the basics of severe weather safety.

• Tornadoes, Lightning, and Thunderstorms: Nature’s Most Violent Storms (20 Page PDF File).

• This NOAA safety page has a plethora of good information on staying safe during weather and climate issues from air quality to lightning to tornadoes to wildfires.

• This long-standing site has the basics of tornado safety rules.

• Highway overpasses are often mistaken as a safe haven from severe weather and especially tornadoes. NOTHING ABOUT THIS MYTH IS REMOTELY CONNECTED TO THE TRUTH.

• The Online Tornado FAQ…another excellent long-standing site with very important information.

THIS WEEK’S SEVERE WEATHER INFOGRAPHICS: FLASH FLOOD AND LIGHTNING SAFETY!

PREPARING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR HOME, VEHICLE, AND WORK

This handy checklist from the American Red Cross will help you put together an emergency kit for a variety of weather scenarios. A kit like this is very helpful in a variety of other difficult scenarios from wildfires to blizzards to tornadoes and hurricanes.

Where you get your weather forecasts, warnings, and other important information is as important as being informed. Discretion is of the upmost importance when you’re trying to stay weather aware. As of late, it’s been brought to my attention that there have been amateur ‘forecasters’ using graphics with the intention of appearing as professional and official sources of information on Twitter, Facebook, et al. They should NOT be taken as official sources of potentially life-saving warnings and weather forecasts and updates.

Social media is a very useful tool that can be misused for misinformation, disinformation, and hype. While this infographic is geared towards, winter weather, it certainly applies to ALL types of weather year round.

That’s a wrap for this post! Be sure to check in next week when we’ll take a look at more severe weather safety. I’d like to extend a big ‘Thank You’ to my followers in social media. I’m glad you’re along for the fun! If you’re on Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram, let’s connect! As for the COVID-19 pandemic, sport a spiffy mask, practice good hand-washing hygiene, mind your social distancing, stay safe, and stay healthy! See you next Saturday!

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