Staying Safe Outdoors in Severe Weather: What to Know Before You Head Out to Play on the Playground Equipment

Spending time outdoors with family and friends can make for an enjoyable day. Whether you are at a park playing on playground equipment, hiking around a local park, bird-watching, swimming, or even just hanging out in the backyard, the fresh air can be invigorating. However, the weather can change those lovely plans in an instant and you may have little warning before severe weather rolls in and ruins your time outdoors, postponing your kids’ time playing on their local school playground equipment. Severe weather can involve thunderstorms, lightning, hail, tornadoes, flash floods, high winds, and even hurricanes. Seasonal weather may also include heat waves and blizzards. Depending on your location, you may also need to be prepared for earthquakes. With safety as a priority, it's crucial to monitor the weather so you are prepared for any type of weather condition, especially when you are outdoors.

How Does Severe Weather Form?

Severe weather includes a variety of types of storms. The type of storm depends on the time of the year, the geographic location, and other environmental conditions that may be present. For example, a thunderstorm occurs when unstable air of differing temperatures collides. Warm air near the ground rises quickly, rushing into colder air. When this occurs, the storm brews. Winter storms occur when cold air near the surface of the Earth mixes with moisture. Rising air brings clouds and resulting precipitation, usually in the form of snow or ice.

Thunderstorms and Lightning: Time to Get Off of the Metal Merry-go-Rounds and Playground Swings

A thunderstorm is a type of storm that involves, rain, wind, thunder, and lightning. Convection is the upward movement of warm air from the surface of the Earth. When this occurs, the moisture that moves with the air often produces a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms can involve high winds, hail, and tornadoes. Thunderstorms can occur at virtually any time of the year if the weather conditions are right. However, they happen most often during the spring and summer months. Lightning is a frequent occurrence during a thunderstorm and it’s not something to mess around with; always get off of metal playground swings and merry-go-rounds when you hear thunder, and don’t wait for the lightning to strike closer. Hearing thunder indicates that lightning is in the immediate vicinity, presenting a significant danger. For optimal safety, people should move indoors as quickly as possible upon hearing thunder. Remain indoors for a minimum of 30 minutes after the final sound of thunder then, when it’s safe, you can go back out to play on all of that fun playground equipment.

Blizzards – Be Careful Before You Head Out to the School’s Playground Equipment in the Winter

Winter storms and blizzards can occur in areas of the world where the temperature falls below freezing. These are likely the same places where you’ll find kids out playing on snow-covered playground equipment even when it’s cold out because they’re used to it, but blizzards are something much more serious than an average snowfall and it’s important you know the difference. To meet the criteria for a blizzard, winds must be sustained or frequently gusting at a minimum of 35 miles per hour, lasting for a minimum of three hours. When these conditions occur, snow will be falling and blowing heavily, making it difficult to see. Preparedness is key for winter storms and blizzards. Because of the possibility of a power loss, families must have food and water on hand. Flashlights, batteries, and an alternate way of heating a home, such as a fireplace or a wood-burning stove, are crucial. In the absence of an alternative source of heat, a family may need to be prepared to move to a shelter or other location, maybe in your community’s school; play it by ear and be prepared to change your plans in order to remain as safe and warm as possible. Travel can be dangerous during a winter storm. Therefore, if the potential for a power loss is great, seek alternative shelter before the snow begins.

Tornadoes – A Merry-Go-Round of Air You Certainly Don’t Want to be On.

Tornadoes are violent circling columns of air that extend down from a thunderstorm cloud. When tornadoes touch the Earth, they move along the ground with ferocious strength and intensity, it’s nothing like the spinning you might have seen on a merry-go-round; it’s something much more ferocious. Scientists classify the intensity of tornadoes with the Fujita Scale. A weak tornado would be an F0, while the strongest tornado would be an F5. When a tornado threatens, people must seek immediate shelter. When outdoors, find shelter in a sturdy building as quickly as possible. Park and play equipment will not provide adequate protection, especially any type of outdoor playground structure, like a merry-go-round. A tornado can devastate virtually any type of building, and flying debris will be a significant danger. Seek shelter in a basement if possible. If a basement is unavailable, go to an interior area of a house on the first floor. A bathroom, closet, hallway, or under a stairwell would be the safest locations. Avoid windows, and find something sturdy to hide under, such as a table or a mattress. Remain in a sheltered location until all threat of the storm passes.

Hurricanes – Spinning Wheels of Wind and Rain

Hurricanes also involve rotating winds but, again- way less fun than playground spinning wheels -except these storms form over warm ocean water. Clouds present over the ocean can pull moisture and air up, which forms a column of air. Differences in air temperature cause the air to move in a circular motion. Once wind speeds reach 35 miles per hour, a storm is classified as a tropical storm. A storm reaches hurricane status when winds climb to 74 miles per hour. Hurricanes can have a full diameter of 400 miles or more. The center of the hurricane called the eye, might be as much as 20 miles in diameter. When a hurricane reaches land, it brings high winds and heavy rain with it. The storm surge from the wind and rain often causes heavy flooding. When a hurricane approaches, officials generally implement an evacuation plan to prevent injuries and loss of life. To preserve property, homeowners must cover windows and secure items so they cannot become airborne, such as outdoor furniture and playground spinners.

Floods

Flooding occurs with rising water. A flood can occur when too much rain falls, causing bodies of water to spill over from their natural confines. Coastal areas may have a risk of flooding from the ocean. A floodplain is an area of land at risk of flooding. If an approaching storm involves a risk of flooding, heed warnings. Stock emergency supplies such as fresh water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit to ensure preparedness. If a home evacuation is necessary, turn off the gas and utilities at the main source prior to leaving.

Hailstorms – Invest in Commercial Playground Equipment and Shade Structures Designed to Withstand Damage from Hail

Hail is solid precipitation that falls to the ground as clumps of ice. A hailstorm may occur in conjunction with a thunderstorm when the winds moving upward freeze the moisture in a cloud. While injuries from hail are possible, property damage is the most typical result of hailstorms. Hail varies in size, from a quarter-inch in diameter to 1 inch or more. Severe hail could be as large as a grapefruit or even a softball. Luckily for many local schools and community parks, playground shade structures and commercial playground equipment are built with durable materials that are meant to withstand hailstorms.

Earthquakes – Is the Playground Seesaw Teetering and Tottering on its Own? It Could be an Earthquake

The Earth has specific fault zones where plates slide, stretch, squeeze, or crash into each other. Movements along fault zones can occur in various ways, depending on the specific geographic location. When these movements occur, an earthquake happens. Typically, stress accumulates between these plates. At some point, the stress releases violently, which sends out waves of vibrations, those vibrations might be what’s causing the playground seesaw to move. Scientists use a numerical scale to determine the magnitude of an earthquake. An earthquake that measures between 3 and 5 is light. Quakes measuring between 5 and 7 are moderate, and anything above 7 is major or even greater. People living in fault zones must be aware of earthquake safety guidelines. Heavy moving objects will be a significant risk during an earthquake. When an earthquake occurs, people must drop, cover, and hold onto something secure until the shaking stops; if you’re outside pick a piece of equipment more secure than a seesaw to hold on to. Actions after an earthquake depend on the level of damage. Evacuation may be necessary.

This article was last updated on September 26, 2024 by author Kim Hart