Seasonal Weather
Summer Weather Safety Guide: Heat, Thunderstorms, Air Quality, and Flash Floods
How to handle summer weather hazards including heat waves, lightning, poor air quality, flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, and outdoor events.
Quick answer: Summer weather safety means managing heat before storms form and then reacting quickly when lightning, wind, rain, or flooding develops.
Heat first
Heat is often the daily hazard. Hydrate, use shade, reduce peak-afternoon exertion, and check on vulnerable people.
Warm nights can make heat waves more dangerous because the body gets less recovery time.
Storm timing
Summer storms can build quickly during the afternoon or along boundaries left by earlier storms.
If thunder is heard, move indoors. Do not wait for rain to begin.
Air and water
Smoke, ozone, rip currents, and flash flooding can all become summer hazards.
Check local forecasts beyond just the high temperature.