4 Summer Weather Dangers To Watch Out For

As a result, it is important to understand the hazards that summer weather can bring and what you need to do to stay safe.

1. Heat Illnesses and Sunburn Are Serious Hazards

On average, more people die from heat than any other weather conditions in the U.S. Each year, an average of 134 people die from heat, according to the National Weather Service.

Everyone should take extreme heat seriously, but this is especially true for children, the elderly and those with health issues.

The first signs of heat illness are increased sweating and muscle cramps. This can evolve into heat exhaustion or heat stroke and possibly death if treatment is not received.

(MORE: Four Things Extreme Heat Does To Your Body)

If you start to exhibit symptoms of heat illness, get out of the heat, drink nonalcoholic and decaffeinated beverages, take a cool shower and rest.

Another concern is for sunburn and overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Too much sun can lead to a first- or second-degree burn and in the long term, skin cancer.

(MORE: The UV Index: How Much Is Your Skin in Danger?)

To minimize your risk of heat illness and skin damage:

• Limit exposure to the sun during the middle of the day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and apply 30 minutes prior to exposure and reapply every two hours.
• Wear protective, lightweight and light-colored clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Drink more water than usual, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Warm temperatures in the summer aid in the formation of ground-level ozone, which can result in poor air quality. Those who are outdoors and those who suffer from respiratory disease can be impacted. The EPA recommends that strenuous outdoor activity be limited on days with unhealthy air quality.

2. Remember Lightning Safety

Being outside when lightning is in the area is dangerous. The safest places to be during a thunderstorm are inside a building or in a hard-topped vehicle.

When you see lightning, get to a safe place as soon as possible and remain there until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going back outside. 

Many are caught off-guard in the summer by pop-up thunderstorms that develop quickly. The combination of more frequent thunderstorms during the warmer months and outdoor activities make it no surprise that June, July and August saw the most deaths due to lightning from 2006 to 2017.

(MORE: Why Pop-Up Summer Thunderstorms Are Among the Hardest Weather to Predict)

According to the National Weather Service, the odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are 1 in 14,600, but your odds of being struck in a given year are just 1 in 1,171,000.

Lightning can strike up to 15 miles from the parent thunderstorm, so remember to pay attention to the weather and head indoors when you hear thunder. Also, have a plan if you will be far from shelter or boating.

3. Turn Around, Don't Drown

Flash flooding refers to short-term flood events triggered by heavy rainfall over a relatively small area.

There are several reasons flash flooding becomes more common in the summer. Warmer temperatures and an increase in moisture can combine with a slow-moving system in the summer, resulting in heavy rainfall in a short period of time. Thunderstorm clusters can also develop and trigger flash flooding.

(MORE: We're in the Prime Time of Year For Flash Flooding in the U.S.)

In addition, the Southwest monsoon can bring slow-moving thunderstorms that dump torrential rainfall and tropical cyclones or their remnants can also bring serious flash flooding.

To stay safe during a flash flood event:

• Do not drive into a flooded area.
• If floodwaters are near your vehicle, abandon it and move to higher ground immediately.
• Know that 6 inches of water can cause loss of control of a car and cause it to stall.
• Cars can float in 12 inches of water and 24 inches can sweep your vehicle away.

Do not try to wade through floodwater. Just 6 inches of water can knock you off your feet. 

The best advice is to be aware of weather conditions, which can change rapidly.

4. Concerns at the Beach Include Rip Currents, High Surf 

There are several hazards to be aware of at the beach.

Rip currents are one of these dangers. Rip currents are strong but narrow currents that flow away from shore and result in more than 30,000 rescues per year in the U.S. Rip currents killed more people annually than tornadoes from 2014-2017.

(MORE: Rip Currents Have Been More Deadly Than Tornadoes and Lightning This Year)

Significant rip currents are more likely when a strong onshore wind is present. A rip current waters are generally darker than surrounding waters and are areas where waves do not break.

If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and back to land at an angle. If you cannot swim out of it, float or calmly tread water until you are out of the rip current. 

High surf can also be dangerous, as large waves can catch beachgoers off guard, so don't turn your back on the ocean. Dangerous swimming conditions are also usually present in high surf.

Waterspouts are another concern to watch for at the beach. Waterspouts are tornadoes that develop over water and can develop with a thunderstorm or in fair weather.

Fair-weather waterspouts typically stay over water and move fairly slow, while those associated with thunderstorms can move onshore.

Always be aware of weather conditions, as well as water conditions and the risk for rip currents.