Under A High Wind Warning? Here's How To Prepare

The Dangerous Power Of High Winds

High winds may not get the attention that tornadoes and hurricanes rightly receive, but they can be dangerous.

They can occur in severe thunderstorms, accompany strong low-pressure systems, or even occur on a sunny day.

High winds can knock out power, down trees, and, in rarer cases, can lead to roof damage.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issues high wind watches and warnings when these potentially damaging winds are either possible or expected.

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Here are some tips to keep in mind when you're in a threat of high winds:

-Bring any loose outdoor items, such as holiday decorations and chairs, into the garage or house, or securely tie them up. Besides the risk of these items being blown away or damaged, airborne debris can be dangerous.

-Make sure your smartphone is fully charged before the strongest winds arrive in case you lose power.

(MORE: How To Activate Alerts On The Weather Channel App)

-Turn on "government alerts" on your smartphone, so you can be alerted by the National Weather Service, even at night.

-If you have a NOAA weather radio, make sure it has fresh batteries in case of a power outage and leave it on at night, so you can be awakened.

-Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds can move rapidly, so you may not have as much time as you think. Seek shelter immediately upon receiving an NWS severe thunderstorm warning.

-Take cover from a severe thunderstorm warning, much as you would a tornado warning, in the lowest floor of your home or building, preferably in a basement or a specially designed safe room. This is because tornadoes can rapidly develop within squall lines of severe thunderstorms with little warning, and also due to the danger of falling trees.

-Avoid driving during the strongest winds, especially in high-profile vehicles. Your vehicle could be blown off the road. Snow and/or dust embedded in high winds can reduce visibility. Trees could fall in the road ahead of you, which could be hard to see at night until it's right in front of you, or they could fall on your vehicle.

-In the colder months, you may want to raise the temperature on your thermostat before the highest winds arrive, in case you lose power for a few hours or longer. You may also want to turn on space heaters in your bedroom(s) to keep them warm before the high winds arrive.