Commuting and coping with thunderstorms

[Greenbelt]

I’m no Dirt or Rhinestonegirl, but I’ll give my two cents. I just watch the radar really carefully and time my departure.

I use this big picture radar: http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=LWX

and especially this close-in one: http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=DCA&type=TR0

there are settings to all 10 or 20 frame loops, and also to get arrows pointing out the direction and speed of the thunderstorm cells.

But if I mess up the timing and get out where I see lightning close by, I stop and go inside someplace!

[jwfisher3]

Greenbelt – you are another of the venerated commuters I had in mind, and I appreciate your perspective. I guess my predicament is that, for example if I get myself stuck out on the CCT between Fletcher’s Cove and Bethesda, there’s no place to bail and go inside. Thanks so much for the links to the weather radar. As we all know the microclimates in our Mid-Atlantic neck of the woods can mean one county is bright and sunny, while 4 miles away somebody’s getting Tornado Warnings.

[KLizotte]

I have a lot of respect for lightning and will not go out when there is real danger; I’m fortunate that the shortest way home for me is 5.5 miles so I can usual zoom to/from work quickly if need be though there have been times when I’ve been riding over the 14th St bridge warily eyeing approaching storm clouds and pedaling as fast as I can. If it starts to hail, find shelter immediately because it means there is real tornado potential.

(Un)Fortunately most of our thunderstorms during the summer occur between 4-6 pm and are quick moving so if you can devise your schedule around that you should do ok most days. The storms always seem to hit right when I want to leave work.

Last summer while biking through Wyoming I got hit by a powerful storm (couldn’t see the storm coming because of the mountains). Fortunately there was a house with a huge wrap around porch nearby so I biked over there and asked the owner if I could wait out the storm on her porch. She was cool about it and I spent the next hour twiddling my thumbs and watching the rain sitting on a bench made out of used skis. I wouldn’t hesitate to knock on a stranger’s door if necessary to request access to their garage, porch, etc.

Your best bet is to map out ahead of time various safe shelters along your route (underpasses, houses with porches/garages, rock overcroppings, stores). Most storms pass thru very quickly so you won’t lose too much time plus you’ll stay drier.

Lastly, I always carry one of those freebie clear shower caps you get in hotels. Don’t laugh but they make excellent emergency helmet covers, weigh nothing, and its easy to accumulate a supply if you travel a bit.

Better safe than sorry!

[eminva]

I asked this question a while back and got these answers.

In the time since then, I have become more intrepid, and what usually happens is that I get caught in a brief downpour, or steady drizzle, but thunder and lightening have not been near the threat I thought they would be. And you are very right that microclimates make it difficult to handicap.

Good luck.

Liz

[MCL1981]

Getting struck by lightning probably not something you should be terribly worried about under these circumstances. The high wind from downdrafts, obvious heavy rain, and hail are far for dangerous. And my god, if you’re on a road, get off and wait it out. Trust me, nobody can see you.

@jwfisher3 16691 wrote:

I guess my predicament is that, for example if I get myself stuck out on the CCT between Fletcher’s Cove and Bethesda, there’s no place to bail and go inside.

Ah yes, been there, done that. Sources of shelter along the CCT:

– Whitehurst Freeway at the Georgetown trailhead

– Tunnel by Foxhall Rd that goes under the canal.

– Fletcher’s Cove. Not much shelter, but there is the vehicle tunnel under the canal for the parking lots. Or you can hide in an outhouse.

– Bridge over the canal and Canal Rd. Go under it on the tow path.

– Delecarlia Tunnel just north of the water tower.

– Mass Ave overpass, go down to Mass Ave and hide under the bridge.

– River Road. Hide under the bridge or chill at one of the stores.

– Bradley Blvd overpass. Hid under the bridge or chill at one of the stores. Big Wheel Bikes is there too.

– Then there is nothing until downtown Bethesda

I use this daily. Shows radar, temps, winds, etc etc etc.
Matt’s Biking Wundermap

[dbb]

My commute takes me down the MVT along the river so I understand your concern about playing the role of lightning rod. Because most of the weather comes out of the west, I try to look out that direction for a preview. That and the winds of thunderstorms often give some modest advance notice.

I think the recommendation to hunker down is an excellent way to augment the weather awareness. If you find yourself really caught outside, get off and away from the bike (no reason to have that metal nearby).

KLizotte’s advice to “… map out ahead of time various safe shelters along your route (underpasses, houses with porches/garages, rock overcroppings, stores)” is worthwhile. You’ve likely already done much of that just by looking around as you ride.

Dana

[acc]

KEEP CALM & CARRY ON

It’s amazing the things you notice when you ride to work as opposed to driving. I can time my ride according to where on the path I see a grandfather carrying his grandson to school on the back of his bike. I know I’m running late if the elementary school bus pulls up next to me at the intersection of Vaden and Virginia Center. I know it’s Thursday because the bar is standing room only at Hooters when I ride past.

I actually have a point. At least this time.

I notice what’s going on around me and what buildings are near me. Most of you know I make a big deal of noticing the three fire stations on my route. Part of noticing that is I admire firefighters for what they do (ok, ok, I may possibly find them attractive) but I also realize I can get help there if I need it. I know where the two Urgent Cares are too. And the bike shops.

When I ride during the winter I have some bail out points picked out to warm up. And I know where the 7-11s are to cool off in the summer.

Of course I screw this up all the time and end up out past dusk without my good lights (lucky for me I have a set of Arlington lights for emergencies). Or I’ll end up getting soaked in a February rain and have to sit on the floor in my shower to get warm. Or, the very worst was getting a slow leak on my front tire New Year’s Eve, 35 miles from home on the W&OD by myself and having to hand pump it back home in the dark.

The reason I’m confessing my idiocy is just to say, as long as you don’t panic, you’ll figure something out and live to tell the tale.

ann

[MCL1981]

The radar link I posted (Matt’s Biking Wundermap) also includes the storm tracks. It’s the WSR-88D’s prediction of where that cell will be moving and at what time. Typically it shows an arrow or wedge with dots/lines signifying every 15 minutes in the future. Bear in mind, that is the center of the cell, the leading edge can be 5 or more minutes ahead of it. Also remember, WSR-88D updates every 6 minutes. So the image you’re looking at on any NWS radar can be up to 5 minutes and 59 seconds old.

The Wundermap does not show lightning. There are other products out there that do. However again, the other threats to your safety exist long before lightning. So really, you would be off the trail long before lightning became an issue. But none the less, here the DCA TDWR, not as useful as the full Wundermap but this does have lightning detection enabled.
DCA TDWR w/ Lightning Detection Enabled

[KLizotte]

I think it would be a good idea to put a sticky together listing the websites with weather info.

[OneEighth]

Y’all do realized the odds against, yes?

[KLizotte]

@OneEighth 16712 wrote:

Y’all do realized the odds against, yes?

Theoretically, yes, but then again, I have an aunt that was struck by lightning sitting inside her house in front of a window. She was never the same again.

I figure lightning combined with slippery roads and poor visibility to drivers is enough to compel most rational people to find someplace safe till the worst blows over.

[off2ride]

Just like what Greenbelt said…check the radar before you roll out. There will be times when your ride in is clear then a few hours later it’s crappy. Checking the radar pattern on TWC or a local news website is necessary. I got caught in a storm once while riding back from Alexandria. Luckily there was a Safeway close by and I stayed in there while this violent storm passed. Once it cleared, nothing but downed branches and power lines. Kinda hard to navigate around them on a road bike with road shoes on.

[jwfisher3]

I do realize the odds are long. Then again, I have a co-worker who’s been struck twice, and though she’s lived to tell the tale, she is also the only forty-something I know with a pacemaker – her body’s electrical system is so haywire she suffers from cardiac arrhythmia.

[jwfisher3]

@OneEighth 16712 wrote:

Y’all do realized the odds against, yes?

I do realize the odds are long. Then again, I have a co-worker who’s been struck twice, and though she’s lived to tell the tale, she is also the only forty-something I know with a pacemaker – her body’s electrical system is so haywire she suffers from cardiac arrhythmia.

[CCrew]

Every time I think about riding in a storm I think about the day I hit Reston to see cars bobbing in the Park & Ride like ducks in a pond….

That said though, with lightning I usually duck for cover. Especially since most of my commute is on the W&OD right under all the electrical towers. I’m not sure if they’d ultimately protect or increase the chances of a strike, but I’ll opt not to press my luck.

[Author]

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