Tornado watch issued 4/20

[creadinger]

The NWS just issued a tornado watch until 10pm this evening for the whole region.

This is more for the evening commuters as the storms still haven’t even fired up yet, but just a seasonal reminder to check the radar before you leave this evening! I prefer the wunderground radar best.

There has been some action down in GA, SC and NC so far, so there is the precedent and potential for strong and damaging storms. Neither of which you want to be out on your bike for.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/04/20/severe-storms-with-damaging-winds-hail-possible-this-afternoon-and-evening/

Topic

[Crickey7]

Has anyone on the board ever gotten caught out in a hailstorm before? My car has dents from one hailstorm, so I imagine it would hurt.

[creadinger]

@Crickey7 114099 wrote:

Has anyone on the board ever gotten caught out in a hailstorm before? My car has dents from one hailstorm, so I imagine it would hurt.

Ooooo – good question! I have not. I would guess that medium sized hail would hurt more and do more damage than even a weak F0 tornado, unless of course it happened to blow through Pricks-R-Us Toothpick and Needle factory right before hitting you.

[chris_s]

@Crickey7 114099 wrote:

Has anyone on the board ever gotten caught out in a hailstorm before? My car has dents from one hailstorm, so I imagine it would hurt.

I’ve biked in sleet before, but never hail. I wasn’t wild about it and can’t imagine upping the size of the precipitation would improve the experience.

[Crickey7]

To rephrase: uncomfortable, or actively dangerous?

[Phatboing]

I’m torn. On the one hand, I’ve never seen a tornado and really want to. On the other, I don’t really want to be near one. Ever. Just near enough that I can see, I guess.

[Emm]

I’m on my back deck teleworking in Del Ray Alexandria. It went from sunny and breezy to dark gray and windy within the last 15 min. I’m moving our patio furniture into the garage in a minute here.It doesn’t look terrible yet but its looking like it’ll be a fun evening…

[DismalScientist]

@Crickey7 114106 wrote:

To rephrase: uncomfortable, or actively dangerous?

Lightening and actual tornadoes are dangerous. Hail is merely uncomfortable and perhaps painful, but not dangerous per se. Helmets are useful in hail. Accumulation of hail can be dangerous, but presumably you can just stop riding on a surface covered with ice marbles. Unfortunately, lightening tends occur simultaneously with hail.

[Crickey7]

@DismalScientist 114112 wrote:

Lightening and actual tornadoes are dangerous. Hail is merely uncomfortable and perhaps painful, but not dangerous per se.

So, take the carbon bike.

[rcannon100]

Actual view outside my window right now

[Steve O]

@DismalScientist 114112 wrote:

Lightening and actual tornadoes are dangerous.

@Crickey7 114114 wrote:

So, take the carbon bike.

Lightning is what happens in storms.
Lightening is what happens when you take your carbon instead of your steel frame.

[creadinger]

@DismalScientist 114112 wrote:

Lightening and actual tornadoes are dangerous. Hail is merely uncomfortable and perhaps painful, but not dangerous per se. Helmets are useful in hail. Accumulation of hail can be dangerous, but presumably you can just stop riding on a surface covered with ice marbles. Unfortunately, lightening tends occur simultaneously with hail.

Is that what you learn in Econ classes?

That’s a sweeping statement considering hail can be larger than grapefruits and destroy cars. I wouldnt want to be caught out in hail as large as quarters. That would cause some damage to humans whether they have helmets or not.

[KayakCyndi]

I really, really hope everyone is inside by now! It is just plain scary out there.

[slowtriguy]

@Crickey7 114099 wrote:

Has anyone on the board ever gotten caught out in a hailstorm before? My car has dents from one hailstorm, so I imagine it would hurt.

Ooo! Ooo! Pick me! Pick me!

I’ve ridden in a hailstorm with pea-sized hail. That was not one of my brighter moments. It mostly stung like crazy until I was able to bail out into the shelter of an overpass. I’ve since amended my personal “don’t ride” rules to include active hailstorms.

Bigger — much bigger — hail has been deadly.

[DismalScientist]

I’ve gotten stuck in a marble-sized hailstorm on a tour without shelter. We stopped. It was painful, but no damage. Bigger hail is very rare, particularly out east.

[rcannon100]

@KayakCyndi 114131 wrote:

I really, really hope everyone is inside by now! It is just plain scary out there.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8396[/ATTACH]

Horrifying even! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!

Oh….. were you talking about the weather?????

[Author]

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