Weather Safety

When we think of changing conditions, we generally think of the weather. As the temperature changes, you have to be concerned about being too warm, or not warm enough. Rain or snow may get you wet and make trails slippery or slushy. Winds may also change, either due to the weather or your location.

Weather Hazards

You will encounter a wide range of road conditions during the winter months, including dry pavement, black ice, hard packed snow, ice, loose snow, slush and every combination. Roads to winter destinations may be plowed periodically; however, road conditions may often be very difficult even after plowing. Many fatalities from car accidents occur as a result of slippery roads.

Motorists must use common sense on all roads and try to avoid unnecessary travel when the weather causes treacherous driving conditions.

Vehicle should be in good working order and has appropriate tires for snow and mud, a jack, and plenty of fuel.
Do not travel alone and make sure someone knows your travel plans.
Carry an emergency road kit that supplies a map of the area, flashlight, tools, water, food, warm layered clothing, blanket, and matches or other means for starting a fire.
Travel the appropriate speed. Many forest roads are narrow, so allow for on-coming traffic, and travel with headlights on. Snow and ice covering a road can disguise surface conditions and location of the shoulder. Many of these roads are not cleared of snow or ice. In addition, very heavy snows can cause tree limbs to snap and fall across roads and trails.
Know the conditions before you go out. Find the latest weather, road reports, and web cams in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada’s Department of Transportation website or call 511.
For current weather alerts, visit the NOAA National Weather Service website. Here you can either put in your zip code or look for active alerts by states.

Flash Floods

Flash floods are rapidly developing floods that can happen with little or no warning. Flash floods can occur in mountainous areas on small streams, on rivers, and even in towns. Water levels can suddenly rise in heavy rainstorms, leaving little time before small streams become raging rivers. Sometimes a flash flood can unleash its deadly force in minutes. The National Weather Service issues flash flood watches and warnings which are transmitted on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios and through local media.

A flash flood watch means threatening weather is possible in the area. A flash flood warning means you may have only seconds to escape.
A flash flood can happen so rapidly that you may not get a warning. If a flash flood warning is issued for your area, go to safety immediately.

Safety Checklist

Know your area's flood risks. Monitor the NOAA weather radio all hazards bulletins, or your local news stations for vital weather information.
Stay alert for signs of heavy rain, both where you are and upstream. Watch for rising water levels.
Get to higher ground if flooding occurs. Leave low-lying areas immediately.
Don't try to outrun a flash flood in your car. Climb to safety immediately.
Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams.
Don't try to swim to safety as you should wait for rescuers to come to you.
Do not let children play near flooded streams or rivers.
Be especially cautious at night, when it is harder to recognize and respond to danger. During threatening conditions, do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and rivers.
Visit NOAA for weather updates. When possible, carry a NOAA weather radio.
For safe driving tips visit the National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration.

Lightning

Lightning can be very dangerous. It can span 5 miles in length, attain a temperature of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit and contain over 100 million electrical volts.

When lightning is possible in your area, there are two key alerts to watch for:

A severe thunderstorm watch is issued when conditions are conducive to the development of severe thunderstorms.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm has actually been observed by spotters or indicated on radar, and is occurring or imminent in the warning area.

Safety Checklist

Immediately move to safe shelter when you hear thunder, as lightening is then close enough to strike you. Safe shelter is a substantial building or inside a closed metal topped vehicle. Stay in safe shelter until at least 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.
Stay low when outdoors: Lightening hits the tallest object around, so immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks. If caught in an open field, seek a low spot and crouch with your feet together and head low.
Avoid isolated trees, cliffs, and rocky overhangs: It is better to run into a forested area if possible. Caves are a last resort for shelter, as they have high risks as well.
Stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, and other tall objects.
Drop metal objects like golf clubs, fishing poles, umbrellas, and backpacks with metal frames.
Get off bicycles, motorcycles, horses, and ATV’s they can attract lightning.
Get off lakes, ponds, and rivers and seek shelter when a storm is approaching. If you can’t get off the water, crouch down low in the boat.
Avoid pitching your tent under the tallest tree as storms can develop during the night.
Carry a NOAA radio or visit www.noaa.gov for weather updates.

Heat

The temperature in the sun can be much warmer than that in the shade. You should assume, for any outing that you may be in and out of the sun, so you should be prepared for both. If you start out for a long hike in the sunshine, where you are warm and dry, you might be tempted to leave your warmer layers behind, but don't be fooled; an extended hike into the woods can cool you off drastically. So can the clouds that weren't in sight when you started your hike.

Listen to a NOAA weather radio for heat advisories and warnings. Check the UV index on weather sites.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Eat small frequent meals.
Wear appropriate clothing that are loose-fitting, light-weight, and light-colored. Avoid dark colors if trying to stay cool.
Ensure that your animals needs for water and shade are met.
Know how to recognize and treat heat-related emergencies (see table below).
Visit www.noaa.gov for weather forecast information in your area

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is the medical name for getting too cold. Believe it or not, most cases of hypothermia happen in the summertime in temperatures between 30 and 60 degrees. Hypothermia can quickly overcome a victim who falls into cold water or who is caught in a rainstorm without proper clothing.

Hypothermia is aggravated by wet, wind, and exhaustion. Water quickly reduces the insulating ability of clothing to near zero. Wind not only evaporates water cooling the skin further, but it drives cold air through the clothing. A rain or wind jacket can dramatically reduce heat loss.

If your party is exposed to wind, cold, and wet–THINK HYPOTHERMIA! Watch yourself and others for symptoms.

Stages of hypothermia

Shivering (the body is attempting to generate heat)
Vague, slow, slurred speech
Indifference, sleepiness, apathy, and listlessness. Paradoxically, victims sometimes feel warm and take off their clothing just when they need it most.
Immobile, fumbling hands, frequent stumbling, lurching gait
Unconsciousness, slow breathing, slow pulse
Freezing of extremities
Death

Treatment

The victim may deny he is in trouble. Believe the symptoms, not the victim. Even mild symptoms demand immediate treatment.

Get the victim out of the wind and rain, strip off all wet clothes.
If the victim is only mildly impaired, give him warm liquids. Get him into warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag. Well-wrapped, warm (not hot) rocks or canteens will hasten recovery.
If the victim is semiconscious or worse, try to keep him awake. Give him warm liquids. Leave him stripped. Put the victim in a sleeping bag with another person–also stripped. If you have a double bag, put the victim between two warm donors. Skin to skin contact is the most effective.
Build a fire to warm the camp.

Wind, temperature, and moisture all greatly affect the safety of the winter traveler by contributing to loss of body heat. The following “wind chill” chart illustrates the effects of wind and temperature on a dry, properly clothed person. If clothing is wet, the net effects of wind and temperature are much greater.

Avalanche Danger

Both large and small avalanches have tremendous force, and are a serious threat to winter travelers. The more time you spend skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and on other winter activities, the greater are your chances of being caught by a snow avalanche.

Understanding the basic dangers can help you avoid being caught by a snow avalanche. It is important for you to learn and understand how profoundly weather affects avalanche hazard conditions. Another recommended step would be to take an avalanche class and learn to analyze hazards before venturing into avalanche terrain. This knowledge may help you survive if you become buried in one.

Snow avalanches are complex, natural phenomena. Experts do not fully understand all the causes and, therefore, cannot predict avalanches with certainty. The general guidelines in this folder, however, will help an informed observer develop sound judgment about the presence and degree of avalanche danger.

To learn more about avalanches, dangers, and skills to prevent you from becoming a victim, visit National Avalanche Center .