Although I enjoyed living in
Europe for three years, one thing I surprisingly grew to miss was the
Texas thunderstorm. During some seasons, there was a rain shower almost
daily, but these were just bland, uneventful storms. Not the intense,
powerful storms of Texas that make themselves felt and heard.
It was in their absence that I realized my love for these
sometimes-violent thunderstorms. There is something mystical and
awe-inspiring in their power. I love to stand under the patio cover and
watch a torrential rain downpour, and listen to the thunder.
I have come to appreciate their beauty, but also regard them with
some disdain. The reason for my disapproval is because of the losses
they will invariably cause to my insured clients.
Texas offers the appropriate spawning ground for large-scale
thunderstorms, many with one or more of the following features:
lightning, thunder, hail, down-bursts (micro bursts) wind shear,
straight line damaging winds, flash floods and tornadoes. All of which
can cause severe damage to dwellings and farm buildings, not to mention
animals and people.
Last year brought numerous catastrophic losses across northern and
central Texas, which we didn't even feel this far south. It was one of
the worst loss years for property insurance companies and it did not
even include a hurricane.
Storm frequency can have a greater eroding effect on a company's loss
reserves than a couple hurricanes of great severity.
A widespread anvil shape at cloud top level, downwind from the storm,
characterizes most thunderstorms because the winds are typically faster
close to the top. Their tilted form allows for continuing convection,
which helps to build and carry their momentum. This cyclic air or
vertical vortex of super cooled air is the freezing machine, turning
water droplets into ever growing hailstones.
Straight winds, or wind shears, which can blast straight down at
speeds of 100 mph, are caused from cool, dry air from aloft blowing into
the storm, maybe 10,000 feet above the ground.
As rain falls into the dry air, some of it evaporates. This cools the
air and makes it heavier. The force can destroy light construction and
twist off the tops of trees, making people think they've suffered a
twister.
Although funnel clouds may also form, these straight winds are more
common along the leading edge of large squall line.
Thunderstorms require instability, moisture and lifting air. The
lifting mechanisms include: surface heating, fronts, older thunderstorm
outflows, sea breeze or upslope flow in the mountains.
Here in south Texas, the heat and sea breeze are common culprits for
their propagation. So much for the nuts and bolts of these storms - what
are more fascinating to me are the lights and sounds provided by these
moving disco shows.
Lightning strikes the ground somewhere around the world between 1 to
100 times per second. One in every 200 houses is struck every year.
That's a 1 in 200 chance that a house will be struck. A flash within 300
feet can cause damage to a house - this yields odds of 1 in 5 that a
house might be affected.
This provides for millions of dollars in damage a year. It can also
kill about 100 people a year and hundreds more are injured from
lightning. It is the 2nd greatest weather killer behind flooding.
A bolt of lightning can carry 50 million volts and up to 30,000 amps.
It will easily reach a temperature of 50,000 Fahrenheit and usually is
1-inch thick. Is it any wonder that the heated, expanding air can clap
back with such an awesome explosion?
At least 60% of the flashes occur in the clouds, not touching the
ground. That's the good news.
The bad news is that lightning can travel as far as 40 miles. Is it
any wonder that strikes commonly occur even when no storm cloud is
overhead?
If you hear a rumble, it's still far away; the sound is due to the
lightning being miles long and causing an echo effect. If you hear a
crack after seeing the bolt, you can determine the distance by counting
the seconds. Sound travels about a mile per 5 seconds. So if it took 20
seconds to travel to you, take 20 seconds and divide by 5 - it is 4
miles away. Get indoors and stay safe.
Hurricane season may be approaching, but keep your eyes inland on
those thunderstorms. They can be some Texas-sized, terrible beauties.
Russell Janecka is a Certified Insurance Counselor. He is the owner of Janecka Insurance Agency in Victoria, and serves on the board of directors with Germania Insurance Companies. (361) 573-4475 e-mail: info@jiavic.com
