Update: Thunderstorms with quarter-sized hail and damaging winds in Crawford County on Sunday

At 4:42 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service issued an updated severe thunderstorm warning that is in effect for Crawford County until 5:30 p.m.

The storms are expected to bring quarter-sized hail (1 inch) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

“At 4:42 p.m., severe thunderstorms were observed along a line extending from 6 miles northeast of Orwell to near West Farmington, moving east at 55 mph,” the weather service said. “Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Damage to trees and power lines is expected.”

Locations affected by the warning include Middlefield, Kinsman, North Bloomfield, Orwell, Andover, Linesville, Harmonsburg, Adamsville, Pymatuning North, Pymatuning Central, Atlantic, Huntsburg, Hartsgrove, Roaming Shores, Cherry Valley, Conneaut Lake, Jamestown, Rock Creek , Conneaut lakeside and Geneva.

According to the Weather Service, “To protect yourself, move to an indoor area on the lowest floor of a building.”

Stay safe when lightning approaches: expert advice

Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year, with the majority of these electrical discharges occurring in the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 people each year, the weather service reports. The risk of lightning-related incidents increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly overhead. However, it will gradually subside as the storm subsides.

To ensure your safety in the midst of a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:

Lightning protection plan:

• When heading outdoors, it's important to have a lightning protection plan.
• Stay alert by watching the sky for threatening signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is heard, it is a clear sign of lightning nearby.
• Find safe shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoor safety measures:

• Once sheltered indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and avoid being near windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges because lightning can follow conductive paths.

Wait for the all-clear:

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last strike of lightning or thunder before resuming outdoor activities.
• It's important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm appears to be over. So be careful.

If covered accommodation is not available:

If you are outdoors during a thunderstorm and do not have access to covered shelter, follow these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops as these places you at a higher risk of lightning.
• Stay away from tall, isolated trees and other conspicuous objects. In wooded areas, stay near lower stands of trees.
• If you are traveling with a group, make sure that individuals are spread out to prevent lightning currents from being transmitted between people.
• Camping outdoors during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If there is no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying area. Remember that a tent does not provide protection from lightning.
• Do not approach water, wet objects or metal objects. While water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In conclusion, alertness and preparedness are your best allies when faced with the threat of lightning. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning accidents and make your safety a priority.

Roads likely to be rainy: Important safety tips in heavy rain

When it rains heavily, safety comes first. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the Weather Service to navigate wet roads and avoid danger:

Beware of swelling waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches where fast-moving water can pose a serious hazard.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you, and allow two seconds longer in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive carefully:

It is important to reduce speed on wet roads. To prevent skidding, ease off the accelerator pedal slowly and avoid sudden braking.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay in the middle lanes to minimize the risk of aquaplaning. The outer lanes are more prone to water accumulation.

Prioritize visibility

Improve your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant of vehicles in blind spots as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Be careful of slippery roads:

Be particularly careful in the first half hour after the rain begins. Dirt and oil on the road surface mix with water and make the road slippery.

Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can obscure your visibility from tire spray. Avoid traffic jams and pass through them quickly and safely.

Pay attention to your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can impair visibility. If rain severely reduces your visibility, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek shelter in rest areas or sheltered areas.

If you can only stop on the side of the road, position your vehicle as far away from the road as possible, ideally outside the guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate your hazard lights to alert other drivers to your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being during heavy rain. Stay informed about weather conditions and follow advice from local authorities to make your trip safe and enjoyable.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.