Day Hiking Trails: What to do if a tornado occurs during hike

Thursday, March 1, 2012

What to do if a tornado occurs during hike

Photo courtesy NOAA.

Tornadoes form quickly, usually in areas about to experience severe thunderstorms. By leaving an area to avoid a thunderstorm - something you always should do when hiking with kids - you should be able to avoid a tornado.

If one is approaching you, seek shelter in a ravine or a cave. If on flat ground, find the lowest depression or ditch possible.

And never make this mistake, as Josh S., of San Antonio, Texas, advises: “Don’t seek shelter beneath concrete bridges of highway underpasses. The underpass can act as a wind tunnel during a tornado. Debris will fly right at you at super-high speeds”

Related articles:
g If lost, reassure kids by getting them involved in signaling for help
g Staying the night outdoors because you're lost? Set your priorities
g What to do when lost with children on a hike
g When you have no food but are lost overnight

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Meet the Author

My name is Rob Bignell. I'm a long-time hiker, journalist and editor. My son Kieran and I have been hiking together for the past decade. Before Kieran, I taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin, served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard, and worked in newspapers. I've won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which I served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year. Currently I own and operate an online editing business, Inventing Reality Editing Service. After spending several years in Southern California, my son and I now live in Wisconsin on the scenic Red Cedar River.