Stay informed about severe weather by tuning into your local radio or cable weather station. Also check your email. All active students, faculty and staff with a U-M email address automatically are registered to receive notifications from the U-M Emergency Alert system. You should know the difference between a severe weather watch and warning. Whenever severe weather is forecast, move to a safe indoor location:
Spring, Summer and Fall
While spring, summer and fall tend to be more mild in Michigan—at least in comparison to the winters—there still is the potential for dangerous weather.
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Tornado season generally is late March through August, although tornadoes can occur at any time of year. They tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings; more than 80 percent of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible, increasing the need to remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions at all times. Know the signs of a tornado:
- An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.
- Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.
- Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
If you become aware of a tornado (i.e., from an UM Emergency Alert, local media or Ann Arbor’s outdoor warning sirens), please take the following precautions:
- Persons outside should immediately find shelter.
Safe shelters include:
- Internal hallways on the lowest floors of buildings
- Internal classrooms or offices without glass windows, walls and panels
- Basements
- Internal stairwells that do not have windows
- Safe shelters DO NOT include:
- Rooms with high-profile or long ceilings, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums and cafeterias
- Rooms with an outside wall or windows
- Doors that have glass inserts
- Rooms with atriums, skylights or glass walls
- Monitor local weather via radio, internet or TV to stay informed.
- Remain in a sheltered area until the tornado warning expires or emergency personnel have issued an “all clear” signal.
- Upon exiting your shelter, be wary of downed power lines, gas line breaks, broken glass or any other potentially sharp or dangerous objects.
- Even after the tornado has passed, avoid any buildings or structures that may have been damaged; you do not want to be struck by debris or trapped in a collapse.
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While lightning, hail and heavy rain may not seem as dangerous as a tornado, they should not be underestimated. Each, in their own way, presents a danger. Hail can cause damage to property or injury to people; lightning can start fires or kill people when it strikes; and heavy rain can obscure visibility and even cause flooding. In the event of such extreme weather, take the following precautions:
- General tips:
- Monitor local weather via radio, internet or TV. It is important to stay informed.
- Always dress appropriately for the weather.
- If you need to drive, use extreme caution.
- In the event of hail:
- Take cover.
- Stay away from windows.
- If you are driving, pull over somewhere safe (under a bridge, for example).
- In the event of lightning:
- Take shelter inside.
- Avoid using corded electrical equipment.
- Avoid sinks, baths, showers and other plumbing.
- In the event of heavy rain:
- If possible, do not drive.
- If you do have to drive, slow down and keep your lights on.
- Do not drive through floodwaters or deep puddles, which can cause your car to stall or you to lose control.
- In case of flooding, read further guidance below.
- General tips:
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Floods can result from a number of weather events, including but not limited to heavy snowfall that subsequently melts, heavy rainfall and storm surge. Flood waters can be still or fast-moving. They can be shallow or deep. But they are always dangerous. To protect yourself, take the following precautions:
- Monitor a local weather station via radio, internet or TV. It is important to stay informed.
- Maintain an emergency supplies kit, which
includes items such as:
- First aid supplies
- Snacks
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Clean, drinkable water
- Necessary medications
- Do not walk or drive through flood waters.
- In the event of a flash flood, move to higher ground.
- Do not touch or use any electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
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During the summer, you may experience extreme heat, high humidity or drought. Exposure to such weather can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. Most of these heat disorders result when you are overexposed to hot weather or you have exercised more than your age and physical condition allow. To mitigate these risks:
- Know your limits. If extreme heat is forecast, limit your exercise and work out indoors.
- During a period of extreme heat, stay indoors and limit exposure to the sun.
- If you have air conditioning, use it; if not, stay on the lowest floor of your residence.
- If you do go outside, wear sunscreen.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Limit alcoholic beverages.
- Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
- Protect your face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
- Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
- Take a cool bath or shower.
- Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Eat less salt and avoid hot foods.
- Know the symptoms of heat stroke and dial 911 if
you experience them:
- High body temperature (105+)
- Hot, red, dry skin
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Probably not sweating
- Possible unconsciousness
Winter
Michigan is known for its cold and snowy winters. It’s important to be prepared for:
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The heavy snowfall and extreme cold brought on by blizzards can immobilize an entire region. Furthermore, blizzards can result in flooding, storm surge, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines and even hypothermia. To mitigate the risks associated with blizzards, take the following precautions:
- Monitor local weather via radio, internet or TV to stay informed.
- If you go outside, dress appropriately for the weather. Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight and warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
- Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
- Watch for signs of frostbite. These include the loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
- Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include
uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation,
incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent
exhaustion. If symptoms occur:
- Get to a warm location
- Remove any wet clothing
- Put on dry clothing
- Wrap your entire body in a blanket
- Warm the center of your body first
- Drink warm, non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages
- Get medical help as soon as possible
- Maintain an emergency supplies kit in both your
home and your car. Include items such as:
- Shovel
- First aid kit with pocket knife
- Windshield scraper and small broom
- Necessary medications
- Flashlight
- Blankets
- Battery-powered radio
- Tow chain or rope
- Extra batteries
- Road salt and sand
- Water
- Jumper cables
- Snack food
- Emergency flares
- Matches
- Extra hats, socks and mittens
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Freezing rain from an ice storm can cover everything with a heavy, smooth layer of ice. Ice-covered roads become slippery and hazardous. The ice may cause vehicles to skid out of control, which in turn may cause devastating car crashes or pile-ups. Pedestrians also may be affected by ice storms, as sidewalks can become slippery. This may cause people to fall. Stairs, ramps and hills are especially dangerous. When an ice storm strikes or is forecast, take the following precautions:
- Monitor local weather via radio, internet or TV. It is important to stay informed.
- If possible, do not drive.
- If you do need to drive, use extreme caution.
- Also be cautious as a pedestrian. Sidewalks, stairs, ramps and any other surface covered in ice will be slippery. If there is a railing, use it.
- Be wary of and stay away from downed branches, trees or power lines.
- If you need to go outside, dress in layers. Stay warm.
- If you live off campus and your place of
residence has lost power, call your utility company. In
the meantime, keep your house or apartment as warm as
possible by:
- Shutting doors to rooms you are not using
- Using towels to seal the bottoms or tops of doors
- Covering your windows at night (for example, with blankets or towels)
