5 Tips for Avoiding Extreme Weather While RVing
TL;DR: RVing in varied climates can be thrilling yet risky. Check forecasts, avoid peak seasons for extreme weather, plan for emergencies, and know when to evacuate during tornado watches or warnings. Safety first for enjoyable family vacations!
One of the best ways to spend a family vacation is by camping in an RV. After all, combining a vacation home and a vehicle makes for a rather convenient road trip mobile, complete with a full kitchen and a bathroom. But what does one do in case of inclement weather experienced while traveling? After all, there seem to be extreme weather possibilities in most of the US states, including forest fires in the west, tornadoes across the Midwestern states, extreme snow in the northern states, extreme heat and flash floods in the southwest, hurricanes in the south, and severe thunderstorms almost everywhere during the warmer months. Traveling to an area where you are unfamiliar with the weather may seem risky. However, if you keep these simple considerations in mind, you can successfully plan a fun and safe getaway for the entire family to enjoy.
1. Be aware of forecasts before and during your trip.
This seems fairly self-explanatory, but sometimes the most simple considerations can be completely forgotten when excitedly planning for a trip. Checking the weather before even leaving for a trip can help you to have an idea of what you may experience over the next few days. If it all looks sunny and clear, then you are in luck. If you see any potential warnings or thunderstorms coming up, make a mental note to keep an eye on the weather throughout your trip.Hurricanes are typically predicted days ahead of time and should be easy to avoid. If you know a hurricane is headed to an area where you plan to vacation, it may be best to go somewhere else and return when the weather is better.In addition, be sure to check the weather on the daily in case anything changes. Certain apps can update you if a storm is approaching so that you know ahead of time. In an area where you are not entirely familiar with the weather, it is better to over-prepare than to be surprised by an incoming storm.
2. Avoid areas with inclement weather in peak season.
To avoid dangerous weather altogether, it is best to avoid areas with extreme weather during their bad weather seasons. For instance, spring is tornado season across Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Avoiding traveling to these states in the spring seems like the safest option. Hurricanes are most extreme in Florida, Louisiana and east Texas, so avoiding these states during the summer and fall may be your safest option. During forest fire season out west, keep an eye on the current fires and their paths/containment when planning trips.