Seven Storm Sensing Non-Visual Tips

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I spend a lot of days on the water, which means I’ve had to learn to use non-visual senses to alert me of approaching storms. Sure, you can simply go by the tell-tale storm clouds on the horizon, or the ancient sea-farer’s caution, “red skies in morn, sailors take warn”. But, sighted or not, summer storms can creep up on you pretty fast, and experience has taught me that the track of a really big storm has little to do with wind direction. The following are seven non-visual indicators I depend on to detect approaching storms:

  1. Wind drops right off and the water becomes flat calm;
  2. A sudden and significant drop in Temperature;
  3. Wind speed increases and shifts, and waves gain height;
  4. A smell of Ozone in the air;
  5. Sound of distant thunder;
  6. Ear and sinus pressure changes due to dropping Atmospheric pressure;
    and the one I really pay close attention to,
  7. Bristling hair on the back of my neck warning of an imminent lightning strike.

Always keep your senses open to changes in your environment and stay safe.