A Dramatic Visual Of Falling Trees' Danger

There are many types of weather phobias, but there are two that far and away top my list of meteorological fears.

They're not full-fledged phobias for me, but they certainly can be for others. Knowing a little about what makes you nervous and how to stay safe can help manage these fears. "Be prepared, not scared," is a phrase often used by National Weather Service meteorologists.

Why Only 2?

Among weather phobias are some you're probably familiar with and others you may never have heard of.

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In 31 years as a meteorologist from a graduate student researcher to The Weather Channel and weather.com, I've developed a healthy respect for hazardous weather. My childhood home was nearly hit by a tornado. I find hurricane storm surge and the type of flash flood we just witnessed in Texas frightening.

But I live in the upper Midwest, and my immediate area isn't all that prone to tornadoes or flash floods, though they can certainly happen.

There are two weather phenomena that are much more common that make me nervous enough to follow every single safety tip before and while they're happening.

2. Falling Trees

The first home I bought in Atlanta 25 years ago was on a lot with many Georgia pines behind the small backyard. It was a beautiful view from the back patio.

Until the first strong winds hit.

While none of those trees came down while we lived there, watching them sway in high winds or sag when weighed down by snow or ice terrified me.

NOAA calculated an average of 78 deaths occurred in the U.S. each year from 1995 through 2024 due to winds, some of which were from tree falls.

These high winds can happen in severe thunderstorms, a hurricane or remnant, or in a larger-scale low-pressure system. Soggy ground can make it easier for trees to topple over at lower wind speeds. In 2024's Hurricane Helene, 61 of the 65 wind-related deaths were due to falling trees, according to the National Hurricane Center.

If trees are large enough, they can come crashing through your roof into your living room or bedroom.

Safety tips:

- Have a certified arborist inspect trees near your home at least every 1-2 years. Remove any large branches or trees leaning toward your house, especially if they're diseased or dead.

- When the National Weather Service issues a warning for high winds — including from tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, a tropical storm, hurricane, winter storm, or large-scale storm system — or for an ice storm, and you have large trees near your home, consider moving to the lowest floor in the center of the house, in a basement, if you have one. If it's an overnight threat, consider sleeping in this area, in case of a tree fall.

- If you're camping, find out how to get to substantial shelter quickly — preferably a large, solid building — in case high winds occur.

- Avoid driving during a storm in an area with tall trees, due to the danger of falling trees.

(MORE: A Tree Fell On Your House. Now What?)

1. Lightning

On one hand, a distant lightning show is the among the most spectacular displays on Earth. But like most people, I've had several close calls.

As a boy, I once swung wildly at three straight pitches out of the strike zone in a Little League baseball game, then dropped the bat and ran to the car when I heard thunder and saw darkening skies before my at bat.

As a graduate student, I once had to help deploy what were essentially large lightning rods wrapped in PVC pipe to measure the electric field before a lightning strike as a thunderstorm was nearby.

While cleaning my church one day, a nearly stationary thunderstorm unleashed at least a dozen of too close for comfort lightning strikes followed by loud booms that left me praying more than cleaning.

Finally, there are the times I've been jarred out of bed at night by a sudden crash of thunder or watched the flashes of lightning through the drawn curtains, wondering if the next strike would be much closer.

So, as you can see, I've felt conflicted, but mostly frightened, of lightning almost my entire life.

Lightning deaths in the U.S. have plunged from several hundred each year prior to 1950 to less than 20 each year this decade, so far. That said, an average of 180 have been injured each year by lightning, injuries that can have life long impacts.

Safety tips:

- If you have outdoor plans, check your forecast each day to see if there is a chance of thunderstorms.

- The Weather Channel app can warn you if lightning is nearby. Tap the notifications icon (alarm bell), then tap "manage", then "current location" and toggle on the "lightning nearby" option.

- If the sky is darkening or you hear thunder, find substantial shelter in a building or a vehicle immediately. There is no place outside that's safe from lightning. Some strikes can occur up to 15 miles ahead of a thunderstorm. These are known as "bolts from the blue", as they can happen while the sky above is still blue and not yet dark.

- During the thunderstorm, do not use electrical equipment or anything involving plumbing, and stay away from windows and doors.

- Do not go back outside until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last lightning strike or rumble of thunder. Keep in mind occasional lightning strikes can occur in areas of lighter rain after the heavier rain has passed.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.