Summer is the season of heat and good weather, but it is also an unstable time in terms of weather, where a storm is possible. Thus, the weather can change from one moment to another, a fairly common phenomenon between June and September that can cause torrential rains, hail, lightning and strong winds. But what dangers does this have for your car?
The summer storm affects your car
The presence of lightning and thunder in the atmosphere is a typical phenomenon of summer, which in addition to its high temperatures and heat waves, also usually brings its summer storms where petrichor, lightning and its sound effects make an appearance after the necessary fall of water (especially in times of drought). We and the earth appreciate this respite from time to time, but our cars and vehicles not so much…
Thus, it is not uncommon or strange that although days ago we were with past 40º in the cities, now we also have waterspouts and electrical discharges that cross the map of Spain from north to south, so it is convenient to take into account some How many recommendations in case one of these storms catches us in the car.
In any case, an aside: as a general rule, and as happens with our devices, this type of storm does not usually negatively affect the integrity of the cars, but sometimes complications can arise , when hailstones appear from the sky or branches fall on the hood due to gales.
What to consider
Because in a storm of these sudden, a lot of water or hail can fall. The rain curtains can be so dense that the windshield wipers cannot cope with removing the water from the windshield. If the water does not let us see anything, the best thing we can do is withdraw momentarily from the circulation
This is why we say that, in addition to being dangerous to people’s lives, electrical storms also pose risks to cars that are on the street and circulating, but even when they are stopped. So it is worth asking: September, the month of the cold drop, is also a time of lightning and sparks, and the forecasts suggest that this will happen in the coming days. If the thunder rumbles from the storm, are we safe in the car?
electrical faults
As such, the vehicles are metallic and attract lightning. And it is that, precisely because the bodywork is a highly conductive element of electricity, it has a greater chance than other objects of being struck by lightning. And the consequences, of course, are not light.
This can cause the car’s electrical system to fail, thus making the vehicle unstartable . In these cases, it will be necessary to call the tow truck and take the car to the workshop.
Cracks and dents
Something very common, too, is that thunderstorms can cause branches and trees to fall due to the impact of lightning. In this way, the pieces of trees can fall on top of the cars, dent the bodywork and break the windows , so you have to be careful.
In addition, if hail falls and the stones are of a considerable size, they can scratch the car and cause cracks in the windows.
aquaplaning
Aquaplaning occurs when water accumulates in front of the tires faster than the weight of the vehicle can evacuate it. The result is that the water pressure pushes under the tire and creates a thin layer of water between the rubber and the road surface .
Instead of the tires sticking to the road, this thin layer of water causes the car to completely lose contact with the road surface and skid out of control . The greater the depth of the water and the higher the speed, the more likely this is to occur. Therefore, if we are driving a car in the middle of a thunderstorm, the road will be very wet and this can cause aquaplaning.
Dodge lightning in your car
On the open road, the advice dictated by science and common sense must be followed. Lightning is often accompanied by a large amount of water, so we must check the good condition of the wiper blades and that they are in the best possible condition. Among other assumptions, these are some tips to follow so that our car is not damaged by an electrical storm, or at least, has as little damage as possible.
- Turn off the radio, close the windows and avoid contact with metal parts. In this way, we will get the electricity to pass inside.
- Stopping can be a good idea, as long as we choose a safe place and away from metal fences, power lines and wet areas.
- If you are in the middle of an electric field, you must give yourself a margin of time to leave the car, since the surface has been charged with electricity.
- Outside the town, away from the protection of buildings and lightning rods, you have to be in a place where the car does not become the highest point.
What to do in the middle of a thunderstorm?
If we are driving and an electrical storm surprises us, we must stop and store the car in a closed place such as a parking lot to prevent lightning or fallen trees from hitting the vehicle. To do this, we must drive with a lot of protection because, in case of rain, the braking distance increases and visibility is less.
If we do not find a safe place to shelter, we must park the vehicle away from a tree and get inside. In the event that lightning strikes the car, the occupants will not be injured because the bodywork is electrically conductive and the rubber wheels are insulating.