Any suggestions or tales of travel mid July through areas that are being hit by tornados and severe weather? We will be travelling in a TT through Iowa, S.Dakota and then on into Wyoming. I am a bit worried with all the reports of recent severe weather. Any ideas to enhance our safety would be appreciated.
No way to guarantee anything, but July usually has quieter weather than May & June. Most CGs in the midwest have designated storm shelters (usually the bathhouse building), but it never hurts to ask. Best advice is to read some of the other threads here about what to do in case of severe weather (do NOT stay in the RV) and also to carry a NOAA weather radio. We actually have 3 weather radios but they are all in the trailer; I think we'll be traveling with one of them in the truck too.
Don't know what kinda hitch you've got, but at least be sure you've got sway bars. I've driven some nasty storm in Iowa,Nebraska, Colorado, etc. Starting early in the day and being at camp by 3:00 or so in the afternoon can at least help keep you off the road if a storm blows up in your area. It's not a guarantee, but most storms form in the warmth of late afternoon.
Also, don't try to drive through a storm. Don't be afraid to pull off. If you've got a "Next Exit" book, they're helpful to know what's coming.
Some CB's have local weather channels on them. That will give you weather info in your TV. One last thing, when making reservations, don't be afraid to ask a campground owner what shelter they have in case of a severe storm or what their emergency weather plan is. If they stammer and stutter for a response, you may want to stay elsewhere. Your safety should be something they are looking out for.
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We are currently traveling through the region. We spent an extra night in Mitchell, SD as the weather was bad further east but traveling was much better today.
I suggest having a good weather radio and watch the weather reports each day.
In July it is not uncommon to be 90-105 during the afternoon hours. Usually most of the sever thunder storms are over by July, but anything is possible. That time of the year most storms are very fast moving and happen in the late afternoon.
Wyoming is high plains and quite arid. Hot days and cool nights are common in July, but I have seen it snow in every month of the year here and have also played golf in every month, so you just have to take your chances. It seems the weather is always unusual.
2001 Winnebago Minni - 31C
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From recent experience (Auntie Em! Auntie Em! (bicycle music starts)), the NOAA weather radio is always with us in the truck. Ours has a search feature that automaticly seeks out the strongest signal. The laptop is with us in the TV also to check out www.weather.com to get forcast/radar.
As said earlier, in Colorado anyway, the t-storms are usually in the mid/late afternoon. Drive early- stop early to avoid the most of it. Good luck!
-Lab
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but they are all in the trailer; I think we'll be traveling with one of them in the truck too.
