Trey Sned, vice president of William H. Sned & Company, enjoys leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Trey Sned is especially fond of hiking as a form of exercise.
Safety should be the top priority for every hiker on the trail. One of the more effective ways to avoid dangerous hiking situations involves regularly checking regional weather forecasts for potential storms. However, weather forecasts can prove inaccurate or change in a very short amount of time. With this in mind, hikers can take both a long-term and short-term approach to avoiding stormy weather.
When it comes to long-term planning, hikers should familiarize themselves with weather patterns at their preferred hiking destinations. For example, by the middle of July, Stratton--Maine’s section of the Appalachian Trail--has a 10 percent chance of experiencing a thunder storm on any given day. This does not mean individuals should avoid hiking for the entire month of July, but should instead be more vigilant for weather changes than normal.
More immediate planning involves learning the warning signs of a thunderstorm that may have developed since reading the last weather report. Storms often form later in the afternoon and are forewarned by a towering cumulus formation that will grow vertically in anticipation of rain and thunder. A cautious hiker can spot these thick, tall formations from upwards of 30 miles away. Individuals on extended hikes should factor at least one or two days for bad weather into their schedules, particularly during thunderstorm season.
