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Terryallan's avatar
Terryallan
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2019

windy

So went up the Mountain camping Thursday. Wind pretty high, but not super high, got there ok. set up, and enjoyed a beautiful Thursday. However some time during the night. Things sort of took a bad turn. Heavy rain with high winds. Camper rocking at times. continued Friday, and then they started posting Tornado warnings. Not some thing you want to see while staying in a travel trailer. However towing a travel trailer in high winds ain't no better. Kind of dangerous all by itself. As you could imagine. I was torn as to what to do. Then I saw a lull in the action on the radar, and told Shay to put every thing down, and we hooked up, and was on our way home just as the next set of rain squalls, and high winds hit. Now we are going down a 8 percent grade with a 30' sail behind us with high winds.

But with God's help, and MASTERFUL driving on MY part. ( actually the wind didn't push it around much ) We made it home just in time for a thunderstorm to hit. We ran in the house, and later as I thought about moving the camper out from under the tree. All our phones alerted and told us to take cover for the Tornado. down to DD's we ran to the basement. We are all safe, and no damage to us or the camper, or the house. Lots of damage around us.
But you know. Sometimes no matter what you do. You can't run from something that God wants you to experience. No matter where you are God is in control. And I'm glad he is.
Seeking Advice
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    May 04, 2019
    Be careful where you park an RV. Look up and check for dead trees, snags, and large dead branches.
  • tdiller's avatar
    tdiller
    Explorer
    Apr 22, 2019
    I have an app on my cell phone called windy which shows my the wind speed, direction and gust speed. I told my wife early on if the wind is too bad we will spend another day where we are or if we happen to be on the road we will pull over and stay put. I'll call in to work and take another day. If a tornado warning comes up we will have to find shelter in a building or other place until the threat s clear. Experienced a tornado towing my son's car back from Texas before he deployed. Don't care to experience that again. Actually saw it running parallel to us along the expressway. Pulled off at the next exit and found a building full of other travelers. Also saw lots of folks pulled over under the underpass which they say you should not do.
  • DavidandDayle's avatar
    DavidandDayle
    Explorer
    Apr 22, 2019
    In his I75 book, Dave Hunter points out that weather reports often are given by county. You need to know what county you're in and what the neighbouring counties are, too.
  • CFerguson's avatar
    CFerguson
    Explorer
    Apr 22, 2019
    Weather forecasters aren't always right, but they are always worth listening to when planning a camping trip. Glad you made it thru!
  • ReneeG's avatar
    ReneeG
    Explorer
    Apr 22, 2019
    Terryallen, scary, but glad you are all ok. Last year while camping on the Pioneer Scenic Byway in Montana, late September, a storm came up dumping rain and hail, but not windy. Because it was late season, we were the only ones in the CG. DH was sound asleep, I was wide awake. It all turned out ok, but even at that we try to check the weather in advance, but as you know, it can change quickly.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Apr 22, 2019
    The first thing I do after setting up in a new (to us) park or campground is determine where we will go in case of a severe storm. Some RV parks have on site tornado shelters. So have reinforced buildings or maybe concrete/cinder block restrooms. Not the best, but better than staying in the RV. And if nothing on site offering much protection, where to go within a reasonable distance off site. Sometimes you just don’t have the option of hitting the road.

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