DALLAS — Our biggest threat of severe weather this season comes Wednesday, when strong storms are expected to develop across North Texas in the afternoon and evening.
The storms could bring damaging winds, the possibility of tornadoes – and large hail, up to the size of baseballs. And what's worse, the storms could be arriving during rush hour, developing at about 5 p.m.
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So what do you do if you're on the roads when a hailstorm hits?
The first tip, of course, would be to avoid the weather altogether. Plan ahead, as much as possible, and stay out of the storm's path.
But if you find yourself in a precarious position, below are a few tips on how to stay safe. These are from several of the large insurance and auto companies, which, in North Texas, stay plenty busy during the spring.
• Stay inside the vehicle, Progressive warns. This might be a no-duh tip, but, it's worth the reminder. For as much that hail can damage your car, you're still getting the best possible protection by staying inside of it. Hail deaths and injuries are rare, according to The Weather Channel,
• From Geico: Pull over and wait out the storm, and move away from the sunroof if your vehicle has one. Another somewhat obvious tip. But if you thought those hail stones come down fast, driving into them will only worsen the problem.
• From Napa Auto: Position your car toward the storm. "That's because windshield glass is specially reinforced and less likely to break," Napa says. This is pretty useful. If your car does have to take the brunt of a hail storm, it's good to know which side can hold up the best.
• Another one from Progressive: "Lie down, if possible, and keep your back to the windows." This could protect you from any debris, should hail end up breaking your windows.
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