Disaster movies are fun, but when they happen in real life things don’t look so adventurous and appealing anymore. The last thing you want is to be caught in the middle of a massive storm that you weren’t expecting. The good thing is that nature has its own ways to communicate when disaster is about to strike. If we’re aware enough, we can spot it and find different ways to avoid dangerous phenomenon and protect ourselves. Make sure you read through the entire article as each one has the potential to save your life or someone that you love. Be it square waves or funnel clouds, these are the signals nature is sending that should never be ignored!
​A Patch Of Trees Bent Into A J-Shape
Now, not many of us are lucky (or unlucky) enough to experience this occurrence. Have you ever been on a hike in the middle of the woods, when you suddenly saw a few trees bent into a j-shape? Well, if that’s the case, you might have just escaped a pretty bad situation. J-shaped trees are a sign of an upcoming landslide.
It means that the ground moves very slowly, resulting in each tree growing in a very unusual shape. It also means that a potential landslide could happen at any moment, especially if there has been one there recently. So next time you go on a hike, stay alert, and be ready to go hike somewhere else if you do happen to see something similar to this image.
​Beware Of The Ocean When Its Level Drops
When on a walk on the beach, we don’t usually pay attention to the little details of the sea. The sea’s immensity is marvelous, and that alone is usually enough to keep us distracted. But sometimes if you’re on a walk on a beach along the Pacific Ocean and the water suddenly starts receding, trouble may be coming.
In fact, you should get yourself to high ground as soon as you can, because a tsunami could be on the way. Tsunamis usually form around an earthquake that takes place underwater, displacing the water above. When that happens, waves can move as fast as 500 miles per hour, which is basically the speed of a jet plane.
​A Huge Wall Cloud In The Sky
What is better than peacefully lying down on the grass and watching beautiful white clouds pass? But though clouds seem innocent and fluffy, they can also tell you much more about nature than you might think. If you see a wall cloud in particular, then you might want to find shelter as soon as you can. If you’re unsure of what this means, wall clouds stay a bit lower than the rest of the thunderstorm and can be pretty long – up to five miles.
When air rises quickly, it results in the pressure dropping below the storm, resulting in a wall cloud. This formation can mean that as the cloud rotates, a tornado could form, and well, that’s not great news is it?
​Choppy Waters On The Beach? Go Somewhere Else
Rip currents (usually and mistakenly called rip tides) are some of the most underestimated powerful occurrences on the beach. Signs of it usually include choppy water on the beach, a section with discolored water, tons of debris and seaweed moving away from the shoreline in certain areas, or a big enough gap in the line of waves.
All of these signs could mean that rip currents are taking place, which basically means several channels of water brutally flowing away from the shore. Rip currents are responsible for the deaths of at least 100 people in the US annually, and also account for most lifeguard rescues. If you ever find yourself in the middle of one don’t swim against it, swim parallel to the shore.
​If Your Hair Is Standing On End, Then Run
You might have heard of this one, but even so, it’s worth giving us a little reminder so that we do indeed take action. While lightning strikes are definitely rare, they happen, and when they do things aren’t fun. In fact, on a yearly basis, more people die from lightning strikes than from unprovoked shark attacks!
The good news is that since the 1940s, lightning deaths have considerably reduced, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore its warning signs. So, if all of a sudden you realize that your hair is standing on end, and maybe your jewelry begins buzzing, then a bolt of lightning could strike anytime somewhere near you. So grab yourself and whoever is with you and get to shelter as soon as you can.