Watch Out for Summer Weather

While summer can bring cookouts, fishing trips and pool parties, it can also mean violent thunderstorms, high winds, flooding, and extreme heat. The warm weather months may be a great time for outdoor fun, but they can also be a time when the weather poses serious risks to you and your family. Here's how you can be prepared.

Dangerous Weather

In 2025, the United States had 23 major weather disasters. They caused 276 fatalities and a total of $115 billion in damages, according to data from Climate Central. Storms, flooding, and extreme heat can be life-threatening, so it's important to know the risks and stay prepared.

Have a plan

The National Weather Service suggests you make a family preparedness plan before bad weather strikes.

• Have a meeting place. Make sure everyone knows where to go in case of disaster and keep a list of contact numbers to call if damage or injury occurs.
• Be aware of your home's limitations. If you work or live in a temporary or mobile structure, get out if there's a tornado warning in your area. Even tying down the structure offers little to no protection from tornadoes. Have a pre-identified location where you can take cover, preferably on the lowest floor of a nearby building or storm shelter.
• Pay attention. Check local TV or radio weather reports for watches, flash flooding, and other severe weather warnings.
• Have a backup source of alerts. Consider investing in a radio receiver that will work even if you lose power and that can pick up the signal broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio. It's a nationwide radio network that shares weather alerts, watches, warnings, and forecasts. Learn more about these weather radios.

Assemble emergency kit

In the event of an emergency, you may need to have supplies to last you for several days. A disaster supply kit has basic items your family may need during an emergency. It should include things like food, water, flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit. Ideally, have one kit in your home and another in your car.

Inspect your home

• Check your roof. Look for loose siding and roofing materials, especially shingles and metal panels. They may blow off easily and take other materials along with them, and high winds can also turn them into dangerous projectiles.
• Batten down the hatches. Reinforce your windows with storm shutters. Move lawn furniture, toys, bicycles, and tools in a basement, shed, or garage before bad weather arrives.
• Make sure you have surge protection. A lightning strike or power outage could fry your expensive electronic devices and burn out your wiring. Guard them with a few inexpensive surge protectors.

Hurricane Preparedness Week May 3-9

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hosts the National Hurricane Preparedness Week during the first full week of May.

National Heat Awareness Day May 29

Heat-related illnesses are real risks in the summer months, especially when you are working or exercising. The National Heat Awareness Day is May 29.

Keep an eye out for more information about this, along with a swimming safety campaign. Also, check out our Ready Raleigh emergency preparedness guide.

Summer Safety Education Program Coming Up!

Several City departments are cooperating on a community education program focused on summer safety. It will include information sessions and activities between June 2 and Aug. 4. The information sessions are scheduled to take place on most Tuesdays at Millbrook Exchange Community Center.

Raleigh Police Department, Raleigh Fire Department, Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, and their partners will host free, open-to-the-public information sessions that focus on safety topics. Those include:

• Water safety
• Fire safety
• Road safety
• Community safe spaces
• Nightlife safety
• Trail and outdoor safety

There will be morning sessions (water, community safe spaces, and trail and outdoor safety) and evening sessions (fire, road, and nightlife safety). Watch out for more information coming soon.