Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Flash flood risk to focus on parts of central US. Get the forecast Chevron right

Columbus, OH

74°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

74°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News

Common misconceptions about severe weather debunked

Learn the truth and stay informed about severe weather. Knowing what’s fact and what’s fiction can help you stay safe in severe weather situations.

By AccuWeather For Business, Staff

Published Nov 22, 2024 5:15 PM EDT | Updated Nov 22, 2024 5:15 PM EDT

Copied

>>Learn more about AccuWeather For Business

lightning

The weather impacts everyone every day, so there’s bound to be some folklore and misinformation that gets shared and passed on as truth. Let’s dispel a few of those myths!

Lightning can’t strike the same place twice

Lightning can and does often strike the same place twice - just look at this video of the Sears (Willis) tower being repeatedly struck by lightning. Lightning actually hits the ground multiple times in what’s visible to us as a single strike. The Empire State Building was once struck eight times in a single storm in the 1930’s.

Tornadoes don’t cross rivers or touch down on mountains

While they are less common in mountainous regions due to the cooler air at higher elevations, tornadoes can and have formed as high as 12,000 feet on Mount Evans in Colorado.

There’s a myth in Wichita, Kansas that tornadoes don’t cross the Arkansas River. On April 14, 2012 an EF-3 tracked right over the river and into the southeast side of Wichita. 

It has to be raining for lightning to strike nearby

This is false and can be a dangerous assumption to make. Lightning can strike over 30 miles away from a storm and is called a “bolt from the blue.”  This is why it’s important to have a meteorologist watching the radar for your specific location, letting you know when outdoor employees are in danger and need to take shelter.

AccuWeather For Business offers customizable solutions, allowing you to choose a radius for lightning protection that meets your needs. 

It’s safe to shelter under an overpass from a severe thunderstorm or tornado 

This myth became popularized after the 1991 tornado outbreak when a news crew tracking the tornado took shelter under an overpass. It’s also been shown in movies like Twister when Bill and Jo hide under the wooden bridge as a tornado passes overhead. 

Winds actually increase when forced through a smaller space, like underneath a bridge or overpass. Tornadoes can also loft dangerous debris and an overpass will not offer adequate protection against wind-borne objects. 

Forecasts provided by AccuWeather For Business for transportation clients help them plan routes around inclement or dangerous weather, ensuring vehicle operators are never placed in harm’s way when on the road. 

>> Learn more about how we can protect your employees and assets with SkyGuard®

Contact AccuWeather's Experts today to learn how AccuWeather's SkyGuard Warnings® can help your business better prepare for all severe weather threats.

 THE MOST TRUSTED AND RECOGNIZED NAME IN WEATHER

Serving more than half of Fortune 500 companies and thousands of businesses globally, AccuWeather is recognized as the most accurate source of weather forecasts, warnings, and data in the world.

Related:

Severe weather preparedness for executives: Protecting your organization
Extreme weather: A leading risk for modern businesses
How extreme temperatures can affect your business's supply chain
Report a Typo

Weather News

video

Renewed flash flooding sweeps through New Mexico

Jul. 18, 2025
Recreation

Felix Baumgartner, known for jump from stratosphere, dies in crash

Jul. 18, 2025
Weather News

Inside the grueling recovery effort after Texas’ deadly flood

Jul. 15, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 16, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Severe Weather

When water hits like a tornado: The violent force of flash flooding

2 days ago

Severe Weather

Severe thunderstorms to bring a risk for flash flooding

6 hours ago

Weather News

Lightning strike scorches Florida golf green

1 day ago

Weather Forecasts

When will the Northeast get relief from the heat and humidity?

17 hours ago

Weather News

Why the search for the missing in Texas may take months

1 day ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Recreation

Felix Baumgartner, known for jump from stratosphere, dies in crash

1 day ago

Weather News

Curious Colorado bear rescued from storm drain

1 day ago

Weather News

Dinosaur fossil found underneath a Denver museum’s parking lot

2 days ago

Weather News

Dolphin rescued from shallow lagoon in South Carolina

1 day ago

Weather News

What happens when an octopus engages with art?

1 day ago

AccuWeather Common misconceptions about severe weather debunked
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Get AccuWeather alerts as they happen with our browser notifications.

Notifications Enabled

Thanks! We'll keep you informed.