Storms

[stingray]

Hi All

We are due to arrive in July and the kids would like to know more about the rain storms that we have heard so much about. I am afraid I can't help them on this subject so I promised I would post this for them. Should we really be prepared for them at this time of year ie waterproofs etc etc. and will the rides need to shut down during this period. Even better could anyone direct me to a web site that forcasts weather :eek: :eek:

[colettej23]

Everyone wears the obligatory poncho when the rain comes down and boy can it come down.The phrase drowned rat comes to mind .lol.
We just carry one each in the bottom of our bags when out for the day and carried a plastic bag to put them in after the rain.
Don't know about a weather forcast,but there is a weather channel on the TV over there and gives a 5 day forcast.
Colette

[Earthbound]

Hi there!!
Yuo be prepared for the inevitable rainstorm!! They usually appear in the afternoons - at this time it's a good time to hit the rides as the parks seem to empty out!! The rides will only close down if there is a threat of lightning. When you arrive maybe pick-up a poncho for each family member from WalMart for a couple of $$$.
On US TV there is The Weather Channel have a look at www.weather.com/ if you need to put in a zip code for Orlando it is 32819 :thumb:

[TinkTatoo]

We usually pack a spare pare of shorts / T's for the kids to be used if they get soaking wet on a ride or soaking wet from a downpour.

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Growing up in Orlando I can say, without a doubt, be prepared for rain at that time of year. But, the rain generally comes late afternoon early evening. In some cases it can even help 'thin out' a crowded park for those that don't want to ride the storm out. Orlando is known as the lightning capital of the world so be prepared to see a visual display and to hear lots of thunder.

For a local weather report go to:

http://b.www.orlandoweather.com/index.html

You'll see a Almanac option on the right hand side. By using that link you'll be able to put in dates for last year (and years prior) to see what the weather was like during the time that you are planning on being there.

[Earthbound]

Thanks for that FLGirl - will have a good look!! :thumb:

[Earthbound]

Makes interesting reading!! The equivalent time last year everyday had a thunderstorm in the afternoon/evening - apart from one day!!

[FLGirl-UKNow]

It is pretty standard during the time of year you are going. It isn't like a day of rain though. The storms can be violent at times but they typically move fast. It will be really dark off in the distance so you have plenty of time to prepare for it.

When I took some friends over last year for their first visit they were absolutely in awe of the thunderstorms. They said they'd never seen so much water come down so quickly. Typically Orlando always needs it and since it is dry the puddles usually are gone quick.

I would suggest that you keep an eye on the weather forecast once you get there and try to go to IOA on a day with the least percentage of rain. Since they have mainly outdoor rides you'll want to go on a day without the rain. They'll be quick to shut down the rides once the lightning begins.

[alice]

Excellent advice FLGirl-UKnow. Good tip colletej23 about the ponchos and plastic bag to put them in. I will plan accordingly for our trip June-July this year.

[FLGirl-UKNow]

A suggestion: I've stocked up on rain poncho's (not the expensive theme park ones but the clear disposable type) from Dollar Tree. Everything at this store is $1.00 and you can find anything like plates, napkins, shampoo, ponchos here. The stock rotates so you never know what you will find but I would certainly give it a shot and it would save a lot of money and you could dispose of the wet ponchos rather than bagging them up. They are small enough to fit into a pocket too!

From using the address above:



Dollar Tree
International Drive Value Center
5444 Touchstone Drive
Orlando, FL 32819

Driving Directions:

1: Start out going North on INTERNATIONAL DR toward
AUSTRIAN ROW. (2.9 miles)

2: Turn LEFT onto TOUCHSTONE DR. (0.1 miles)

3: End at 5444 TOUCHSTONE DR ORLANDO FL

[stingray]

Thanks All !

That was very useful. I am begging to think the kids are looking forward to the storms more than Disney.

[Earthbound]

Thank You!! :thumbup:

[2BoysMum&Dad]

When this rain question has come up previously, I have assumed that the Florida rainstorms will be similar to the afternoon rainstorms I experienced in Houston. Are they really likely to be worse in Florida? FLGirl-UKNow - you say Orlando is the lightening capital of the world, is it quite scary then!! Actually, I rather enjoy thunderstorms.

Zoe

[nic]

When we were there June/July 2001 we got to know when a thunderstorm was on its way. It would start to get cloudy and the wind would begin to whip up. That's when it's time to seek shelter and watch :eek: :D

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Lightning is very serious in Orlando and isn't to be taken lightly. Just use common sense and you'll be fine.

A rule of thumb for knowing the distance of a storm (and helps to calm down scared children) is to start counting as soon as you see the flash of the lightning. They say, if it is true, that for every second you count that is how many miles away the storm is. Also, you don't have to have rain to have lightning. If the conditions are right it can flash at any point.

***speaking from experience, our house was struck by lightning twice and suffered minor fire damage***


Here is a great website from a known local photographer if you'd like to take a look:

Lightning (http://www.lightningstalker.com/weather/lightningstalker/gallery/)

[jojj]

best thing to do is to plan to get in a queue to do an inside ride like pirates of the carribean or something else like that or an inside show around the time the rain is due about 4 pm ish i think isnt it?

we did that and usually timed it just right that when we came out the rain had just finished and we had not got wet!!!

[Rio]

Our house has been struck twice by lightning, the first time was the biggest bang I have ever heard and a blue flash and a crackling noise zipped through the house. We lost everything that was plugged in and not covered by insurance as it was "an act of God". Second time was not as bad as it hit the back wall and just knocked out the digital box and telephone and answerphone.
In California in 2002 they had not had a thunderstorm in 5 years and they had 2 when we were there, 1 the night before we came home and the parades and fireworks had to be cancelled and 1 on the way to the airport and the freeway turned into a river. Never seen so much rain and such big hailstones.We were travelling in a minibus to the airport and the noise of it hitting the roof was really bad, but in 5 minutes time it was glorious sunshine!!
Love Rio

[lfcnut]

I thought that last August was really bad for storms. I've a picture that I took walking back to to the car at US and its like a wall of water. I've been to lots of places around the world but can't remember seing rain like it anywhere.

It didn't spoil the holiday!!

[icatqman]

Ponchos????? What is all that about? Poncho's are for Far Easstern tourists - Japan, Korea etc.
Enjoy the rain!! I can never understand why people go on a "wet" ride wearing a poncho.....what is the point?
Bluto's Bilge Raft ride should be a poncho free area!!
a) the water cools you down
b) you dry off immediately (almost)

Ban all poncho's I say!!

P

[mcsue]

Originally posted by icatqman
Ponchos????? What is all that about?

Ban all poncho's I say!!

P

LOL - I couldn't agree more, P. :wink

mcsue

[FLGirl-UKNow]

It's all about the hair! Have to stay dry to look good for holiday pictures! lol :D

[Mazzy]

FLGirl - just do what I do and give up on the hair - you will enjoy yourself much more not having to worry about it. When I am at WDW, it's the only time I walk round with a ponytail and a baseball cap! ;)

[Mazzy]

If you want to buy ponchos BEFORE your trip, you could do what I did last year, found this in the archives:


[If you're travelling to WDW in the next couple of months when it rains most days, and don't want the weight and inconvenience of the 'disney' rain ponchos bogging you down, you may be interested in this:

I have just purchased some disposable rain ponchos which are individually wrapped and only playing card size. They are available in child and adult sizes costing only 45p each (+ vat on the adults size), and come in transparent or a choice of 4 colours.

Much more convenient in the parks, will fit in a bumbag, and then you can just throw them away when you've finished with them.

For 10 adult and 10 child ponchos it cost £13.12 including postage which I thought was a small price to pay to not have to lug those heavyweight yellow ponchos around. I would imagine these will also be a lot cooler too!


Website is www.drywisepp.co.uk Delivery took only two days.

Hope this is useful for someone! :D ]

[FLGirl-UKNow]

oh yes, I do the baseball cap thing too! I just figured that would be the typical answer most would give........*insert whine here* But I don't want to get my hair wet!! lol



You can also buy the disposable ponchos at Dollar Tree, Walmart and Target. They are usually clear or white. I use to keep them in my car when I still lived in Orlando. Saved me from lookling like a drenched rat when attending business meetings.

[icatqman]

Mazzy has it right.......hair......forget it during park visits!!!!!!
I intend to have a number 2 prior to departure (I know the sun....the sun.....) but it is so easy to handle then. I also know that that scenario does not apply to you chicks, however, persevere for the visits to the parks. The Anti-poncho movement gathers pace!
P

[Hops]

Originally posted by FLGirl-UKNow
Lightning is very serious in Orlando and isn't to be taken lightly.
Nice pun, FLGirl!

Forecasts should not be taken too seriously as the weekly ones are usually not too accurate. Expect a good chance of rain every evening, unless in the middle of a dry spell.

[stingray]

Good quotes, but asking my wife to forget about her hair is like asking Mickey to come out without his ears.

[lesley]

just done the serch thingy on the orlando weather site said for our dates in july 16th to 30th that its going to be sunny(no surprise) dry (a bit surprised) and COLD ( very surprised) do you think its wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Maybe you clicked on a wrong month?

I just looked at the years prior and the average during that time was around 91F/33C.

If it stays the way it has been it will be even warmer than that. It was 96 earlier this week and felt like 102. Random afternoon thunderstorms have been as usual.

If you go to www.weather.com just prior to your departure it will give you the 10 day forecast and give you a better idea.

[bengunn]

Originally posted by FLGirl-UKNow
A rule of thumb for knowing the distance of a storm (and helps to calm down scared children) is to start counting as soon as you see the flash of the lightning. They say, if it is true, that for every second you count that is how many miles away the storm is.

Maths/Physics lesson warning

A correction here; at 86 degrees F, the speed of sound at ground level is 783mph. So in one second, sound travels 783/3600 = 0.22 second.

So the distance in miles is about 1 mile for every 4 seconds between seeing the lightening and hearing the thunder.

End of Maths/Physics lesson

[joolsleeds]

How jolly informative the Dibb is.

To think, all this time I have told the kids 1 second = a mile. The shame, the shame........

Will I ever get their respect again once (if) I tell them the correct calculation???????!

Jools

[ulsterscot]

We were stranded in the Publix Car park on the US27 about a fortnight ago in a horrendous storm.

WE actually videoed part of it, just to let the in-laws and out-laws have a look.

There was an almighty crash and all the lights in the car park went out. It was mightily impressive but, as is usual over there, when we woke the next morning, you wouldn't even have known there had been any rain.

[rob@rar.org.uk]

A few times I've been up mountains in the middle of cloud systems that are producing lightening. It's a weird experience. You know that lightening is likely to strike as your hair stands on end and the ground starts to buzz from the massive increase in static electricity. Sparks can jump across a gap between two metal objects of about a foot. At that point you know not to be on any local ridges or high points as there is a fairly strong risk of getting struck by lightening. I've had a few strikes less than 50 metres away - it's the loudest noise you'll every hear. Exhilarating, but scary!

Regards

Rob

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Maths/Physics lesson warning

A correction here; at 86 degrees F, the speed of sound at ground level is 783mph. So in one second, sound travels 783/3600 = 0.22 second.

So the distance in miles is about 1 mile for every 4 seconds between seeing the lightening and hearing the thunder.

End of Maths/Physics lesson

Ahhhh but try telling that to a child. Much easier to tell them to count 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi.......lol

:D :jump: :D

[bengunn]

Ok, so 4 Mississippis = 1 mile, very straightforward :wink

[davie]

Originally posted by bengunn
Ok, so 4 Mississippis = 1 mile, very straightforward :wink

Cool - thanks :thumb:

[flower_44]

Hi flgirl-uknow,
Thanks for all of the warnings about the rain etc. I can't wait to see the lightening as I love storm watching. I will definitely have my camera and camcorder ready.

Wendy

[lorna27]

hi
just returned from Orlando and can confirm that we had a rainstorm every afternoon for the two weeks but these storms were generally over in 30 minutes (just enough time to hit a bar etc). The only time it caused a problem for us was our day at the beach. The water is cleared of people and then the beach and we lost our days deposit on parasol, lounger and surf board etc. The theme park rides do close during the lightning, but this coincided with the time we left for a break to return later. We bought ponchos but only had to wear them once - its so hot we dried almost immediately.
Hope this helps