Going out in nature is refreshing and relaxing, but there’s always danger lurking around the corner. You may have street smarts, but lack wild-smarts. So instead of getting struck by lightning or drowning in a rip current, learn about the different ways nature warns you away from disaster and imminent natural disaster. Plus, sometimes you just can’t check the weather forecast and want to know if it’ll rain tomorrow.
1. Beware of a patch of J-shaped trees
Have you ever been hiking in the woods when you saw a patch of trees bent into a J shape? You may have escaped a very dangerous situation since that’s a sign of an upcoming landslide. The ground is moving very slowly, making the trees grow in the odd shape.
Another sign of potential landslide is cracking in the ground, which could be in the sidewalk, street, or dirt. Plus, if there was a landslide there before, another one may be on the way. Would-be rescuers have been buried in the second landslide. Landslides occur on slopes, though, so if you’re in a flat area you’re probably fine.
2. When the ocean level drops, danger is not far behind
If you’re walking along the beach in the Ring of Fire, aka the coasts along much of the Pacific Ocean, and the water starts receding, you may be in trouble. Are the coral reefs uncovered? Don’t waste any time looking at flopping fishes or pretty corals, get to high ground as fast as possible. A tsunami is likely on the way.
Tsunamis are usually formed when an earthquake happens underwater, which displaces the water above it. At this point, the waves can move as fast as a jet airplane 500 miles per hour across the ocean. You may as well keep a look out for the ocean level dropping along other beaches, because while tsunamis are most common in the Pacific, they happen elsewhere too.
3. A wall cloud in the sky might take you out of Kansas
Laying on the grass and watching fluffy white clouds may be a calming way to pass the time, but if you find yourself watching a wall cloud, get to shelter. Wall clouds sit lower than the rest of the thunderstorm and can be up to five miles long.
Quickly rising air makes the pressure drop below the storm, forming the wall cloud. But these formations can mean danger, because if the cloud is rotating, it could produce a destructive tornado. As we all learned from the Wizard of Oz, tornadoes can be the start to an amazingly colorful journey, but usually, they’re just bad news.
4. Steer clear of the channel of choppy waters at the beach
If you see a channel of choppy water on the beach, seaweed and debris moving away from the shore in a particular area, a section of discolored water, or a gap in the line of waves, it’s likely that a deadly rip current lies beneath the water’s surface. Commonly (though mistakenly) called riptides, rip currents are very fast, powerful channels of water flowing away from shore.
Rip currents kill over a hundred people in the U.S. every year and are responsible for most lifeguard rescues. You can check rip current risks before heading into the water, but if you do get caught in one, you should swim parallel to the shore to break out of the channel. Then, head at an angle to shore.
5. If animals start leaving, an earthquake might be on the way
As far back as 373 BC Greece, people have reported that animals like rats, snakes, and insects flee their homes days before a large earthquake shakes the land. But so far these stories are not backed by science. Scientists don’t know what the animals are detecting — if they are actually sensing anything. It’s also pretty hard to study their behavior right before an earthquake.
Generally, animals can sense earthquakes a few seconds before humans, because they feel the initial small waves that we can’t detect. But while this could be marginally helpful, it won’t tell you to get out of the earthquake zone soon enough
6. But if animals start running toward you, there could be a fire behind them
Alternatively, if you see birds and mammals flying and running toward you, there might be a wildfire behind them. Some animals, like amphibians, stay in the fire, burrowing underground to escape it, but others run as fast as they can. Of course, if you see smoke, that’s also a pretty good indicator of wildfire.
You’ve probably conjured up half a dozen animal-centric animated films in your head at this point. It seems like it’s always a fox or a horse or something running from fire and inevitably getting caught on a fallen log. You’ve always wanted your life to be a Disney film, right?
7. If your hair stands on end, take action
Lightning strikes may seem like the unicorn of natural threats, but more people die each year from lightning than unprovoked shark attacks. While the annual deaths have been declining greatly since the 1940s, it’s all because people are more aware of the danger (and, you know, medical advancements).
So if your hair starts standing on end and your jewelry starts buzzing, lightning is probably about to strike very close to you. Get to shelter immediately, or if you can’t, crouch low on the ground and make yourself a small target. Touch the ground as little as possible, resting on the balls of your feet, and then get out of the area when you can.
8. Sharks swimming to deeper waters probably means a hurricane is coming
In the off chance that you’re out in the ocean and you see a bunch of sharks swimming deeper in the water, it’s likely that a hurricane or tropical storm is approaching. They are probably sensing the drop in barometric pressure that accompanies the storm and trying to get out of the hectic zone.
Contrary to what popular movies like Jaws show, sharks do not have the sole mission of attacking humans. So instead of staying shallow and getting swept into nearby cities, sharks are trying to get to safety. Don’t believe those fake pictures of sharks in flooded malls and streets, because these animals didn’t evolve for millions of years to be that stupid.
9. If you hear a roar of rushing water, run to high ground
If it’s been raining a lot, you’re near a stream or river, and you hear a roar of rushing water, get to high ground immediately. It’s likely that a flash flood is about to spill out in front of you and, considering that floods are the second most deadly form of severe weather (in the U.S.), you don’t want to be caught in it.
Flash floods are incredibly powerful. They can roll boulders, level buildings, uproot trees, and drag bridges. Broken dams, failing levees, and heavy rain can all cause flash floods. Unfortunately, rain is only romantic until it takes away half the road.
10. If all the golden-winged warblers disappear, a storm’s brewing
While it’s unclear if animals leave before an earthquake, if all the golden-winged warblers suddenly fly away, it’s possible a severe tornado is on its way. In April 2014, researchers were tracking a group of these birds in Tennessee when suddenly they weren’t in Tennessee anymore.
After checking their geolocators, the scientists realized they’d gone all the way down to Florida. One was actually in Cuba. A few days later, all the birds came back to Tennessee, completing their 900-mile round trip. The scientists think the birds heard low-frequency infrasound coming from the storms. Humans can’t hear infrasound, but birds can.
11. A ring around the moon or sun can predict tomorrow’s weather
Have you ever seen a heavenly glow around the sun or a mysterious halo around the moon? These rings are formed when very thin, high up cirrus clouds drift above you. The clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals that split and reflect the light, thus making a ring around the sun or moon.
But since cirrus clouds often come before a storm, the ring can be a sign that rain is on its way in the next day or two. Sure the air is clear now, but a low-pressure system is probably coming to disrupt that. But it’s worth it to see these beautiful halos.
12. If you see dead fish on the beach, don’t go in the water
One dead animal on the beach probably means nothing for your health, but if you see a lot of dead fish or other animals, the water might be toxic. It’s possible that “red tide” is congregating in the water near the beach. Red tides happen all over the world, but one algae species causes them in the Gulf of Mexico: Karenia brevis.
When the water is full of more toxic algae than normal, it’s called a red tide. They can make the water reddish or brown, but sometimes the water’s color is normal. If you go in the water, you might experience respiratory irritation like coughing or an itchy throat. Thoroughly rinse off in freshwater and the issues should go away.
13. If your dog seems concerned about a part of your body, get it checked out
Dogs are great at telling you things, even if they can’t speak our language. So if your dog is sniffing or licking a particular part of your body more than usual, you should probably get it checked out. Dogs have such a powerful nose that they can sniff out evidence of cancer.
Scientists think they smell organic compounds coming from cancer and have proved they can distinguish between cancer patient urine and cancer free urine. There have also been plenty of cases where a dog alerted their owner to growing cancer. So just like you let your dog out when it stands by the door, listen when it’s telling you something is wrong.
14. Cracked snow underfoot could signal an impending avalanche
Skiing is all fun and games until a devastating avalanche tumbles down the mountain. They can be impossible to escape, as the snow can move as quickly as 80 miles an hour and people generally sink in the snow. But if you see the signs beforehand, perhaps you can avoid getting caught in the disaster.
Pay attention when you walk on the snow: does it feel hollow? Do you hear an odd “whumping” sound underfoot? Check around your feet for cracks in the snow. Plus, if there’s been heavy snow or rain, significantly warmer temperatures, or previous slides in the area, it could lead to an avalanche.
15. Rising water levels warn of an incoming flood
If it’s been raining a lot and you see the water level in a stream or river rising, a flood is probably on its way. Plus, the water may be brownish and muddy, from the quick moving water eroding the surrounding sediment.
If you’re ever caught in a flood while driving, stay away from any water on the streets. Turn around and drive away. Even if the water is only two feet deep, it could lift your car and put you in a lot of danger. You’ll want to avoid inflicting a flash flood of emotions on your loved ones.
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