If your area experiences sudden storms, it is paramount to protect your vehicle. A lot can happen during such times.
Your home’s roof could be blown off, and a windscreen can easily be damaged. The effects can be tremendous, but if you are prepared you minimise the damages.
There are many types of storms all casusing different amounts of damage depending on how strong the storm is.
But even with this, some of the damages can be avoided with a bit of forward planning.
Thunderstorms Causing Strong Wind & Hail
You may not realise, but at any given time there are approximately two thousands thunderstorms happening all around the world. This makes them one of the most common types of storms.
Thunderstorms often bring heavy rain, strong wind, lightning, thunder, hail and even tornadoes.
Strong wind storms can be unpredictable. It could be sunny one minute, and the next it is chaotic. Tree branches often fall during these storms which can easily crush a whole car.
Car windscreens and other glass are often the first thing to break in hail storms and when this happens you will most likely need an auto glass replacement.
How to Avoid Car Damage From a Storm
Understanding how devastating storm damage can be, it is essential to take into account what needs to be done in such scenarios.
Remember that the entire car including the auto glass and body can be damaged.
Due to the unpredictability of weather, the vehicle should always be protected. Whether it is during winter or summer, always do your best to keep the car safe.
A tree may seem to provide good shelter from a storm however, small and large branches can easily fall causing damage.
If the car is parked at home, avoid doing it outside. If the home has a carport or garage, it is the best place to store it. Here it will be safe from storms, other weather conditions, and also intruders.
It is also advisable that as long as it is parked outside, get a quality cover for it. While large branch falls can still cause damage, minor damages will be prevented.
By taking these small yet important precautions, you will be preventing possible windscreen replacement or more extensive damage.
Driving During a Storm
If there is hail or heavy wind storms and you are driving, do your best to pull over safely. Alternatively, you can slow down to minimize the risk.
A car in motion faces more risk of damage than a stationary one. Your visibility is obstructed in heavy rainfall which can lead to hitting a pothole, losing traction or even a head on collision.
As such your safety and that of the car decrease significantly. This causes a dangerous situation that can be avoided if you stop driving.
As you try to take cover, avoid areas that could worsen the situation such as under trees.
Sudden Changes in Temperature
There is often a change of temperature outside the vehicle during a storm.
Temperature tends to change drastically from cold to warm and vice versa. This is dangerous for automotive glass, as it contracts and expands rapidly.
Due to the pressure, it can develop small chips, cracks, and in some instances, it becomes brittle. If it has existing damage, there is a possibility it will be worse.
If there is snow on the front auto glass, how should you take care of it? One mistake that most car owners make is to try to defrost it with hot water.
This rapid change in temperature from cold snow to boiling water is enough to crack the glass. The result is irreparable damage.
There Was a Heavy Storm, What Now?
One of the things that most car owners do after a storm is to check if there is any sort of damage.
If you have suffered a broken window, secure the car as soon as possible. Leaving it in this condition exposes the interior of the car which can lead to further damage for more bad weather.
The car needs to be assessed and although you can do it, it is best to work with an experienced professional. They will assess the entire car, including the windshield, side, and rear windows.
If the glass has been repaired, or it has small existing chips or cracks, the case is more sensitive.
If the damage from the storm is on the driver’s line of vision or it obstructs driving, then a windshield replacement may be needed.
Driving with auto glass in such a condition is a grave mistake. It could result in an accident or a fine with the authorities.
Take Away
Weather is unpredictable, and it is easy to be caught off-guard. Hence it is always best to have a plan of preparing for a storm.
Although keeping the car undercover is the best way to keep it safe, you could be on the road.
Besides being chaotic and affecting drivers’ visibility, it could result in a broken or damaged windshield.
Turn on the headlights, drive slowly and if you can, pull over. Avoid parking under trees and opt for areas such as undercover parking. It will minimize the possible damages.
At the end of the day, it is crucial to keep the car protected rather than dealing with expensive windscreen replacement costs or worse. If you realize there is damage, get it fixed as soon as possible to avoid minor damages becoming larger.