Hi Guys,
I'm back again with a daft newbie camper quiery 😏......
We're off camping next week and the location we're heading to has a day or so of stormy thunderous weather ahead (according to long range forecast).
Would love any advice on preparation for this sort of day in regards to safeguarding the tent
Going to purchase some heavy duty pegs today but is there any other good tips I could take on board please ?
Hoping you can help camping pals ⛺
It's not easy to predict which way the wind's going to be blowing but, if you can, pitch with the rear of the tent to the wind, then park your car so that it acts as a windbreak. Don't pitch under trees, as falling branches and debris is always a danger. Do pitch near a wall or a hedge if you can, to give some wind protection.
If you have a canopy on your tent, take it down (or lower it if it's permanently attached).
Have your guy ropes taut, but not too tight. You say you're getting good pegs. If you can use Delta pegs on your guys, double-peg where necessary with regular pegs and cross over the elastics at the bottom of each doorway/entrance.
Make sure you pitch on flat, level ground if you can, and not in a dip. If you use a footprint groundsheet, make sure it doesn't protrude at all or it'll channel rainwater under your tent then it won't be able to escape again.
Also, if it does come to storms and you have internet this is a great site.
https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#y=44.9133;x=5.1947;z=5;t=2;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;
Realtime lightning strikes anywhere in the work to within a few feet accuracy. You can see the storm coming and judge if it will miss you.
Our daughter is fascinated with it during a storm.
If it's stormy winds, consider using Delta ground anchor pegs for at least the main guylines. Many (but not all) on here swear by them.
Either way, again for high winds, consider doubling up on the main guys. Whilst we should never skimp, and always peg every single guyline, there's no harm in adding extra. 2 guys from the same attachment point, but spread out in different directions.
Whether it's high winds or torrential rains, consider ear plugs if you want to sleep!
If you can't sleep because of the noise, or simply because you are too excited, consider hot chocolate with a dash of Aldi's version of Baileys (it's much cheaper!!).
OH... and if it's really, really bad, get out there and video it, then post on here.
Thanks for the very welcome advice camping chums.
Very well appreciated.....it's my wife..... she's just a wee scaredy cat...just want to reassure her 😏
This excellent post by Sceptical Camper is well worth reading. Speak to the site warden if you're concerned about flooding. I normally try to pitch on a slight rise if it's going to be wet.
If lightening is around your car will make an excellent Faraday cage. Just don't touch any of the metal. Hammond
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Based on personal experiences, Delta pegs can be lifted if the ground is soggy/boggy due to heavy rain, therefore, double or even triple peg away from the same pegging point if at all possible to be on the safe side.
Have the tent with its bum/sloping side to the wind whenever possible. Not easy to do as wind direction can change, and not with the type of tent where there is not a sloping back end.
Find a pitch with some protection/shelter against the wind, such as a hedge. One can also use one's car to provide shelter to the tent.
I would avoid pitching under a tree, in case of broken branches falling onto the tent. Also, rain water dripping onto the tent from the tree can be very annoying especially when the rain has stopped.
I am on my second Dutch cotton canvas pyramid tent, and it was damaged on its first trip when I camped over Easter 2016 due to a number of wrong decisions such as choosing the wrong pitch; and not pitching with the sloping side to the wind etc...
I would avoid camping in very windy conditions, as I have learnt that my tent, even for a design that is supposed to be good at withstanding stormy weather, is not mightier than the wind, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
DK
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Topic: Stormy weather
