By Jennifer Gray7 hours ago
PlayAs many as 12% of the population have a weather-related phobia.Weather phobias are common in children and those who have experienced a traumatic or major weather event.Having a plan and being prepared when severe weather strikes can help with anxiety.
If the sound of thunder makes you anxious, or the sight of spaghetti models during an approaching hurricane has you spooked, you are not alone.
Weather phobias are very real and more common than you might think.
As much as 12% of the population has a weather-related phobia, according to a study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
A lightning strike is seen during a storm, with the Washington Monument in the foreground, in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 29, 2024.
(Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)What is a weather phobia?
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines phobia as a “marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.”
You may love a fresh blanket of snow, but that same sight could strike horror in others. Similarly, an afternoon thunderstorm may bring peace and a desire for a nap in some, but it may terrorize someone else.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), “This is common, especially in children and those who have experienced a traumatic or major weather event.”
Common weather phobias include:
Astraphobia (aka brontophobia): fear of thunder and lightning Ancraophobia: fear of wind Chionophobia: fear of snow Lilapsophobia: fear of tornadoes or hurricanesNephophobia: fear of clouds Ombrophobia: fear of rain
Some uncommon weather phobias include:
Thermophobia: fear of heat Homichlophobia: fear of fog Heliophobia: fear of the sunAchluophobia: fear of darknessAnablephobia: fear of looking up or of the sky fallingHow to cope with weather-related phobias
The NWS says knowledge is power, and having a plan and being prepared when severe weather strikes can help with anxiety.
Here are a few tips to help you get ready and hopefully alleviate some of those frightful feelings when bad weather approaches:
Have a plan: Know where your safe space is, get a weather radio, pack an emergency kitHave three ways to receive warnings Emergency kit supplies/lists can be found here Practice your planLearn about your local warning systems: outdoor sirens, mass notification systems, etc.Learn about weather and its terms (i.e. watch vs. warning vs. advisory)
(For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.)