Let's talk about weather

['tiredTeacher]

Another site I frequent, shared by folks who camp in all sorts of rigs, has had a great deal of angst these past months. Seems as if they can't go camping or have cancelled trips because the weather report wasn't crafted by Walt Disney.
I take the attitude that 60 per cent chance of rain means 40 per cent chance it won't, so I go. Obviously, a 90 per cent chance of rain stretched over several days will give me pause as well as a hurricane bearing down on the beach where I plan to stay.
Question: What is your "weather threshold"?
When inclement weather strikes, what do you do? (Those who stay in with their laptops and DVDs need not respond to this one.)

[threebeachboys]

Question: What is your "weather threshold"?
When inclement weather strikes, what do you do? (Those who stay in with their laptops and DVDs need not respond to this one.)

Well, I stay inside with a book?  Is that ok?  

Rain and thunder are fine with us.  We are cozy and dry and actually enjoy the sounds!  We read, play games, run errands, etc.  

Wind is what I worry most about. . . . . we've survived up to 45 mph . . . . but . . . . . .

Pam

[CajunCamper]

I remember one time we had a weekend camping trip planned and the weather forecast was that we would have a constant drizzle all weekend. Well we decided to go anyway, but we preparred for the weather by bringing our rain gear and a few extra towels and pairs of underwear and socks.

Well for once the weatherman was right. It did drizzle the entire weekend. The campground was about 80% vacant and we had a blast. We hiked, kayaked, fished and enjoyed our add-a-room. By the way our kids were young at that time as well, they had a blast. Boys and mud puddles are a natural, we just hosed them off and threw them a towel.

I will add that the pitter patter of the drizzle falling through the trees makes for some mighty fine nappin.

We have camped in the snow, in freezing temps, in 104 degree heat, in the rain, we even got caught in a tropical storm, mostly rain. If you do any camping on the coast you have to know that a thunderstorm can come out of nowhere without any notice and you just ride it out. I also learned that in the mountains out west, the weather can turn on a dime as well, but you prepare for it.

That's what we teach our boyscouts, always be prepared. If you prepare for different weather conditions it's a whole lot easier to handle the change in weather and to enjoy yourself in spite of the weather. After all if pop ups and tents weren't built for rain, they wouldn't have roofs on them.

CajunCamper

[butterflyfish]

Well, we haven't camped much, but I'll tell you about the first weekend we had planned in the new 2 us PUP.  They forcasted heavy thunderstorms and tornados and very high winds.  We delayed camping up until the very last minute when it looked like we were actually going to get that storm.  We've lived near the ocean all our lives so we know how different the weather can be from what they predict.  So by 2PM the day we were supposed to leave, we called the CG and told them we wouldn't be there.  They were so nice and understanding and let us transfer our deposit to another day so we didn't lose it!  As it turned out, we did get the storm and lost power and actually spent some time of it in our closet in fear of tornado.  The kids were terrified at home because of the weather and the weather map looked like armagedden.  We were glad we didn't go since we heard those who were at the CG were huddled in the bath house til the storm passed.  If that were the kids' first camping experience, it would have been their last!  As it turned out some tornados did touch down, but not near us or the CG.

We did go on our second trip with a chance of rain.  It never did rain, but it was cloudy, windy and cold the whole time.  Luckily, our first trip ended up being plesant so on the cold and windy second trip the kids were fine.  They played throwing rocks in the water, they colored and did watch a few movies and we took them to an arcade and rode go-carts and went bowling.

A chance of rain on a weeked trip probably won't stop us (tornado, yes), but a 90% chace on a week long trip would probably have us heading for home... Especially with the kids... :yikes:

[AzRon]

I have camped in thunderstorms that were pretty intense in a tent up on the Mogollon Rim in north central Az in the summer time, my parents would stay in Showlow in their 5r so i decided to go vist them (about a 30 min drive ) it rained and hailed so hard i could not see to drive even with the windshield wipers on high :yikes:  so yes it can be done as said earlier you have to prepare for the weather (make sure you have good drainage around your site for runoff) and have fun :-()  AzRon

[Miller Tyme]

I say, **** the torpedoes, full speed ahead!!!;)

We've gone even with 90% chance of showers. We just take a big tarp and cover the whole site.
We were at a rally about 7 years ago, and tornadoes were reported within 5 miles of the cg. All the rigs were in a semi-circle, so it was eerily calm in the center. Some of our group went to the shelter, but a few of us(me) sat out watching and listening to the sound and light show.:eyecrazy:

[ronerjones]

We tend to plan our weekends without much lead time due to my work schedule. I am a family of 4 two daughters 10 and 14. We bring the DS and portable DVD but they are left in the car when we get to the camp grounds. Our PU is fully stocked with board games. Rain or shine we go. the only difference is weather or not we sit inside or outside. I can not tell you how many evenings we have sat around and laughed our heads off playing games.

Someone should start a thread on the games they love to play when camping.

[AZsix]

One of the great things about AZ is that you don't have to look at the weather forecast 98% of the year. You know it's going to be sunny and in the summer sunny and hot. We do have what they call "Monsoon Season" here but all that means is that we get thunderstorms in the afternoon. Some of the can be very serious to the point of turning over small planes and tearing the roofs off of houses but depending where you are you may only see them off in the distance. Even when you do have one where you are they pass quickly, cool things off and then you are right back to doing whatever you were doing. Being from MA I know what it's like to look at the weather hoping and praying the weather is good enough for whatever it is that you want to do. The weather here in AZ is one of the things I love about living here.

BTW for those gardeners out there. We picked our first tomato the other day and have two more ripening as we speak. That's another thing I love about living here, while others dream of there gardens we are enjoying ours.

[cjpoppin]

Ya go camping of course..........That's when reading and playing card games or finding a local museum is lots of fun.......

[ColemanCampingFamily]

Well, since I still haven't ironed out all the leaks in the PUP, I do make sure that the chance of rain is not above 50% or so. Before our big trip last summer, it pretty much had to be raining for me not to go, but we had MAJOR leaking issues due to the continued hard rain our first night. Needless to say, the next morning we took a trip to the camp store and bought a bigger (wider) tarp   .

[Darrell T]

The weather has little affect on if I go or not.
When I was younger I would actually head to the mountains here in Colorado to be in the worst of a snow storm/blizzard. I was in a tent then and not towing a PUP so I wasn't worried about getting a trailer out.
Still even with the pup I don't change plans for the weather.
If it rains then it does If it snows then so be it that is all part of the adventure.
DT

[McCampers]

You camp in anything less than Hurricane or Blizard.  I'm more apt to not camp in 120 degrees than I am in rain.  When the bad weather hits, you go inside and play cards, crosswords, scrabble, read book, watch DVD.  Yep I said it, even after you said not to.  In the end you camp and make the best of it and have a great time.  Miles from home with no cares or worries.

['tiredTeacher]

Yep I said it, even after you said not to.  In the end you camp and make the best of it and have a great time.  Miles from home with no cares or worries.

LOL. I put that caveat in there to hold down on the obvious answers. I'm not categorically opposed to electronic diversions, I was just looking for more creative ideas. (Such as using the day to explore nearby indoor attrctions. Nothing like a downpour to make a museum twice the fun and take twice as long to visit.)

[butterflyfish]

Just saw the weather forcast for this weekend...  Isolated t-storms...  Oh well, we're still going!    Besides today "they" said rain in the morning and clearing by the afternoon, well, I needed sunglasses when I drove the kids to school!  Can't trust the weather forcast. LOL

[Global Mom]

LOL. I put that caveat in there to hold down on the obvious answers. I'm not categorically opposed to electronic diversions, I was just looking for more creative ideas. (Such as using the day to explore nearby indoor attrctions. Nothing like a downpour to make a museum twice the fun and take twice as long to visit.)

Well, if you are looking for creative ideas ... I've got one for you     One of the criteria that our hybridTT had to pass when we were shopping for a new camper was that there had to be enough room inside so that (in the event of inclement weather) I could put my spinning wheel inside and spin fiber and the rest of the family still be able to move around!!  LOL