How to Deal with Bad Weather in a RV
First time entering South Dakota in June!
Preparing to slumber, I felt that sensation of sleepiness taking over with a pleasant and relaxing feeling. A few body twitches and I was almost asleep when I felt…something. This something was not usual or ordinary. I opened my eyes slowly and looked around the hazy darkness. Snoring sounds were coming next to me, as my husband can sleep quite well without a worry in the world. But he was not causing the new jostling feeling.
After looking around, all was quiet, and I snuggled with my pillow, wanting sleep to take over again, but it was not to be. At least not this time. The jostling movement was turning a bit aggressive. Kaboom! A loud thunder came close, and I quickly shook John awake. I was scared and I needed his strength for what we were about to endure. We have been through storms with our RV before, but nothing like what we would experience!
A beautiful sunset in Nomad’s View, Wall, South Dakota!
Living in a RV is very different when weather happens to you. Thin walls are a part of your life, where you can feel the heat of summer and the cold of winter in your trailer, as if you were outside. A/C and heat can be a part of your rving adventure to help keep your trailer comfortable and cozy. But and this is a very big but, not all of weather is nice and pleasant.
Not only can you feel the temperature from outside, but when the weather changes, such as rain or snow, or even wind, you feel every bit of the change. And it can be scary. I would like to help you when you encounter bad weather, and you will!
Here are some tips that we learned along the way:
Sunny days are probably what you will encounter the most, however, it depends on where you are camped at.
Those days when the clouds come, do not panic. Watch the weather forecast and have a backup plan.
This plan of action may include pulling in the slides when the wind comes. If it is raining, you will find out if your roof is secure. If not, get it fixed right away. Nothing like having a soggy interior of your camper!
When the weather is bad, like a hurricane or a tornado, get out of there! If you are unable to move your trailer, get to a safe spot within the campground or go to a safe place, like a shelter near you. You are more precious than your trailer!
You can always find another park to stay in if bad weather is coming, and then revisit the place where you were going another time. It is okay!
Lots of green grass in Wall, South Dakota!
I shared a part of what happened to us when bad weather came. What we experienced was the scariest storm I have ever been in! Let’s finish this story:
I got up and walked the length of the trailer, praying the impending storm would go away. Moaning and banging sounds came from outside with such an eerie feeling, like someone was trying to get in with an aggressive blow.
Our awning was pulled in, but what would happen to the rest of the trailer? What about the rest of our setup? Would we lose anything in this vicious storm?
A storm is coming in South Dakota!
Rain came quickly with hail as pieces of ice came parading down our trailer. I put a pillow on my head as I did not know if the ice pieces would come through the roof. Tears flowed from fear, questions to my husband as to when the storm would stop and leave us alone.
He was not in fear but said it would be alright.
He was right. After the vicious storm pummeled our trailer, not only one storm but two came in a row, it cleared up quickly as it came. Peace reigned. We went back to bed, but I think I kept an eye open in case another storm came.
We found out the next day what damage had happened: a broken taillight from our trailer. That was it. With 65 – 100 mph winds (seriously), that was the only damage. We were very fortunate to have gone through a storm and not receive hardly any damage.
Some others were not.
South Dakota has incredible beauty, even when there are terrible storms!
Someone lost their roof of the pop-up camper they were staying in. Tents were blown away. And people left as they did not want to go through it again. I cannot blame them.
We stayed for a little while longer. But no more storms.
Boondocking along Nomad’s View (popular for dry camping), Wall, South Dakota!
Even though we did survive this unexpected storm, weathering through them is different than living in a house. I think what saved us was how we were parked, at Nomad’s View near the Badlands. We were facing the direction of the wind and that is the secret of parking when a storm comes, face the direction, point into the direction of the impending storm.
So, what type of weather have you experienced in your RV?