Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Tropical rainstorm brings torrential downpours and dangerous flash flooding to Louisiana Chevron right
Flash flood risk to focus on parts of central US. Get the forecast Chevron right

Columbus, OH

74°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

74°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

Top weather phobias explored: Millions of Americans experience these weather fears

By Bianca Barr Tunno, AccuWeather staff writer

Copied

As thunder rolls and lightning sparks the sky, do you find yourself in a state of panic? If the weather forecast calls for snow and ice, would you rush to buy bread and milk, then hunker down at home? When a tropical storm or hurricane is barreling toward your community, there may be no choice but to seek shelter or leave the area entirely.

And if you are afraid of weather events, your behaviors and choices during those times of emergency are often motivated by an instinctive process.

“If you perceive something that you believe is threatening, whether or not it is or isn’t, you have a natural response to that perception,” Dr. Michelle Newman, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology and psychiatry at Penn State University, told AccuWeather. “Your body produces arousal – adrenaline – which is adaptive for humans in situations of ‘fight or flight.’ You will engage behaviors that will protect you and keep you safe.”

Quiz Maker - powered by Riddle

According to a 2014 study published in the American Meteorological Society Journal, approximately one in 10 Americans may suffer from some degree of severe weather fear. Researchers from Ball State University and the University of Kansas said study participants reported feelings of anxiety and helplessness, increased heart pounding and the need to change their schedules when faced with a severe weather event. The most common behavior surrounding these weather events was constant monitoring of television, radio, internet or weather applications, according to researchers. They interviewed almost 300 people in 43 states.

The study reported: “…When not debilitating, some fear can be a substantial motivator to encourage individuals to take action against the threat, such as seeking shelter.”

And Newman, who specializes in anxiety disorders, agrees.

RELATED:

Be AccuWeather Ready for extreme weather conditions

“Trying to stay calm but acting in those cases is absolutely optimal,” Newman told AccuWeather. “After the situation is over, don’t avoid anything related to the experience: don’t avoid talking about it and don’t avoid hearing about other types of storms on the news because all of that avoidance feeds your fear.”

So staying apprised of the situation is one way to calm a human mind. However, what about if a pet is in the mix? Rochelle Morrissey, a veterinarian in Oakland, California, told AccuWeather that dogs in particular deal with storm phobias and sometimes get downright terrified.

“Some dogs will just hide but other dogs will get into self-destructive behavior where they will start destroying the house or injure themselves trying to get out of the house,” Morrissey said.

She said she’s treated dogs that have broken off teeth trying to chew their way out of crates and others that have jumped through plate glass windows during thunderstorms.

Morrissey said pets may panic because they do not have the capacity to understand what is going on and pet owners have to create an action plan to keep their animals calm.

“Try to have distractions on if you know a storm is coming,” she said. “Keep the TV on. Keep the radio on. Try to dissociate when a storm is coming. Associate with positive things. Have someone at home to pet them and give them treats.”

And if those suggestions don’t work, sometimes medication is coupled with training to help animals with anxiety.

“A lot of people don’t always realize pets get anxiety the same way people do so you need to help them cope with it.”

Report a Typo

Weather News

video

Renewed flash flooding sweeps through New Mexico

Jul. 18, 2025
Recreation

Felix Baumgartner, known for jump from stratosphere, dies in crash

Jul. 18, 2025
Weather News

Inside the grueling recovery effort after Texas’ deadly flood

Jul. 15, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 16, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Severe Weather

When water hits like a tornado: The violent force of flash flooding

1 day ago

Weather Forecasts

Flash flood risk to focus on parts of central US into next week

6 hours ago

Weather News

Lightning strike scorches Florida golf green

5 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

When will the Northeast get relief from the heat and humidity?

6 hours ago

Weather News

Why the search for the missing in Texas may take months

7 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Recreation

Felix Baumgartner, known for jump from stratosphere, dies in crash

9 hours ago

Weather News

Curious Colorado bear rescued from storm drain

12 hours ago

Weather News

Dinosaur fossil found underneath a Denver museum’s parking lot

1 day ago

Weather News

Dolphin rescued from shallow lagoon in South Carolina

3 hours ago

Weather News

What happens when an octopus engages with art?

3 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather News Top weather phobias explored: Millions of Americans experience these weather fears
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...