NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Severe Thunderstorms Threaten CMA Fest and Bonnaroo

Severe Thunderstorms Threaten CMA Fest and Bonnaroo

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For the next four days, thousands of music fans will be outside participating at Bonnaroo and CMA Music Fest. There is rain and possible thunderstorms in the forecast for the duration of the two festivals.

At 9:25 a.m. on Thursday the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch effective until 2 p.m. for many middle Tennessee counties. The watch included Coffee County where Bonnaroo will be taking place Thursday thru Sunday.

With this watch, a severe thunderstorm warning was also issued for Nashville and the rest of Davidson County. The warning ended at 10:15 a.m.

People were evacuated from the tents at the CMA Music Festival because the warning was accompanied by gusty winds and cloud-to-ground lightning.

"I was thinking I waited an hour and a half to get a decent seat," said CMA Music Festival attendee Dianne Greb.

There was always a risk of bad weather when people attend an outdoor event.

"This is definitely a memorable moment, sitting under a metal stage under the Hard Rock Cafe to get shelter, year, that's a memorable moment," said Greb.

Tom Johnston, a Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service said under metal was probably not the safest place for festival attendees to be.

 "If you can get to a building, get to an automobile, or simply follow the advice of the people at the event telling you to do because every event, every situation is going to be different in terms of when you can go safely," said Johnston.

Remember to listen to organizers at the events to tell you the safest place to go.    

"Hopefully most of these folks will have 30 to 60 minutes that a thunderstorm is coming in, but thunderstorms can develop very quickly, they can pop up right over head, then it's just a matter of finding the safest place around you and getting there," said Johnston.

Here is a list of tips provided by the National Weather service on how to stay safe if caught outside during severe thunderstorms.

• Do NOT seek shelter under tall isolated trees. The tree may help you stay dry but will significantly increase your risk of being struck by lightning. Rain will not kill you, but the lightning can!
• Do NOT seek shelter under partially enclosed buildings. Examples of buildings which are unsafe include car ports, covered but open garages, covered patio, picnic shelters, beach shacks/pavilions, golf shelters, camping tents, large outdoor tents, baseball dugouts and other small buildings such as sheds and greenhouses that do not have electricity or plumbing.
• Stay away from tall, isolated objects. Lightning typically strikes the tallest object. That may be you in an open field or clearing.
• A tent offers NO protection from lighting.
• Wet ropes can make excellent conductors. This is BAD news when it comes to lightning activity.
• Stay away from metal objects, such as fences, poles, umbrellas, and backpacks. Metal is an excellent conductor. The current from a lightning flash will easily travel for long distances.
• If lightning is in the immediate area, and there is no safe location nearby, stay at least 15 feet apart from other members of your group so the lightning won't travel between you if hit. If you can possibly run to a vehicle or building, DO so. Sitting or crouching on the ground is NOT safe and should be a last resort if a enclosed building or vehicle is not available.
• If you can get to your car it is best to remain in your vehicle for about 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder is heard.

CMA Music Fest and Bonnaroo organizers are working closely with the National Weather service to make sure the weather will not harm the thousands in attendance this weekend. Both events have plans in place in case bad weather continued throughout the event.