In June, the National Weather Service focuses on rip current and lightning safety awareness weeks. 

Rip Current Safety 

A rip current forms when waves break near the shoreline, and some of the waves break stronger in some locations than others. This causes a circulation of fast-moving water that travels back offshore. Even the most experienced swimmer can get caught in a rip current and unable to break free. So far in 2014, 5 people have lost their lives and 6 people have been rescued from rip currents. There are signs posted at most beaches of a diagram of what a rip current looks like, and what to do if you're caught in one. In addition, the state of Florida has a beach flag system that can easily describe the surf condition based on a color scale. 

 http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/index.shtml

Lightning Safety 

Florida is the lightning capital of the continental United States, with some portions of the state seeing an average of more than 30 strikes per square mile each year. Since May 4 fatalities from lightning have been reported in the state, and June, July and August are months when there are increased outdoor activities. Remember, "When It Roars, Go Indoors." 

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

 This is a good time to review the excellent information and resources that the NWS has pulled together. If you have any visitors coming from out of state, it may be good to send them the links provided, so they can make sure they are aware of these summer hazards here in the Sunshine State.

Assistant state climatologist Melissa Griffin took part in several outreach presentations last month, alongside Ms. Hannah Hiester and Ms. Brittany Pace, representatives from FSU's Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS). The center hosted the Oasis Girls Camp for two separate presentations, one on the ocean and the other on weather. The girls participated in a weather knowledge quiz, hands on experiments with density, and were able to view some marine animal specimens. (insert Oasis Girls Photo) 

In mid-June, she gave presentations at summer camps hosted by Literacy Volunteers of Leon County. One of the talks focused on a basic introduction to weather and climate, weather instruments and severe weather, while the other focused on understanding wind. 

The final outreach presentation of the month was given to teachers and students as a part of the Gulf of Mexico Stewardship and Conversation Program at Florida A&M University. Teacher and students were given a presentation on weather and climate of Florida, with a focus on the hydrologic cycle before they were split into two groups. Ms. Rachel Weihs, PhD Meteorology student at COAPS, focused on discussions about professional development with the teachers, while the students took part in hands on experiments with Ms. Griffin and Mr. Zierden.

Members from the Department of Health's Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) visited the Florida Climate Center at the end of June to review progress on the work already completed under the CDC BRACE Grant, and to discuss the next stage of incorporating climate model data for the upcoming year under the grant. With insight from Dr. Tim LaRow and Dr. Lydia Stevanova from COAPS, the focus of the next few months will be making sure that BRACE members receive the data and proper guidance on the applications of the models for climate and health projections.