But what about the rain?

[ozbeauticn]

My boyfriend and I are planning to camp at Fort Wilderness next week. I feel SO lucky to have found this site, but I have a huge question after looking up the weather report this morning. What to do in thunderstorms? Can you still tent camp? Is it going to be horrible? Should we get extra tarps to put on top our tents? How do you go about doing that? Above it tied to other things or on top tied to the ground? I'm getting a little freaked out that this is going to be a disaster! Is anyone else tent camping next week or have done it in this weather at FW? By thunderstorms do they just mean the afternoon quick ones? Because it says 60% chance of rain so it seems like a bigger deal than that... HELP! (please )

 

[donac]

We have been through some terrible thunderstorms the last couple of times we camped. The thing that save us was an extra tarp that we set up above our tent. We brought a hugh tart (big enough to cover 2 tents) and some extra poles and lots of rope. We sloped the tarp down in the front and in the back so that the water would run off. We tied the ropes into the ground and onto the trees around the site. This has saved us a great deal of problems.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I'm going next week to. I plan to stay in a tent and my folks will be there with there RV. I always put a tarp on the ground and I think I might put one over my tent just in case. I have not seen that ran forecast yet. I will have my lime green mickey on the number marker. So come by and say HI!!
P.S I HOPE IT DOSEN"T RAIN!! I have a very old tent.

 

[jonimce]

We have tent camped at the fort a total of 24 nights and I think we had some rain all but 2 of those nights. Everything was fine. Like the others said, a tarp on top and a tarp on bottom, and have a great time.

 

[ozbeauticn]

Do you just set the tarp on top of the tent and then tie it out further? Does it need its own poles so its over the tent but not touching it? Would it go over the rainfly or instead of the rainfly? I think our rainfly is pretty dinky... Sorry to ask so many questions, but the boyfriend won't be too happy if he gets wet.

 

[jonimce]

Put on your rain fly. Then we tie the tarp (make sure it's larger than your tent) to the trees. Don't forget rope. One site we angled it over the top tyeing it high above the front of the tent then low in the back. Kind of like a leantwo. The last trip we didn't have as many trees so we staked it to the ground in the back. Don't worry. When you get there you will see the way other people did theirs. And don't be afraid to ask other campers how to do things. Campers are supper helpful people.

The tarp should hang over the tent, not on it.

 

[LegoMom3]

If you haven't already, make sure you give your tent a good dose of seam sealer (couple applications at least). All it takes is one little drop of water to find its way through a seam, and many of its friends will follow!!

 

[cyndilou01]

make sure you water proof your tent before you go... Extra tarps are always a plus... and make sure that nothing touches the sides of the tent. We always take a plastic container that we can keep our sheets, pillows and blankets in so they do not get wet if we are away... now they have those really big zip lock bags you can put stuff in too..

Happy camp trip...

 

[ozbeauticn]

So if there are thunder storms, does that mean lightning? Will the water parks be closed? Do all the parks close if there is lightning or thunder?

Does anyone knew the difference between Isolated and Scattered Thunderstorms? (I would think Isolated would be worse, but Scattered have a higher chance of rain with them...?)

 

[michelle9343]

LIving in Fl we get really use to having thunder storms. We haven't had any for a long time, usually in the summer they happen everyday. When they say Isolated and scattered chances are you wont get one. The parks do not close. Certain rides can't run durning a storm but the parks remain open. The water parks will make you get out of the water is there is thunder. I wouldn't be to worried this time of year.