Severe Weather Awareness

Due to the nature of severe weather and its unpredictability, it's crucial to always know how to stay prepared. Here are some tips on how to stay prepared and actually what to do during severe weather.

It's important to know the risk levels during severe weather. The Storm Prediction Center, based in Norman, Oklahoma, has 5 (6 if you include non-severe t-storms) severe weather risk categories. The lowest, a slight risk is issued when isolated severe storms are possible. These often include spin-ups, weak tornados, damaging wind up to 65 MPH, and quarter-size hail. Next is a slight risk. That's issued when scattered severe storms are possible. These often carry the same risk as the marginal risk. Marginal and slight risks are the most common in our area, so you'll probably hear that pretty often in spring and summer. Enhanced risks are not as common as marginal and slight risks, but they aren't unheard of in Wisconsin. This is issued when numerous severe storms are possible. This is issued when there's an elevated risk of tornados, damaging winds up to 70 MPH, and large hail. The next two categories, moderate and high, are very rare for Wisconsin. These risks are issued when a severe weather outbreak is expected. This often includes long-track, violent tornadoes, damaging wind up to 80+ MPH, and very large hail.

To the best of my recollection, moderate and high risks issued for Wisconsin are issued normally for QLCS (Quasi-Linear Convective Systems). For example, we were under a moderate risk just a few years ago for a QLCS moving through with damaging winds up to hurricane force that decimated the Northwoods.

Preparing for severe weather is a crucial step in the severe weather process. It's highly encouraged to have a plan. Make sure everyone in your family has some sort of helmet (especially during moderate and high-risk situations). Ensure that you charge your electronics in case your power goes out and go over your safe place with your family. This is the lowest floor, in a room without windows OR the most interior room without windows. Lastly, please make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings. If your power goes out, so will your TV, leaving you without any way to receive warnings. I will hopefully start live streaming during severe weather, but that will be hit or miss since summers are pretty busy for me.

People often think "I don't need a way to receive warnings, I have an outdoor tornado siren near me". WRONG! Outdoor sirens are a way to let people know who are OUTSIDE that there's a Tornado Warning. Sirens do not go off for all severe thunderstorm warnings, only in certain situations.