Weather Awareness Week 2021

Severe Weather Awareness Week 2021 (March 1-5,2021)

Join us every day this week as we go over key information to help keep you and your family prepared this storm season!
We will be LIVE on our Facebook page each day covering these tips and information, as well as taking and answering your questions!

There will also be a FREE Weather Radio GIVEAWAY during each of these Live Videos!

So be sure to join us on our Facebook page, for a chance to win a weather radio!

Highlights of Severe Weather Preparedness Week include:

MONDAY, March 1, 2021, | PREPAREDNESS DAY – Receiving Weather Info!

TUESDAY, March 2, 2021, | TORNADO SAFETY DAY!

Annual Tornado Drill: March 2nd at 10:00 am CST!

 

Residents should treat the drill as if it were an actual Tornado Warning.

The purpose of the drill is to test everyone’s readiness for life-threatening severe weather events such as tornadoes, flash floods, and damaging winds.

Local officials are encouraged to sound warning sirens to initiate the drill.

Missouri’s tornado drill will be issued as a true test tornado warning (TOR). Illinois’ drill will be sent as the more typical Routine Weekly Test (RWT).

More information on the differences between the two can be found here.

WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021, | LIGHTNING SAFETY DAY!

At any given moment, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere on Earth.

This amounts to 16 million storms a year!

In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes each year.

While lightning can be fascinating to watch, it is also extremely dangerous.

Tragedies in school-sponsored athletics are unfortunately a growing trend as well.

When thunderstorms threaten, coaches and officials must not let the desire to start or finish an athletic activity or event cloud their judgment when the safety of participants and spectators is in jeopardy.

For more lightning facts and safety information, go to the NWS Lightning Awareness page

THURSDAY, March 4, 2021, | SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SAFETY DAY!

Severe thunderstorms produce a variety of weather hazards including tornadoes, large hail, damaging straight-line winds, flooding, and lightning.

Now is the time to review Severe Weather Safety Information.

Severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds in excess of 58 mph and large hail can be a threat to life and property.

Damaging straight-line winds are much more common than tornadoes and can be just as deadly.

Those caught outdoors during a severe thunderstorm are particularly vulnerable.

Boaters and campers should be especially alert to the potential of severe storms.

High winds associated with severe thunderstorms can strike suddenly.

Winds in excess of 60 mph can easily capsize boats and put campers at risk due to falling trees.

FRIDAY, March 5, 2021, | FLOOD SAFETY DAY!

Typically, flooding results in more weather-related fatalities than any other thunderstorm related hazard.

Why? Because many of the deaths occur in automobiles when driven through flooded roads as they are swept downstream.

Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive across a flooded road.

One of the primary flood hazards and causes of flood-related deaths is driving into and through low water crossings.

Every year, a few adventurous drivers attempt to cross flooded roads and fail. Learn more about low water crossings.

For more information, go to the Flood Safety page.