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WCPSEVERE STORM PREPARATION

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DID YOU KNOW? Most severe storm and tornado activity is commonly

known to exist in spring and summer, but there is also an increase in activity during the fall. Some of the area’s most severe tornado events have occurred in the fall. 10 tornadoes in the area in October 2001 Van Wert F4 tornado in November 2002 Nappanee EF3 tornado in October 2007

Remember, tornadoes can occur during any time of the year!


DID YOU KNOW?

Fall Tornadoes (from left to right) 10 tornadoes occurred region-wide, ranging in intensity from F1 to F3; Cars were tossed into movie theater seats by a powerful tornado in Van Wert, OH. The theater manager listened to Tornado Warnings and got families to safer areas in the building; This Dairy Queen building was destroyed as was much of Nappanee, IN in a high-end EF3 tornado.


DID YOU KNOW? Indiana has had a similar

number of strong tornadoes as Kansas!

The tornado with the longest path length was recorded from Missouri to Indiana.

The deadliest tornado also occurred from Missouri to Indiana.

Tornado Alley Some meteorologists now consider the southern Great Lakes region to be part of the classic “Tornado Alley.”


DID YOU KNOW? Palm Sunday 1965 was

the deadliest day from tornadoes for northern Indiana.

36 lives were lost from one storm alone, with many more from other storms.

Twin Tornadoes This amazing photograph, by Paul Huffman, shows a double funnel formation northeast of Elkhart, IN on Palm Sunday 1965. Nearly 50 tornadoes occurred that day from Iowa to Ohio.


WATCHES Have you ever been enjoying a nice,

sunny summer day and then you hear of a Tornado Watch for your area? Do not get caught off guard in this type of situation! Rapidly changing weather conditions are especially hazardous due to the unexpectedness of the weather situation.


WATCHES Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm

Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK, which is a branch of the National Weather Service.

Watches are issued as a box, or parallelogram. Your local weather service office then refines this watch area by putting certain counties under the watch. This is seen in the map at right.

Tornado Watch Spanning Across Indiana, Michigan and Illinois An EF3 tornado occurred while this watch was in effect in Nappanee, IN on the night of October 18, 2007.


WATCHES

If a Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for your area, monitor the latest weather conditions in your region.

Make certain that your NOAA Weather Radio is on and has fresh batteries.


WATCHES In a rare, and an especially potential life-

threatening weather situation, the phrase “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) may be used in the watch message.

PDS Watches usually mean large, violent tornadoes are possible, as well as damaging straight-line winds over 80 mph.


WATCHES Remember, you do not have to be included

in the watch to experience severe weather. The watch only highlights where the

greatest probability of severe storms will occur and when.

Severe thunderstorms may occur outside of the watch area.


STORM-BASED WARNINGS Prior to the year 2007, warnings were issued for

entire counties. This could lead to over-warned storms and confusion. A storm could hammer the north side of a county, while

the southern portion of the county could be experiencing sunny skies.

Likewise, if a storm passed through the western part of the county already, the warning would still be effective for the entire county, even though it had moved off into the eastern portion of the county.


STORM-BASED WARNINGS These reasons led the National

Weather Service to implement “storm-based” warnings.

This means that warnings are only issued for portions of counties, unless the storm is expected to impact an entire county.

Warnings are issued in the shape of a polygon, as shown in the example at left.

Tornado Warning in Northern Indiana This supercell storm on June 19, 2009, produced grapefruit size hail and a funnel cloud.


WARNINGS Severe Thunderstorms

When the National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for your area, get to a safe shelter immediately. Stay away from windows. Remember, storms of this magnitude can produce a tornadoes.

Severe thunderstorms are defined by having one or more of the following:

60+ mph winds 1”+ diameter hail (quarter size) Tree/structural damage

Lightning is not a requirement for severe thunderstorms; thunder and lightning occur with every thunderstorm.


WARNINGS Severe Thunderstorms

Some very intense storms can produce tornado-like damage due to straight-line winds.

Large hail can also be a hazard especially to windows and while driving.

Severe Storm Damage The roof of this house was torn off by a macroburst storm event on June 22, 2006. This was not caused by a tornado, but rather straight-line winds of 85 mph. This was an unfortunate common scene in northern Indiana, from Logansport to the Indiana/Ohio border. Wind driven hail also caused damage in areas.


WARNINGS Tornadoes

If your area is under a Tornado Warning, get on the lowest floor of your building and stay there until the warning end time comes, or when the warning is cleared from your area.

Go to a small, interior room if a basement is not available.

Cover your body with blankets and pillows.


WARNINGS Tornadoes

Do not open windows to relieve the glass from breaking due to changing pressure! The winds from the storm will likely be strong enough to blow them out.

However, if you have enough time in advance, shut blinds or curtains to prevent flying debris from entering the building.


WARNINGS Tornadoes

Those in mobile homes and trailers should evacuate them and go to a more sturdy shelter.

If you are in a vehicle, get out immediately!

If a building is not available, lie flat in a ditch, covering your head and neck with your hands.

Do not seek shelter under an overpass or bridge. They offer no protection.

Car Destroyed by Tornado Vehicles are easily tossed around in tornadoes.


WARNINGS

Tornadoes Do not wait on local emergency sirens to

sound to take cover! Unless you are very close to the actual siren,

you will likely not hear it. These sirens are only designed to alert those

outdoors to get to safe shelter immediately.


WARNINGS Flash Floods

If you are under a Flash Flood Warning, pay close attention to the flood situation around you.

If necessary, move to higher ground.

Those in flood-prone areas may need to evacuate.

Do not drive through flooded roadways. It only takes one or two feet of water to sweep away your vehicle!

Flash Flooding Over Fort Wayne On June 22, 2002, parts of Fort Wayne, IN received 8” of rain in just a few hours, as shown in the map. One building alone suffered flood damage at $750,000.


NOAA WEATHER RADIO A NOAA Weather Radio is your

best defense during severe weather.

The radio will sound an alarm when a severe weather situation is expected.

New features allow users to program in a code to receive alarms for warnings issued for specific counties only.

NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio This radio has the ability to alert for certain counties using S.A.M.E. codes, which can be found at weather.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm

http://weather.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm




NOAA WEATHER RADIO Weather radios are especially helpful when severe

weather is expected overnight, when you may be asleep.

If you do not already have one, please consider getting a NOAA Weather Radio.

Prices vary greatly, but can be as low at $30. For some promotion sales, the price may be lower.

Remember, this is a great investment for you and your family and can be life-saving.


GET READY NOW Severe weather season is here! Get an

emergency storm kit now. Include water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio or NOAA Weather Radio.

Know what to do when a warning is issued. Set up a tornado-safe spot in your home.


OTHER RESOURCES Here are some great websites to help

prepare. To Prepare

http://weather.gov/safety.php http://spc.noaa.gov

During the Storm http://weather.gov/iwx http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=iwx

http://weather.gov/safety.php

http://weather.gov/safety.php

http://spc.noaa.gov/

http://spc.noaa.gov/

http://weather.gov/iwx/

http://weather.gov/iwx/

http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=iwx

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