Spring Break
Governor announces Severe Weather Awareness week
National Weather Service provides resources to alert citizens of
Chris Kemp
Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: Campus News
Subzero temperatures, snowstorms, 80 degree days and severe thunderstorms are all a part of the transition from winter to summer. Eau Claire has witnessed all of these events since late February and as summer approaches, the risk of severe weather will become even greater.
Gov. Jim Doyle has declared April 9 through April 13 as Severe Weather Awareness week to inform Wisconsin of the dangers and precautions during what could be a turbulent weather season.
Throughout the week, the National Weather Service, in conjunction with the state emergency management office, will work with counties and schools to promote awareness of severe weather events.
Eau Claire County, including the university, will be conducting a tornado drill to ensure that everyone knows what actions need to be taken during a severe weather event.
Todd Shea of the NWS noted that the week "gives the opportunity for the NWS to test its communication with individual counties."
Earlier this year, Eau Claire experienced a severe weather event when tornado sirens sounded on March 25 for a severe thunderstorm warning.
Junior Mary Allman said the tornado sirens confused her.
"I thought they were only sounded when there was actually a tornado in the area," she said.
According to the Eau Claire County siren policy, the siren will sound whenever a storm is approaching with hail larger than three-quarters of an inch or winds greater than 58 mph, as well as when conditions are favorable for tornadoes.
In 2005, there were 62 documented tornadoes in the state, according to NWS records.
Since the state began documenting tornado deaths, there have been 510 deaths from tornadoes, an average of five deaths per year. Advances in communication and advanced warning systems have brought this average down in recent years.
Among the advances in NWS technology include watch systems which includes new and more advanced radars, complex software systems and advances in communication methods. During Severe Weather Awareness week, the software systems will be tested as they are preparing for a possibly busy year, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are often the result of warm and cool air masses colliding. Such collisions are frequent in the springtime as temperatures often vary greatly.
According to the NWS, this week will also cover a variety of topics other than tornadoes including NWS severe weather products (watches and warnings), flooding and flash flooding, lightning, NWS Weather Radio and severe weather verification and climatology.
Gov. Jim Doyle has declared April 9 through April 13 as Severe Weather Awareness week to inform Wisconsin of the dangers and precautions during what could be a turbulent weather season.
Throughout the week, the National Weather Service, in conjunction with the state emergency management office, will work with counties and schools to promote awareness of severe weather events.
Eau Claire County, including the university, will be conducting a tornado drill to ensure that everyone knows what actions need to be taken during a severe weather event.
Todd Shea of the NWS noted that the week "gives the opportunity for the NWS to test its communication with individual counties."
Earlier this year, Eau Claire experienced a severe weather event when tornado sirens sounded on March 25 for a severe thunderstorm warning.
Junior Mary Allman said the tornado sirens confused her.
"I thought they were only sounded when there was actually a tornado in the area," she said.
According to the Eau Claire County siren policy, the siren will sound whenever a storm is approaching with hail larger than three-quarters of an inch or winds greater than 58 mph, as well as when conditions are favorable for tornadoes.
In 2005, there were 62 documented tornadoes in the state, according to NWS records.
Since the state began documenting tornado deaths, there have been 510 deaths from tornadoes, an average of five deaths per year. Advances in communication and advanced warning systems have brought this average down in recent years.
Among the advances in NWS technology include watch systems which includes new and more advanced radars, complex software systems and advances in communication methods. During Severe Weather Awareness week, the software systems will be tested as they are preparing for a possibly busy year, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are often the result of warm and cool air masses colliding. Such collisions are frequent in the springtime as temperatures often vary greatly.
According to the NWS, this week will also cover a variety of topics other than tornadoes including NWS severe weather products (watches and warnings), flooding and flash flooding, lightning, NWS Weather Radio and severe weather verification and climatology.
Be the first to comment on this story