Severe weather season is upon us, and the National Weather Service wants citizens to be prepared.
There were a total of 942 tornadoes reported in the United States in 2013. This number was down when compared to the last eight years which averaged around 1,478 tornadoes. According to the Storm Prediction Center this was the lowest number of tornadoes in a 61-year period.
In Nebraska, a total of 49 tornadoes were reported. This number is below the 30-year average of 54.
The 2013 severe weather season began March 19 when a landspout tornado touched down near Shelton.
The National Weather Service says the severe weather then took a break and a rare May snow was reported in parts of Central and Eastern Nebraska.
Officials say the season really took off during the weeks of May 17 and May 24. Meteorologists say June is typically the peak month for tornadoes, however, this year 23 tornadoes occurred in May, with only nine reports in June.
The only EF4 tornado reported in the state in 2013 occurred in Wayne on October 4.
In observance of Severe Weather Awareness Week, a statewide Tornado Warning drill is planned for Wednesday March 26.
The Weather Service encourages all Nebraskans to actively participate in the drill, and review your severe weather safety plans.
The following is a list of severe weather terms we should all be familiar with:
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM – A thunderstorm is considered severe when it produces any of the following: Hail 1” (quarter
size) or larger in diameter, winds which equal or exceed 58 MPH or a tornado.
FUNNEL CLOUD – A funnel shaped cloud, usually extending from a convective cloud, which is associated with a violently
rotating column of air that is NOT in contact with the ground.
TORNADO – A violently rotating column of air that extends from a convective cloud and is in contact with the ground. The
entire column of air associated with a tornado is not always visible. A tornado may only be visible once it has picked up
enough dirt and debris.
WATCH – Issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather in and close to the watch area.
The size of the watch can vary depending on the weather situation and is usually issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours.
During the watch, people should review severe weather safety rules and be prepared to move to a place of safety if
threatening weather approaches.
WARNING – Issued when severe weather is detected by radar or reported by storm spotters. Information in this warning
will include the location of the storm, what areas will be affected, and the primary threat associated with the storm. People
in the affected area should seek safe shelter immediately. Remember that severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes
with little or no advance warning. Warnings can be issued without a watch already in effect.
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY or SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT – Issued for “near” severe thunderstorms.
Typically issued for storms with 3/4” (penny sized) hail and wind gusts near 50 MPH, but can also be issued for large
amounts of small hail covering the ground. It is also used as a “heads up” for ongoing severe storms which may move into
the area.
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT – A product issued which provides follow-up information on any severe weather
warnings in effect and conditions which have occurred or are occurring. This information includes updated storm paths and
any storm reports, such as hail size or damage, received from spotters.
For more information, visit their website, www.weather.gov.