Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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How far ahead do you think about severe weather risk? Let’s be candid, many wait until the sirens blow.  

Sometimes even the wail of sirens is not enough to get people to act. 

A study after the massive Joplin tornado in 2011 shows that 

 that a tornado was approaching. Some barely escaped with their lives.  

Here’s an effective way to think about situational awareness leading up to severe weather events. It usually begins the day before the threat with the severe weather outlook from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. 

If you know you’re in an area with a severe weather risk, begin to plan for the following day. Where will you be? Where will your family be? make sure they all know the risk is there. 

Here is another look at what the various risk categories mean. 

Montior TV and radio and NOAA outlets for the issuance of severe weather watches. When a watch is issued, that’s the time to make sure family, employees, and others know what’s happening and where to seek shelter if warnings are issued. Be ready to take action. Know where you will go beforehand. 

Once severe weather warnings are issued, or if severe weather develops before a warning that’s when it’s time to take protective action. Know your safe place. 

Seconds can save your life and the lives of your loved ones. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Severe weather awareness week: What do severe weather risk categories mean? Having a plan today can save precious seconds when damaging storms approach.

Severe weather awareness: What do severe weather risk categories mean?

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