Meteorologist: Make a plan, talk about it
January and February aren't known as busy seasons for severe weather, but violent, deadly outbreaks in both months served as reminders that big storms can hit any time.
Severe Weather Awareness Week is a chance to remember the threat Missouri residents face every day -- tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, high winds, flooding and lightning -- and make sure everyone in a family and at work is aware of what to do and where to go.
"Sure we look for April, May and June to be our big threat period. It's these individual events that can pop up any time of the year in the Ozarks that can be a killer," said Steve Runnels, warning coordinator meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Springfield.
"Certainly people could brush up on their own plans whether it be at home or at work," Runnels said. "Know what to do when warnings are issued and lastly, talk about it. Make sure all family members, all employees know what's in the plan and hopefully put it into action on March 11."
Severe Weather Awareness week in Missouri and Kansas is March 10-14, with the annual statewide tornado drill at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday.
Runnels said people outside should watch the sky and take cover if they hear storm sirens, but one of the best ways to stay informed about the weather is having an NOAA Weather Radio.
"By having that direct link to the National Weather Service you can instantly be informed of hazardous weather watches and warning," Runnels said. "The final factor is do you have a place to go when a tornado warning is issued for your area."
This year, tornado outbreaks have hit different parts of Missouri in January and in February. The outbreak on Jan. 7 and 8 caused several super cell tornados that swept through McDonald, Newton, Barry and Lawrence counties, spawning at least 33 tornados, including one that dropped down on a business district in Springfield.
The Feb. 5 and 6 tornado outbreak raked the South, including southeastern Missouri and killed at least 58 people in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia, making it the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. since 1985.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said across the U.S. 136 tornados formed in January and 232 in February, far above the three-year average of 34 in January and 25 in February.
Runnels said a pattern of record high temperatures followed by record low temperatures that the region has seen since last fall may be contributing to the severe weather.
"From a climatologically standpoint, we are swinging wildly from being above normal to being below normal temperature-wise," Runnels said. "That active jet pattern is expected to continue into the spring months and it will likely lead to severe thunderstorms and the possibility of tornados, large hail, damaging winds and flooding. It's the clash of air-masses that does tend to lead to the large hazardous weather outbreaks whether they be snow or floods or tornados."
While people tend to focus on tornados during severe weather season, the biggest killer as far as weather is concerned is flash flooding. Runnels said people need to be aware and do not attempt to drive through standing water on a roadway.
The second biggest weather killer that accompanies every thunderstorm is lightning. People need to stay inside a building or stay inside a vehicle if lightning is hitting nearby.
Carthage Press