Thomas Fulery, Esq.
2006-03-27 13:46:03 UTC
Severe weather's on the way
BY DANE STICKNEY AND JASON KUIPER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS
Severe weather is a common aspect of spring, according to meteorologists.
"Spring is never really normal; it falls into extremes," said Jon
Pacheco of AccuWeather, The World-Herald's weather consultant. "Spring
is a battleground. Winter is trying to hang on, but the days are getting
longer and the sun has other thoughts."
Kansas, Missouri and Illinois have already gotten off to a rocky start
with tornadoes this year.
To prepare Nebraskans and Iowans for the possibility of severe weather,
the National Weather Service, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
and county emergency management officials are urging Midlanders to take
note of Severe Weather Awareness Week, which runs today through Friday
in Nebraska. Iowa will mark the week April 3 through 7.
Weather agencies in Nebraska will begin issuing test tornado warnings at
10 a.m. Wednesday.
After the storm prediction center in Norman, Okla., issues a mock
tornado watch, weather officials will sound a test warning for Omaha and
surrounding areas from 10:10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Other places in
Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota will issue mock warnings, as
well, until 11 a.m.
The National Weather Service forecast office in Valley will conduct
another tornado drill for the Omaha area at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.
The evening test will be especially helpful for weather service workers,
said Brian Smith, a warning and coordination meteorologist at the
weather service's Valley office.
"Most of the tornadoes in Nebraska occur in the late afternoon or
evening," Smith said. "So it makes sense to have our staff that works
during that time take part in the drills."
Iowa's statewide tornado drill will be held April 5. The drill will
begin with a tornado watch at 10 a.m. followed by tornado warnings for
all 99 Iowa counties between 10:10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Real tornado warnings could come soon. April, May and June are peak
months for tornadoes, Smith said, so now is the time to devise a safety
plan. In case of a severe storm or tornado, the weather service will
alert people through sirens and broadcast warnings. Residents should
head to a small, windowless room on the lowest floor.
That's mostly common sense, but planning is important, said Jim
Bunstock, spokesman for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
"Storms can happen quickly," he said. "If people know where they're
supposed to go and what they're supposed to do, the chance of fatality
and injury are drastically reduced."
The driving force of severe weather is warm, moist air from the Gulf of
Mexico clashing with cold air from Canada.
During the next few weeks, there will be several chances for moisture
but no major storms, Pacheco said.
Temperatures and precipitation amounts should be near normal this
spring, said Bryon Miller, a meteorologist at the Valley office.
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center estimates that
temperatures will be below normal from the Pacific Northwest to the
northern Plains and above normal across the southern third to half of
the United States.
Precipitation is expected to be above normal from North Dakota to
Michigan and below normal from eastern Colorado into Kansas, Oklahoma,
Texas and Florida.
BY DANE STICKNEY AND JASON KUIPER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS
Severe weather is a common aspect of spring, according to meteorologists.
"Spring is never really normal; it falls into extremes," said Jon
Pacheco of AccuWeather, The World-Herald's weather consultant. "Spring
is a battleground. Winter is trying to hang on, but the days are getting
longer and the sun has other thoughts."
Kansas, Missouri and Illinois have already gotten off to a rocky start
with tornadoes this year.
To prepare Nebraskans and Iowans for the possibility of severe weather,
the National Weather Service, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency
and county emergency management officials are urging Midlanders to take
note of Severe Weather Awareness Week, which runs today through Friday
in Nebraska. Iowa will mark the week April 3 through 7.
Weather agencies in Nebraska will begin issuing test tornado warnings at
10 a.m. Wednesday.
After the storm prediction center in Norman, Okla., issues a mock
tornado watch, weather officials will sound a test warning for Omaha and
surrounding areas from 10:10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Other places in
Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota will issue mock warnings, as
well, until 11 a.m.
The National Weather Service forecast office in Valley will conduct
another tornado drill for the Omaha area at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.
The evening test will be especially helpful for weather service workers,
said Brian Smith, a warning and coordination meteorologist at the
weather service's Valley office.
"Most of the tornadoes in Nebraska occur in the late afternoon or
evening," Smith said. "So it makes sense to have our staff that works
during that time take part in the drills."
Iowa's statewide tornado drill will be held April 5. The drill will
begin with a tornado watch at 10 a.m. followed by tornado warnings for
all 99 Iowa counties between 10:10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Real tornado warnings could come soon. April, May and June are peak
months for tornadoes, Smith said, so now is the time to devise a safety
plan. In case of a severe storm or tornado, the weather service will
alert people through sirens and broadcast warnings. Residents should
head to a small, windowless room on the lowest floor.
That's mostly common sense, but planning is important, said Jim
Bunstock, spokesman for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
"Storms can happen quickly," he said. "If people know where they're
supposed to go and what they're supposed to do, the chance of fatality
and injury are drastically reduced."
The driving force of severe weather is warm, moist air from the Gulf of
Mexico clashing with cold air from Canada.
During the next few weeks, there will be several chances for moisture
but no major storms, Pacheco said.
Temperatures and precipitation amounts should be near normal this
spring, said Bryon Miller, a meteorologist at the Valley office.
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center estimates that
temperatures will be below normal from the Pacific Northwest to the
northern Plains and above normal across the southern third to half of
the United States.
Precipitation is expected to be above normal from North Dakota to
Michigan and below normal from eastern Colorado into Kansas, Oklahoma,
Texas and Florida.