Spring will be here before you know it and while we will get relief with the warmer weather, we also need to be aware of the severe weather that will arrive in our area.
According to Weather.gov, Kansas is vulnerable to a wide range of extreme weather, including tornadoes, strong winds, big hail, and flash flooding. It is advised that residents review their severe weather safety strategies during Severe Weather Preparedness Week (March 6th – 10th).
The National Weather Service will be focusing on several different severe weather safety topics throughout the week.
Monday: Preparedness – Ask yourself what YOU would do in case of severe weather. Do you have multiple ways to receive alerts? Do you have adequate shelter & supplies?
Tuesday: Tornado Safety – Tornadoes pack some of the fastest winds on Earth and are deadly to anyone caught in their path. Kansas averages 95 tornadoes per year but has seen up to 187, with the peak tornado season running from April to June.
Wednesday: Lightning Safety – Every lightning strike can be deadly. Lightning strikes the U.S. 25 MILLION times and kills 47 people on average each year. Many of these deaths occur outdoors and are preventable.
Thursday: Hail/Wind Safety – Damaging winds and large hail are two other weapons in a storm’s arsenal. Hail can exceed softball size and straight-line winds can down trees & destroy property. They often garner less respect than tornadoes, but are just as deadly.
Friday: Flood Safety – Floods kill more people in the United States each year than any other thunderstorm-related hazard. Many flood deaths are the result of people driving into flooded roads.
On Tuesday, March 7, at 10 a.m., the National Weather Service in Topeka will hold a tornado drill. Everyone is urged to take part in the exercise by acting out finding a safe, secure shelter from a tornado. Several local television and Cumulus Topeka radio outlets as well as NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio will broadcast this test. Additionally, local authorities may blast their warning sirens.
Our weather partners, KSNT 27 News, ensure that our radio station always provides accurate severe weather news on the air.
A downloadable printed version of the 2023 Kansas Severe Weather Preparedness Packet is provided by clicking here.
