Last year’s deadly tornadoes are still fresh in everyone’s mind and already, peak tornado season again is upon us. Missouri’s National Weather Service agencies are working to classify the various storms that swept the state last night. Meantime, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jim Kramper tells us there’s no way to predict if we’re in for more this season.
He says they always try to correlate mild winters with harsh springs and vice versa, but there’s really no way to forecast an upcoming spring season — especially severe weather — according to the preceding winter.
Kramper says tornadoes can strike year-round, but peak season is April through June. He says the single-most important thing people need to do to be prepared, is to be informed.
With advances in modern technology, it’s extremely easy to receive warnings as soon as they’re issued, he says.
Also, he says we can rely on the common-sense knowledge we were taught as kids: if you hear thunder, that means there’s lightning nearby, which means there’s a thunderstorm. And while you can have a thunderstorm without tornadoes, he says, you can’t have tornadoes without a thunderstorm.
The NWS also recommends having an evacuation plan, a first-aid kit stocked and ready, and other emergency plans in order.
Kramper says the National Weather service website, the Red Cross and State Emergency Management Agency have a wealth of information on storm readiness.
Additional information about severe weather and preparedness tips can be found at the following websites:
- National Weather Service
- SEMA
- FEMA — Ready.gov
- Red Cross
- Missouri Dept. of Transportation’s Road Conditions
