Spring is making its way to Wisconsin! Join us as we talk to The Weather Guys about the outlook for spring weather in the state, Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the status of El Niño.
Featured in this Show
-
Severe Weather Awareness Week Approaching
As spring comes to Wisconsin, so does severe weather season. To help residents make sure they’re prepared, the state’s Division of Emergency Management is putting on Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week, running April 11-15.
“There’s a lot of education activities going on to educate folks if they don’t know how to react to some severe weather,” said Steve Ackerman, a professor of atmospheric science and director for the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Those activities will include a statewide Tornado Drill on April 14. A mock tornado watch will go out at 1 p.m., followed by a mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m., according to WEM. This is also the first time a mock tornado warning will go out at 6:55 p.m., “to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans,” according to a news release.
Ackerman added that there will be also be opportunities for people to get training from the National Weather Service about becoming a spotter.
“If you want to report a tornado and you’re a tornado spotter, then, you know, it counts because they know that you’ve been trained to identify tornadoes and not funnel clouds,” he said.
The Severe Weather Spotter Training Schedule is available on the National Weather Service’s website.
On average, 23 tornados occur every year in Wisconsin, according to WEM. In 2015, there were 17 tornado touchdowns.
Episode Credits
- Larry Meiller Host
- Breann Schossow Producer
- Steve Ackerman Guest
- Jon Martin Guest
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
