Category: Education

While tornadoes get the bulk of the attention in severe weather threat discussions, the larger threat from an economic perspective is wind and hail.

Multiple rounds of severe weather are possible in Kansas this week, with longer-range forecasts showing a fairly active pattern through early June. With the slightly late start to the season, some have become complacent about severe weather in our area. If you are new to the area or haven’t updated your plans and preparedness activities, here are some tips.

Flash flooding is consistently one of the top storm-related killers each year. In 2016, floods closed many roads in Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley and Butler counties following a couple of very heavy thunderstorm complexes in the late summer, and one person died. Simple action can save your life the next time you encounter high water.

Mental preparation for the aftermath of a disaster is difficult — most of us have the feeling it’ll never happen to us. Knowing what to expect after is one of the best things you can do to be prepared before.

Watch – Warning – Advisory: Do you know the difference? You may think you do, but a review is valuable so you can prepare adequately. Also: where do the most tornado deaths occur?

Time to get ready for severe weather season in Kansas, starting with the annual Severe Weather Awareness Week. Get started a bit early…kind of like the season…with interesting information about the WSR-88D. It’s the weather service’s eye on the sky.