Image courtesy of NWS

The Severe Weather Awareness Week is in full swing and will start by addressing the topic of severe thunderstorms. 

Dallas County Emergency Management Director AJ Seely says that it seems like Iowa has seen more severe thunderstorms in the past year so people need to know the risk. Seely explains that severe thunderstorms can bring high winds, hail, dangerous lightning and a possible risk of tornadoes. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that forming a plan and having a reliable way of communication is critical in a severe thunderstorm. 

“In the most severe thunderstorms where there’s hail that maybe would come through the windows or severe wind that’s not accompanied by a tornado. Those are potentially times where you might want to shelter similar to what you would do in a tornado. And the other component to this is having a way to receive alerts. So knowing when a severe thunderstorm is on its way, I think most of us have probably received the message or the emergency alert for a tornado warning on our smartphones. Those don’t typically come for severe thunderstorm warnings. So having a method to receive alerts for severe thunderstorm warnings when those are listed or broadcasted is important.”

Severe Weather Awareness Week is from March 27 through 31st.