Severe Weather Awareness Week is underway across Nebraska, running Monday through Friday (March 23 to 27). Each day brings forward a different weather hazard focus with tips on how to stay safe when conditions turn nasty.
Shawn Jacobs, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in North Platte told KCNI/KBBN that the week is to remind Nebraskans that severe weather goes beyond tornadoes.
“Severe weather isn’t just tornadoes or thunderstorms,” Jacobs said. “There’s various aspects of severe weather that you need to be prepared for, so we break it down day by day.”
Monday highlights lightning safety. Many incidents simply happen when people wait too long to seek shelter, or return outside too soon, Jacobs says.
“If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck,” he said.
Tuesday’s focus turns to tornado safety, which plenty of Nebraskans are familiar with. Jacobs added that tornado strength isn’t always reflected in official ratings especially in rural areas because damage is limited due to spread out structures.
“Our numbers are skewed to what’s ‘weaker’ tornadoes, but that’s not the case,” he said. “We know we have some of the strongest tornadoes in the country that go through our state every year.”
Quick action is the key when warnings are issued, Jacobs stressed.
“When the warning is issued, act on it. Get as many walls between you and the tornado as possible on the lowest floor of your shelter,” he explained.
Wednesday is designated as preparedness day and includes the statewide tornado drill at 10 AM central (March 25). A backup date of Thursday (March 26) is also set if needed. Residents are encouraged to practice their sheltering plans at that time.
Unlike real warnings, the drill will not activate Emergency Alert System tones. Instead, it will be announced over NOAA Radio in place of the routine weekly test. Local officials can choose to sound their sirens if they choose.
Wind and hail safety head into the spotlight as the topic for Thursday, two threats that can cause damage themselves in a short amount of time. Jacobs cited instances of hail in Nebraska that has been named some of the largest in United States, in addition to winds that can blow as fast as 110 MPH.
Flood safety wraps up the week on Friday, which Jacobs says is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities nationwide.
“More people die every year due to flooding than any other weather-related impact,” he said. “If you see flowing water across a road and you don’t know the depth, don’t push it. It can take as little as a foot of running water to make a four-wheel-drive truck into a boat.”
Overall throughout the week, officials are stressing four key safety steps: know the hazards, know when dangerous weather is expected, pay attention to watches and warnings, and have a plan in place before storms develop.
For more severe weather awareness information and statistics from 2025 events in Nebraska, visit this page provided by the NWS.
Listen to our full conversation with Shawn Jacobs here:
