NORTH PLATTE – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) have issued a release reminding the state’s residents that this week, March 27 through 31, is Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness Week.
The awareness week comes just before Nebraska enters one of its longest, most tumultuous weather seasons: Nebraska is notorious for its unfriendly springs, which can include tornados, baseball-sized hail, weeklong flash floods and severe lightning storms, and risk of fire.
The NOAA and National Weather Service have divided up Nebraska’s Severe Weather Awareness Week by days, each designed to raise awareness of a different phenomenon or preparedness measure: Monday’s focus is severe thunderstorms, Tuesday’s is severe weather warnings, Wednesday’s tornadoes, Thursday’s focus will be family preparedness in the face of natural disasters and severe weather, and Friday will be dedicated to flash floods.
As Monday highlights severe thunderstorms, the NOAA and NWS have released several preparedness tips when encountering such severe weather, the topmost cautions Nebraskans that there is no safe place outdoors during a lightning storm, and shelter should be sought immediately when thunder first booms, ideally an enclosed building or vehicle with its windows up.
If shelter is unobtainable during a storm, the NOAA and NWS recommend avoiding open fields and elevated areas and staying away from tall, isolated objects such as telephone poles and trees, as well as objects that conduct electricity such as barbed wire fences, power lines, and windmills.
If camping, a valley ravine, or other low areas should be sought out, as tents provide zero protection against storms. When indoors, the NOAA and NWS advise Nebraskans to steer clear of windows, doors, and anything that puts them in direct contact with electricity.
The NOAA and NWS also warn that though a storm may visibly look as if it has passed, individuals should wait at least 30 minutes after they hear the last rumble of thunder before heading back outside.
KCNI/KBBN will be highlighting the NOAA and NWS’ chosen topic each day this week, with tomorrow’s focus on warnings and watches.
