This Week's Precipitation; Plus Storm Season Advice

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A very active week of weather is ahead!
The gray square in the middle Mississippi Valley is an area where I believe the amount of precipitation is under-forecasted. This includes the areas from the Kansas Flint Hills to the Great Lakes where no rain is forecast to fall. There may also be snow, in significant mounts, farther south in Iowa and eastern Nebraska. 

California, Oregon and Washington will continue to receive significant rain and snow (higher elevations) this week. 

Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Season Preparations 
While preliminary, there is a good chance of severe thunderstorms near and east of Interstate 49 (roughly Kansas City to New Orleans) Friday and Saturday. If you have not prepared for tornado season 2025, the next few days will be a good opportunity to do so. What does that mean?
  • Make sure family members know where to shelter in case a tornado warning if you aren't home. 
  • Insure you have at least two independent ways of receiving warnings of dangerous storms. These can include: StormWarn, receive a call only when you are in the path and only when a tornado or 80 mph or stronger winds are forecast to occur at your location; a location-specific app like AccuWeather's (which is free) that triggers when you are in the path of the storm; and a weather radio that can programed for your location. Personally, I would program for tornado, ice storm, blizzard, dust storm, high wind and tsunami warnings (if you are near the coast) and not severe thunderstorm warnings as I don't enjoy being awakened at 3am for hail. Make sure the weather radio has fresh batteries. 
In your shelter area, add the following items: diapers, a bottle of water for each family member plus one bottle, shoes for everyone (you don't want to be walking over debris barefoot or in flip-flops), flashlight with fresh batteries, 

If you are an employer, do you have a safe and stocked shelter for your people? If not, please go here. 

If you live in a mobile home, you should go to a friend or relative's home if a tornado watch is in effect and thunderstorms are approaching. If this is not practical, you can find the location of the nearest public shelter here. 

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