In addition to a weather radio and cell phone apps, you can sign up for StormWarn which will alert you for tornadoes and winds strong than 80 mph (only) and then only if you are in the path of the storm. 

...because of a tornado warning for my home. Yes, I practice what I preach. And, while the risk to our particular location was low, our granddaughters were staying with us and I wanted to set a good example.  Wanted to let you know StormWarn worked perfectly . My phone was ringing before the sirens came on and before the television meteorologists broke in . [Since they use my voice, I was telling myself to take shelter.] I went upstairs, woke everyone up, and we went to our shelter until the storm had passed. For just $25/year, you will get a phone call if a tornado warning or warning for winds of 80 mph or stronger is issued for your specific location.   I urge you to invest $25. You'll sleep more soundly. 

I've sat here forecasting and warning of tornadoes almost continuously since 2:30pm Friday. While I am tired, my main emotion is sadness: that people have evidently died in tonight's tornadoes. Nighttime tornadoes are deadly! Please: it is still early in tornado season.  Consider signing up for StormWarn , the 24/7 tornado alarm. It only rings your phone if your home is in the path of a tornado or  ≥ 80 mph winds. Unlike weather radios and other devices, it does not awaken you for hail or storms of lesser intensity.  I receive nothing from StormWarn. I developed it because I believe in it. No more need to stay up into the night worrying about a damaging storm. StormWarn has got your back. 

We've developed StormWarn because we believe it is the best way to warn of dangerous storms:  You can a call on up to two phones if a tornado warning or winds of 80 mph or stronger are approaching the location you select. Get to shelter instantly. No need to think about it as you are notified only if you are in the path.  Otherwise, we leave you alone! The second point is more important than you might think.  There is a StormWarn customer in Bloomington, Kansas. Sunday evening, a tornado warning was issued for an area that was as close as four miles away. There was damage to a home near Augusta. It had part of its roof rolled back, so the small tornado warning was valid as there was genuine danger.  But, in Bloomington, there was no threat. And, her phone didn't ring. Before you say, "Big deal," please consider: several people in her home were sick with the flu. And, her 92-yr old father is living with them and she only wants him to climb down the basement stairs if ...

This is really a tough forecast but the risk is high enough that I want to bring it to your attention. While it is very early in the season as far north as Kansas, it looks like there will be just enough moisture when combined with the powerful low pressure system coming out of California, we have a risk of tornadoes and damaging thunderstorm winds.  If this develops approximately as I am predicting, there will be a warning challenge in that the forward motion of the thunderstorms will be 50 to 60 mph toward the northeast. That means the storms are moving a mile each minute.  Given the storm's fast movement combined with the fact the majority of the storms will be after dark, I highly  recommend you spend just $25 to sign up for StormWarn. It will call you, even in the middle of the night, but only if a tornado warning or a warning for winds of 80 mph or stronger are expected for your home's specific location. No being awakened in the middle of night for, say, 1" hail. C...

...if you need stock photography, my collection is here .  And, if you want a great read about tornadoes, hurricanes and other severe storms -- that reads like a novel but is all true  -- click here . It is the perfect book for a spring vacation. It is on sale at Amazon for $14.95 right now.  And, if you are responsible for business, school or family tornado safety, this is the book for you. Because the safety aspect is critical, it is priced at just 99¢.  And, finally, to be sure you are awakened if a tornado, or winds of 80 mph or stronger, are approaching your home, please sign up for StormWarn . This is a service of Survive-A-Storm Shelters . You can't trust hearing the tornado sirens while sleeping. I designed StormWarn and highly recommend it. 

The area in brown has a significant risk of tornadoes this evening, very possibly after dark. The green area has a tiny chance (2%) of tornadoes. Tornadoes after dark, statistically, are nearly three times more deadly than daylight storms.  Now is a great time to subscribe to StormWarn . For about $2 per month, you receive 24/7 notifications via your phone if you are in the direct path of a tornado or damaging (>80 mph) winds. Instantly, after we ring your phones, we send you an email notification with a snapshot of the radar which shows the storm in relation to your home or other subscription location.  Another great thing abut using StormWarn is that there are no middle of the night awakenings for 1" hail or other non-life-threatening weather conditions. It will also not ring your phones unless you are in the direct path of the storm.  For less than the price of a single cup of coffee, you protect yourself and your loved ones from deadly storms. 

There has just been a regional tornado outbreak in southeast Wisconsin less than two hours after a forecast of "no tornadoes" was issued by the National Weather Service.  The above forecast was issued by the NWS's Storm Prediction Center at 11:48am. The green area has a 2% risk of tornadoes. Elsewhere, the forecast was for no risk.  However, less than an hour later, a regional outbreak of tornadoes began in southeast Wisconsin.  Each of the red triangles represents the location of a tornado.  Tornadoes can be tricky to forecast. My purpose is not to criticize the National Weather Service. My goal is to illustrate why you need a tool -- StormWarn -- that will inform you that you are in danger when you are in the path of a tornado or damaging thunderstorm warnings of 80 mph or more.  StormWarn will ring your phones when you are in the direct path of a tornado even if you are asleep in the middle of the night. The great thing is it will not  warn you un...

Here is the tornado forecast for Florida for Tuesday: And, the forecast for Wednesday: There is a serious risk of tornadoes in the yellow areas and a lesser risk in the dark green areas. On Thursday, the tornado risk will move into northern Florida and, possibly, southern Georgia.  Tornadoes associated with hurricanes form very quickly -- often faster than the tornadoes associated with supercell thunderstorms in the Midwest and South.  Therefore, to protect your family, get StormWarn . It is the fastest way to get warnings 24/7. They come through two phones of your choice such as your landline and cell or your cell and the cell owned by your spouse. No more staying up late at night to monitor the weather when tornadoes are in the forecast.  In additional to the telephoned warnings, you get an instant email with the location of the storm on radar and the specific location of your home (or other area for which you get a subscription).  StormWarn is the perfect way to p...

The National Weather Service said they are likely to issue a tornado watch for the area outlined in red above. In addition to the possibility of strong tornadoes, they are calling for "strong, damaging" wind gusts and very large hail. It includes Des Moines, Ottumwa, Kirksville, Quincy and Ft. Madison.  They also comment, and I agree, the dangerous thunderstorms will begin to develop between 5 and 7pm. The worst of these storms will occur after dark, which makes them especially dangerous . Please see the posting below for safety suggestions.  This is a perfect time sign up for our StormWarn tornado alarm . 

We have a dangerous tornado situation in parts of Iowa and Illinois this afternoon and tonight. The NWS has moved the higher risk areas a bit to the south.  The yellow, hatched area has an enhanced risk of strong tornadoes. Galesburg, Iowa City, Ft. Madison, and Ottumwa.  The brown area has a significant risk of tornadoes. It includes Des Moines, Peoria, Quincy and Cedar Rapids.  Note:  I don't think there will be dangerous storms before 5pm. However, starting in late afternoon, you should be following the local weather closely. I will be supplementing that coverage on Twitter @usweatherexpert .  Because it has been months since we have had a major tornado risk, let's review preparation procedures: Now is the perfect time to sign up for our tornado alarm called StormWarn .  Clear out your shelter area now. Make sure it has a flashlight, a couple of bottles of water, a radio or television, and diapers if appropriate.  Always wear shoes into your shelter...

The article above  article was written after a nighttime tornado killed 24 people in Nashville and middle and eastern Tennessee in 2000. It made the point that "more effect warning systems" were needed for deadly nighttime tornadoes.  CBS Nashville We've solved the problem. A meteorological "smoke alarm." Survive-A-Storm shelters, WeatherCall, LLC and I worked together to create StormWarn. Like a smoke alarm, StormWarn will alert you, 24/7, when your subscribed location is in the path of a tornado or winds of 80 mph or stronger. This is especially valuable at night where the call will awaken you if you are in a dangerous situation -- but will not  awaken you for 1" hail or some of the other things that trigger weather radios and apps. You get both safety and peace of mind. When the threat has ended, you get an "all-clear" call.  And, if you own a Survive-A-Storm Shelter, you will get a call a few minutes later to make sure you are safe and t...

The severe thunderstorm "scoreboard" as of this morning. The National Weather Service has an experimental long-term forecast system for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. It is lighting up for early next week from the central Great Plains to the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.  Now is a perfect time to sign up for StormWarn -- the first true " tornado alarm " which will notify you instantly when it is take to go to your storm shelter, even if it is the middle of the night. For about $2 a month, you give your family peace of mind plus you no longer have to stay up late at night monitoring the weather. It is a bargain! September is National Preparedness Month. Make sure your family is prepared with StormWarn.