Severe Weather Awareness Week

April 15-19, with Tornado Drill Day on Thursday, April 18

For more than 25 years, the state of Minnesota has conducted a Severe Weather Awareness Week in partnership with the National Weather Service and local governments. A statewide tornado drill is part of that event.

The Severe Weather Awareness Week campaign helps teach and remind Minnesotans about weather hazards and provides resources to minimize the risks associated with severe weather.

Monday, April 15 – Weather Alerts and Warnings

• Severe weather warnings are issued to the public by the National Weather Service.
• Topics include the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA all-hazards weather radio.
• Personal weather alerts – The National Weather Service and many internet sites and local media outlets offer alerting services that can provide email, RSS feeds or text messages to cell phones, computers or other devices.

Tuesday, April 16 – Severe Storms, Lightning and Winds

• Thunderstorms, hail, straight line winds cause extensive damage in Minnesota every year. The annual toll from hail alone is about $1 billion nationally.

• Lightning kills and injures more people than any other summer weather threat!
• 47 lightning fires took place in homes and business structures in 2007, resulting in damages of about $2.3 million.

Wednesday, April 17 – Floods, Flash Floods

• In 1997, floods on the Red River and the Minnesota River affected 58 Minnesota counties, resulting in the largest Presidential disaster declaration in state history.
• The cost of response and recovery was estimated at $545 million dollars.

Thursday, April 18 – Tornado Drill Day 

• Tornado Drill Day is Thursday April 18, 2013 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:55 p.m.
• Minnesota conducts two tornado drills on Thursday April 18, 2013. The first drill is statewide at 1:45 p.m. to allow schools, business, hospitals and other organizations to practice their emergency plans. The 2nd drill is at 6:55 p.m. in most counties and is held to allow families and 2nd shift workers to also practice their plans.
• Learn more about the tornado drill and safety and shelter guidelines here.
• Know what to do during a Tornado Warning.

Friday, April 19 – Heat Waves

• Heat-related fatalities outpace deaths in several other weather categories.
• Based on a national average from 1992-2001, excessive heat claimed 219 lives each year.
• By contrast, floods killed 88, tornadoes 57, lightning 52 and hurricanes 15.