It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week

State officials have proclaimed this week as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arkansas. The spring months of March, April & May normally pose the biggest severe weather risk in Arkansas. However, severe weather can occur at any time.. Last year, Arkansas reported reported 45 tornadoes. That was the most tornadoes seen in Arkansas since 2011. The state was also impacted by four tropical systems last year. There was only one weather related fatality last year, which resulted from thunderstorm winds. Arkansans are urged to use this week as a time to develop a plan of where you would go in the event that a tornado warning issued. Also, make sure you have multiple ways of receiving weather alerts, and not just rely on one source.
Severe weather has impacted our listening area the past three consecutive years, in the form of flash flooding or tornadoes.
In addition to tornadoes and flash flood, severe weather also can happen in the form of damaging straight line thunderstorm winds, large hail and lightning. Familiarize yourself with the differences in weather terminology, to know the difference in watches and warnings.