National Weather Service - Lincoln:
Severe Weather Preparedness Week: March 4 - 10, 2018

[March 03, 2018] 

LINCOLN

A statewide Tornado Drill will be conducted at 10:00 am Tuesday March 6th.

All NWS offices in IL will issue an actual Tornado Warning as a test for all 102 counties in the state

The TEST warning will clearly state that NO SEVERE WEATHER is occurring, and that we are doing this for test purposes

We don’t do this to scare people, but we do this to adequately test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that radio and TV broadcasters use to warn the public of hazardous weather. This is also done to verify that people using weather alert radios can receive an actual tornado warning.

This has been done for more than 30 years – every first Tuesday in March at 10 am.

Use of an actual Tornado Warning for this test has been approved by NWS Headquarters, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA)

The main themes for this year’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week are:

It is VERY important for people to be prepared for floods, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms all year in the state of Illinois.

• If flooding is occurring or imminent you may need to evacuate your home quickly. Remember the dangers of driving on flooding roads. TURN AROUND…DON’T DROWN!
   

• In the event of a tornado, go to the basement under a sturdy piece of furniture or the stairwell. Otherwise, go to the lowest level in a small area, like a closet, interior hallway or bathroom without windows.
   

• Everyone needs to have a plan in mind regarding WHERE they would seek shelter from tornadoes and severe storms at home, work, and any location where people gather
   

• Check your insurance policies and make any necessary adjustments in the event you might suffer storm or flood damage
   

• Have an Emergency Supply Kit with extra clothing, money, water, non-perishable foods, medications, tools and flashlights

Do NOT just rely on outdoor warning sirens to alert you that a tornado or severe storm is approaching. Have multiple ways to receive information such as:

• Weather Alert Radio

• Portable radio with battery backup

• Wireless Emergency Alerts on most smart phones

• Cell phone apps that will send you warnings for your area

• Local TV and radio stations

Severe Weather Impacts

The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world! An average of nearly 1,400 tornadoes impact the U.S. every year.

Illinois averages about 50 tornadoes each year. Last year, 50 tornadoes were reported in Illinois resulting in 3 fatalities, 16 injuries and causing more than
$12 Million in property damage.

Tornadoes in Illinois have killed 228 people, and injured more than 4,500 since 1950

The biggest tornado outbreak in Illinois since 1950 occurred on April 19, 1996. A total of 39 tornadoes were reported on that day, including four F3 tornadoes. One person was killed, 74 people were injured, and property damage exceeded $100 Million.

High wind from downbursts and straight-line winds cause more damage than nearly 75% of the tornadoes that occur in Illinois! Illinois averages around 550 reports of thunderstorm related wind damage each year.

29 people have died from damaging winds in Illinois since 1995. Since 2000 there have been more than 270 people injured in Illinois from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.

Central / Southeast Illinois Severe Weather Statistics

Of the top 20 counties with the most tornadoes in the state, 10 are in
central or eastern Illinois. These are:

• Logan (ranked #2)

• Tazewell (#3)

• Sangamon (#4)

• McLean (#5)

• Woodford (#6),

• Macon (#11)

• Champaign (#12)

• Piatt (#14)

• Douglas (#16)

• Vermilion (#17).

[Data based on tornadoes per square mile from 1950-2017]

In the past 10 years, 74% of all severe weather events (damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail) in central and southeast Illinois had advance warning by the NWS in Lincoln, with an average lead time of 16 minutes.

Severe Weather Warnings

NWS Implementation of storm based warnings for smaller areas, and portions of counties, has resulted in a 79% reduction of false alarms across central and eastern Illinois since 2008.

Since 2013, NWS offices have put enhanced wording in all Tornado Warnings.

• This is intended to improve communications of the anticipated threats and impacts of tornadoes. Specific information in the warning will highlight the tornadoes that are expected to produce, or confirm the occurrence of, considerable or catastrophic damage.

Talking Points for 2018 Severe Weather Preparedness

Tornadoes Fast Facts

Illinois ranks fifth in the United States for the most tornadoes per square mile

The majority of Illinois tornadoes have occurred between April 1 and June 30 and between the hours of 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. However, tornadoes have occurred every month of the year at all hours of the day.

Nearly 30 percent of all tornadoes in Illinois occur after dark.

On average, 50 tornadoes occur each year in Illinois.

There were 50 tornadoes reported in Illinois during 2017, which resulted in 3 fatalities, 17 injuries and more than $12 million in property damage

In central and southeast Illinois there were 14 tornadoes in 2017. The strongest was an EF-3 tornado which impacted the town of Washburn (Woodford/Marshall Co line) on 2/28/17. The tornado stayed on the ground for nearly 20 miles.

The day with the most tornadoes in the state of Illinois in 2017? February 28th into the early morning of March 1st. 17 tornadoes were reported – which was a record for that time of year.

In Illinois since 1950:

• 78 percent of tornadoes have been weak with wind estimated less than 110 mph,
   

• 21 percent of tornadoes have been strong with wind estimated between 110-167 mph,
   

• 1 percent of tornadoes have been violent with wind estimated greater than 167 mph. The last violent tornado in Illinois occurred on April 9, 2015, from just north of Rochelle to the village of Fairdale.

SAFETY During a Tornado

Take the following actions when a Tornado Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service, when sirens have been activated or when a tornado has been sighted near your area:

Monitor a weather radio, radio, TV, weather app, or social media for the latest weather information.

Go immediately to your predetermined shelter, such as a storm cellar, basement or the lowest level of the building. In a basement, go under the stairs, under a heavy piece of furniture or a work bench. Stay there until the danger has passed.

If in a mobile home, get out and seek shelter elsewhere, well before the storm arrives. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. If there is not a substantial shelter nearby, go to a low-lying area and shield your head with your hands.

If there is no basement, go to an interior hallway or a small interior room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Stay away from outside windows and walls as they may be penetrated by high speed, wind-borne debris.

Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table, and hold onto it. If sturdy furniture is not available, make yourself the smallest target possible. Squat low to the ground. Put your head down and cover your head and neck with your hands.

Use pillows, mattresses or cushions to protect your head and neck.

Outdoors:

If possible, get inside a substantial building on the lowest floor, away from windows and doors.

If an indoor shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, then, as a last resort, lie in a ditch or culvert. Use your arms to protect your head and neck. Beware of the potential for flash flooding.

In a Vehicle:

Do NOT park under a bridge or overpass! The embankment under an overpass is higher than the surrounding terrain, and the wind speed increases with height. Additionally, the overpass design may create a wind-tunnel effect under the span, further increasing the wind speed. Many overpasses are completely exposed underneath, and most lack hanging girders or a crawlspace-like area to provide sufficient protection from debris, which can travel at high speeds even in weak tornadoes. People stopping underneath overpasses block the flow of traffic, putting others in danger.

Immediately exit the vehicle in a safe manner and take shelter in a nearby building.

Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Heavy rain, hail and traffic may impede your movement. Tornadoes can change directions quickly and can easily lift up a vehicle and toss it through the air.

As a last resort, if there isn’t time to get indoors or if there is no secure shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch, culvert or low-lying area away from vehicles.

Severe Thunderstorms & Lightning
Fast Facts

Illinois averages 550 reports of wind damage and large hail annually. Too often, people ignore severe thunderstorms because they believe only a tornado will cause damage or threaten their lives. The fact is a majority of the property damage and injuries each year is from high winds and large hail.

Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, damaging winds, lightning, hail and/or heavy rain

High wind from straight-line winds and downbursts can cause more damage than nearly 75 percent of the tornadoes that occur in Illinois

One of the largest hailstones ever reported in Illinois fell near Minooka (Kendall County) on June 10, 2015. The hailstone was 4.75 inches in diameter, which is bigger than a grapefruit! Damages in excess of $100,000 were reported with this hailstorm.

Most lightning deaths occur under or near trees and in open fields

Illinois ranks 8th in the U.S. for the most lightning strikes per square mile each year

Lightning is to blame for 105 deaths in Illinois since 1960

SAFETY During A Severe Thunderstorm and/or lightning

It is critical that someone at home, work or wherever people gather monitors weather conditions, regardless of the time of day. Monitor watches and warnings in your areas using a weather alert radio, cell phone app, local TV, local radio or the Internet. If it is safe to do so, contact family members and friends when you become aware of a severe thunderstorm and/or lightning that may threaten them.

Check the weather forecast before leaving for extended outdoor periods and postpone plans if severe weather is imminent.

At Home and Work:

Monitor the radio, television or Internet for the latest weather information

Stay away from all windows and exterior doors during the storm. If you can do it safely, draw the window shades or blinds to reduce the risk from flying glass shattered by high winds.

Turn off air conditioners. In the event of a lightning strike, a power surge could damage the compressor

Delay taking baths or showers until after the storm passes due to the lightning threat

Outdoors:

If outdoors, seek shelter immediately. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.

If you find yourself in a position where there is no immediate shelter available, find a low spot away from trees and power poles

If you are in a boat when a thunderstorm threatens, you should attempt to reach shore as quickly as possible

If you are driving, pull safely to the shoulder away from trees and power lines. Lightning can flash from trees or power poles and strike a vehicle. Rubber tires do NOT keep lightning from striking a vehicle. In the open, a hard-topped vehicle is normally a safe shelter from lightning. Avoid touching metal parts of the vehicle when lightning is nearby.

Flooding Fast Facts

Fourteen people died as a result of driving across flooded roads in 2015, 11 of whom perished during the major flood in late December. This was the highest annual number of flood fatalities since records have been kept.

Prolonged flooding from creeks and rivers and flash flooding from rain swollen roads and waterways are dangers that too many people ignore, sometimes with fatal consequences. Many flood-related rescues, injuries and fatalities have been the result of people in vehicles attempting to drive across flooded roads.

The most dangerous type of flooding is a flash flood. Flash floods can sweep away everything in their path.

Most flash floods are caused by slow-moving thunderstorms and occur most frequently at night.

Flooding has been a factor in 49 deaths across Illinois since 1995. This is more than the number of people killed by tornadoes during the same period. Most of these flood fatalities involved people in vehicles trying to cross flooded roads.

During a Flood

Monitor a weather radio, radio, TV or Internet for the latest weather information and evacuation instructions

If advised to evacuate, do so quickly.

Evacuation is much simpler and safer before flood waters become too deep for ordinary vehicles.

Follow recommended evacuation routes. Short cuts may be blocked.

Move valuable household possessions to an upper floor or another location if flooding is imminent and time permits.

If instructed to do so by local authorities, turn off utilities at their source.

Many people have lost their lives by attempting to drive over flooded roadways. The speed and depth of the water is not always obvious. There may be a hidden portion of the roadway washed out under the water. Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.

Severe Weather Preparedness

• The National Weather Service’s goal is to build a “Weather Ready Nation”. The purpose of this initiative is to save lives as well as livelihoods. By increasing the nation’s weather readiness the country will be better prepared to protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from weather-related disasters.

Visit our website at: www.weather. gov/Lincoln  for the latest weather and river forecasts, warnings, current conditions, radar & satellite imagery, and climate information.

[Chris Miller, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service - Lincoln]