Spring weather not all pleasant sunshine

Storm awareness begins         

[MARCH 29, 2005]  Local authorities are preparing for the most dangerous of seasons in the Midwest. Concerns are high that 2005 may be a repeat of the violent spring-summer storms and tornadoes of 2003 and 2004.

Local ponds, creeks and streams are at high levels. The presence of lots of moisture and water on the ground are indicators that may draw more water and flooding. "A rough spring is anticipated," ESDA director Dan Fulscher said at the recent Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting.

Fulscher and assistant ESDA director Terry Storer are gearing up responders and volunteers for the challenges of the season. A class begins tonight to train volunteer storm spotters. For more information on participating in that class, you can call the ESDA office at [phone].

While today's forecast calls for rain and possible thunderstorms tonight, no hazardous conditions are predicted at this time.

Some storm definitions and Illinois statistics

(From booklet prepared by the National Weather Service, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross)

Tornadoes

• A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.

• Most tornado damage paths are less than 100 yards wide and a couple of miles long, but the paths can be up to a mile wide and 50 miles long.

• Most tornadoes occur in the spring, but they have occurred every month of the year.

• In 2002, 35 tornadoes occurred in Illinois.

• In 2003, a record-setting 120 tornadoes occurred in Illinois, resulting in two deaths, 81 injuries, and more than $40 million in damage. The previous record was 107 set in 1974.

• In 2004, 80 tornadoes occurred in Illinois, resulting in nine deaths and 23 injuries.

• There is an average of 39 tornadoes per year in Illinois.

Thunderstorms

• Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, damaging winds, lightning, hail or heavy rain.

• Thunderstorms are most likely to happen in the spring and summer.

• In Illinois, severe thunderstorms frequently occur in the late afternoon or evening.

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

• Ninety-six people have been killed by lightning in Illinois in the past 40 years.

• In 2001, Illinois ranked second in the United States for lightning fatalities.

• In 2003, large hail resulted in nearly $20 million in property and crop damage in Illinois.

• The largest hailstone in 2004 was in McLean County, eight miles north of Bloomington-Normal, near the town of Hudson where 4.25 inches of hail fell on the afternoon of July 13.

Flooding

• Flooding is the No. 1 killer nationwide in severe weather.

• Nationally, 75 percent of the presidential disaster declarations are the result of floods.

• Floods can take several hours to days to develop.

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

• Most flash floods are caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, and occur most frequently at night, in mid- to late summer.

• Fourteen people in Illinois have died from flash floods since 1995. Most of the deaths occurred in vehicles.

Recommended actions to protect you and your family in the event of severe weather were published earlier this month and are available at the following links:

• Thunderstorms
• Flooding
• Tornadoes

[LDN]