Milwaukee, Wisconsin – As spring storm systems strengthen across the United States, emergency officials are urging Wisconsin residents to review tornado safety plans now as severe weather risks increase across the Upper Midwest.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tornado activity typically increases during the spring months when warm, moisture-rich air surges northward and collides with cooler air moving across the central and eastern United States. Wisconsin experiences dozens of severe thunderstorms each year, and the state averages about 20 tornadoes annually, many of which occur between late spring and early summer.
Cities including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Eau Claire can all experience tornado-producing storms when strong cold fronts or severe thunderstorm complexes sweep across the region. In the Upper Midwest, tornadoes often develop quickly within powerful lines of thunderstorms, sometimes leaving residents only minutes to react once warnings are issued.
NOAA advises residents to identify a safe shelter location inside their homes, workplaces or schools before storms develop. The safest place during a tornado is a basement or underground shelter, where people should move immediately once a tornado warning is issued.
If a basement is not available, experts recommend sheltering in a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, such as a bathroom, closet or hallway without windows. Residents should stay away from windows, exterior walls and large open rooms, which are more vulnerable to structural damage during intense winds.
Mobile homes and vehicles are particularly dangerous during tornadoes. Anyone in those locations should move to a nearby sturdy building or designated storm shelter well before storms arrive.
Officials also stress the importance of having multiple ways to receive warnings, including Wireless Emergency Alerts on smartphones, NOAA Weather Radio and local television or radio broadcasts.
Preparing now can save lives. As spring severe weather patterns continue to develop across the Midwest, NOAA encourages Wisconsin residents to stay alert and review tornado safety plans before the next round of storms moves through the region.
