Spring is severe weather season, and Raleigh is no stranger to storms and their impacts. The ingredients that go into spring storms can make them particularly strong and dangerous. Those include strong winds, frequent lightning strikes, hail, and even tornadoes.
Here are three recommendations to prepare you, your family, and your community for severe weather:
- Learn the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING. A watch means all the ingredients are in place for severe storms or a thunderstorm capable of producing tornadoes. A warning means the hazard is occurring or about to start.
- Pay attention to the sky. Warming temperatures and longer days invite us to head outside and enjoy nature. Be sure to pay attention to conditions as you are out and about. Darkening skies, increasing winds, and thunder in the distance can mean storms are not far off and could be heading towards you. Have a plan for shelter or a place to go if storms meet you outside.
- Know your local resources. Local governments and media partners share weather forecasts and storm outlooks to inform the community. The National Weather Service in Raleigh provides weather and watch/warning information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Make sure you have multiple ways to get forecast information as well as weather warnings.
Use the Ready Raleigh Guide
The Ready Raleigh Guide is an in-depth resource for emergency preparedness information. The online edition of the guide, available both in English and Spanish, features thunderstorm safety and actions on pages 31-38 and tornado safety on pages 59-64.