Northwest Iowa — This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. Each day this week the National Weather Service and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management are focusing on a different severe weather topic. Today’s topic is tornadoes. For that reason, a statewide tornado drill is planned for the 10 a.m. hour today.
The test is cancelled if there is the potential for real severe weather, but the weather service says even though it will be cloudy across the state and there will be some rain around, severe weather is not anticipated and thunder is unlikely in the morning, so the test is a “go” for this morning. Officials ask you to take this time from 10-11 a.m. to make sure you know how you’re going to receive watches and warnings, and practice seeking shelter in your home, school or business.
Meteorologist In Charge at the Sioux Falls office of the National Weather Service, Sally Johnson says it’s all about being prepared.
Not only is it a chance for the National Weather Service and individuals and businesses to check their equipment and practice their tornado plan, but city and county Emergency Management officials will also be testing their infrastructure, including tornado sirens. So when the tornado sirens sound today, officials ask you not to be alarmed, but if possible, use that as a signal to practice your tornado plan and go to your place of safety. Officials also remind you that not all tornados happen when you’re at home, so they say you should practice other scenarios as well.
Again, the test tornado watch will start at 10. And if past experience is any indicator, the warning will be issued and the sirens will sound before 10:30 this morning.
The weather service says a tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air in contact with the ground. A visible cloud is not needed for a tornado to be in progress. Some tornadoes may not appear to extend to the ground but are causing considerable damage. Tornadoes take on various shapes and sizes, and most produce winds less than 120 mph. However, a few are capable of producing winds over 200 mph.
The weather service also reminds you to listen to the entire warning so you know what to expect, as a tornado warning is issued for everything from minor tornadoes all the way up to the largest, multiple vortex tornadoes.
