Preparedness Is Key to Safety
April is the peak of spring’s severe weather season in Alabama, and the key to staying safe is being prepared and keeping an eye out as conditions change.
The spring severe weather season can start as early as February and stretch into May, according to Kurt Weber, meteorologist and forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Huntsville office, which oversees Jackson and Marshall counties.
“We really can get the whole gamut of severe weather this far north, even up to the Tennessee-Alabama line,” Weber says.
Severe weather can include anything from tornadoes to large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. April has the highest number of recorded tornadoes in Alabama — 581 between 1950 and 2023, according to the National Weather Service. Historically, April also has been the month with the highest number of strong tornadoes recorded.
“The main thing that we really stress is for people to be prepared and know where to go,” Weber says. “If they don’t have a good shelter place to go within their own residence, then (know) where shelter is so they can go to it when a tornado watch is issued.”
Basements or storm shelters are the best options during severe weather. If neither of those is available, go to the most central space on the lowest level of your home without windows, such as a closet or bathroom.
“The more walls you have between you and the outside, the better off you typically are,” Weber says.
Here are additional tips:
Know the strengths and weaknesses of your residence, Weber says. If you suspect it is not a safe place to ride out a storm, identify an alternative shelter and go there once a severe weather watch has been issued.
Have a kit ready and nearby when you know severe weather is approaching. A helmet and thick blanket can help protect you from falling debris. Shoes will protect your feet.
Make sure you have multiple ways to receive storm warnings. Weather radios are still a reliable way to receive storm warnings, but nowadays there are so many other ways to receive updates and warnings. Cellphones, weather apps, and local television stations all can provide updated weather information. Make sure to keep your devices charged and to keep a battery-powered radio on hand in case of a power outage, Weber says. The more options you have, the better off you will be during severe weather.
If you are away from home during severe weather, get inside a sturdy building as soon as possible. If you are in a vehicle during a tornado warning and cannot get to shelter, a low-lying ditch may be the safest place for you. During severe thunderstorms, however, remaining in your vehicle may be your safest bet, Weber said.
Take extra precautions if you happen to live in a low-lying area prone to flash flooding since heavy rain can accompany tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Make sure your shelter or safe room is not prone to flooding.
Do not ignore severe thunderstorm warnings. Straight-line winds can be just as damaging as a tornado, and nobody wants to be outside when large hail is falling.