Wisconsin Seeing an Active Storm Season; Residents Need to Stay Vigilant

Friday, June 28th, 2024 -- 12:00 PM

(Hope Kirwan, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin is seeing an active storm season this summer, bringing several rounds of tornadoes and the risk of flooding, according to Hope Kirwan with Wisconsin Public Radio.

Six tornadoes hit the state on Saturday, including one that damaged part of the City of Janesville. The state also saw the first ever tornadoes recorded in the month of February and five tornadoes that hit western and central Wisconsin in late May.

Jonathan Naylor, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in La Crosse, said a southwesterly flow of air has been bringing in moisture and warm temperatures, some of the ingredients needed for severe storms. He said it’s not unusual for the state, but it’s a stark difference from last summer’s prolonged drought conditions.

“There’s definitely that kind of shock when you compare last year to this year, Naylor said. “We’ve had quite a few active events already, and certainly with the pattern that we’re in, we can’t rule out that we could see more active severe weather events.”

To stay safe in the coming summer months, Naylor said residents should “stay vigilant” about the forecast, checking for the possibility of severe weather and taking action when the risk arrives.

Staying up to date on weather alerts is especially important when there is a risk of tornadoes, according to Naylor. He recommends people have more than one way to receive tornado warnings, such as an NOAA weather radio.

“Making sure you have your phone charged for any wireless alerts you might get for tornado warnings, paying attention to local media, just having multiple sources to get warnings on days that are more active,” he said.

He said weather alerts can also be found on the National Weather Service’s website, Facebook and Twitter. Andrew Beckett, public information officer for Wisconsin Emergency Management, said residents also need to know where they’re going to go when they receive a tornado alert.

“Basements are considered one of the safest places to go,” he said. “If a basement is not available, you want to make sure you go to a ground-floor interior room of a sturdy building, something that doesn’t have windows, in order to put as much distance between yourself and the outside as possible.”

He said checking weather alerts and having a plan for seeking shelter is also important when camping or spending time outdoors. He said a portable weather radio can make sure campers or hikers are getting alerts in areas that don’t have cell service.

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