In a record year for tornadoes, the Midwest could become a "battleground" for severe weather in the coming weeks, said Michael Lewis, the National Weather Service representative for northern Indiana.
"The biggest thing for people to know is that it is not a matter of if thunderstorms and severe weather are coming," Lewis said. "It's a matter of when."
In fact, Lewis predicted thunderstorms for northern Indiana in the next few days.
"We are seeing a very active jet stream, so the systems that come through are maintaining their force and their continuity," Lewis said. "They are very aggressive, well-organized."
The National Weather Service already has received 1,151 tornado reports in 2011.
Lewis said tornadoes may be reported by multiple people, so the number of actual tornadoes is lower than the number of tornado reports. However, the 2011 figure so far is abnormally high.
In total, the service received 1,156 tornado reports in 2009 and 1,282 reports in 2010.
"Those numbers are for a whole year, and when we have 1,151 so far for five months in comparison, we are significantly ahead of past years," Lewis said.
WSBT-TV chief meteorologist Rick Mecklenburg said this year is the most active for tornadoes that he can remember.
"We have had (approximately) 500 people die this year in the U.S. (from tornadoes)," Mecklenburg said. "The past average is 60."
The area has not seen many signs of severe weather yet, but Mecklenburg advised residents to be cautious as summer approaches.
"We haven't had much in the way of severe weather as of right now," Mecklenburg said. "As it warms up, that threat that has been in the South could move north."
Severe weather in this area typically begins in June, he said.
The National Weather Service in northern Indiana received a report of a tornado in Huntington County, southwest of Fort Wayne, Monday at 5:32 p.m. Local law enforcement reported the tornado moving north of Mount Etna near Indiana 9. A survey team was investigating the damage Tuesday afternoon.
While the potential for a tornado may rise in coming weeks, Lewis said severe thunderstorms are equally dangerous.
"First, everybody fixates on tornadoes especially with the pictures we have been seeing from Joplin ... but even with severe thunderstorms, we can see winds in excess of 70 to 80 miles per hour. That is enough to do significant damage and can cause death," Lewis said. "The images of tornadoes are devastating, but people don't realize severe thunderstorms have the potential to cause destruction as well."
The increase in severe weather and tornadoes is a product of the climate pattern called La Niña, Lewis said. La Niña is the trend for unusually cold temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
"We are seeing a much cooler pattern and a much wetter pattern, a La Niña pattern," he said. "What that can mean is that in late spring as the jet stream starts to shift north severe weather is just around the corner."
"When the National Weather Service issues a warning, people need to seek shelter in the lowest place of their house," Lewis said. "If you do not have a basement, get in the center of the house. Put as many walls between you and the severe weather as possible."
Families and businesses should establish a severe weather plan in case of emergency, Lewis said.
"If you have a NOAA weather radio or a battery-operated radio, make sure you have batteries ready, and it is tuned properly. Make sure you know where you can find information," he said. "It is better to do it now and not need it, than to not do it and need it later ... better to be safe and ahead of the power curve."
Mecklenburg said weather radios are an important tool to monitor severe weather.
"I would caution people not to rely on sirens because they are for outdoor use and not for indoors," Mecklenburg said. "It is important that every family and every person has a severe weather plan. When a tornado is coming, it is not the best time to figure out where you are going ... then it may be too late to figure out what to do."
Staff writer Megan Doyle:
mdoyle@sbtinfo.com
Tuesday tornado
The National Weather Service reported a tornado touched down in a wooded area of Huntington County about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
"The biggest thing for people to know is that it is not a matter of if thunderstorms and severe weather are coming," Lewis said. "It's a matter of when."
In fact, Lewis predicted thunderstorms for northern Indiana in the next few days.
"We are seeing a very active jet stream, so the systems that come through are maintaining their force and their continuity," Lewis said. "They are very aggressive, well-organized."
The National Weather Service already has received 1,151 tornado reports in 2011.
Lewis said tornadoes may be reported by multiple people, so the number of actual tornadoes is lower than the number of tornado reports. However, the 2011 figure so far is abnormally high.
In total, the service received 1,156 tornado reports in 2009 and 1,282 reports in 2010.
"Those numbers are for a whole year, and when we have 1,151 so far for five months in comparison, we are significantly ahead of past years," Lewis said.
WSBT-TV chief meteorologist Rick Mecklenburg said this year is the most active for tornadoes that he can remember.
"We have had (approximately) 500 people die this year in the U.S. (from tornadoes)," Mecklenburg said. "The past average is 60."
The area has not seen many signs of severe weather yet, but Mecklenburg advised residents to be cautious as summer approaches.
"We haven't had much in the way of severe weather as of right now," Mecklenburg said. "As it warms up, that threat that has been in the South could move north."
Severe weather in this area typically begins in June, he said.
The National Weather Service in northern Indiana received a report of a tornado in Huntington County, southwest of Fort Wayne, Monday at 5:32 p.m. Local law enforcement reported the tornado moving north of Mount Etna near Indiana 9. A survey team was investigating the damage Tuesday afternoon.
While the potential for a tornado may rise in coming weeks, Lewis said severe thunderstorms are equally dangerous.
"First, everybody fixates on tornadoes especially with the pictures we have been seeing from Joplin ... but even with severe thunderstorms, we can see winds in excess of 70 to 80 miles per hour. That is enough to do significant damage and can cause death," Lewis said. "The images of tornadoes are devastating, but people don't realize severe thunderstorms have the potential to cause destruction as well."
The increase in severe weather and tornadoes is a product of the climate pattern called La Niña, Lewis said. La Niña is the trend for unusually cold temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
"We are seeing a much cooler pattern and a much wetter pattern, a La Niña pattern," he said. "What that can mean is that in late spring as the jet stream starts to shift north severe weather is just around the corner."
"When the National Weather Service issues a warning, people need to seek shelter in the lowest place of their house," Lewis said. "If you do not have a basement, get in the center of the house. Put as many walls between you and the severe weather as possible."
Families and businesses should establish a severe weather plan in case of emergency, Lewis said.
"If you have a NOAA weather radio or a battery-operated radio, make sure you have batteries ready, and it is tuned properly. Make sure you know where you can find information," he said. "It is better to do it now and not need it, than to not do it and need it later ... better to be safe and ahead of the power curve."
Mecklenburg said weather radios are an important tool to monitor severe weather.
"I would caution people not to rely on sirens because they are for outdoor use and not for indoors," Mecklenburg said. "It is important that every family and every person has a severe weather plan. When a tornado is coming, it is not the best time to figure out where you are going ... then it may be too late to figure out what to do."
Staff writer Megan Doyle:
mdoyle@sbtinfo.com
Tuesday tornado
The National Weather Service reported a tornado touched down in a wooded area of Huntington County about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
