Severe Weather Awareness Week 2010

Severe Weather Awareness Week
February 22-26, 2010

Governor Bob Riley has proclaimed February 22-26, 2010, as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Alabama. The National Weather Service, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, and other supporting organizations, ask for your help in providing the public with information about severe weather safety. Advance planning and increased awareness will help residents of Alabama survive these deadly storms.

These are just a couple of images from recent years where parts of central Alabama received severe weather damage and flooding. The picture on the left is from Fayette County on February 6, 2008. The picture on the right is along Buck Creek at the Alabaster Depot (Shelby County) during August 2008.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has several different events planned to coincide with Severe Weather Awareness Week:

"Tornado Safety Drill" on Wednesday, February 24. This "tornado safety drill" will be accomplished in conjunction with our weekly NOAA All-Hazards Radio Test that will be run at a special time of 9:00 am. An actual tornado warning WILL NOT sound, but this is an excellent opportunity for schools, civic organizations and businesses around central Alabama to practice what they would do in the event of a tornado warning.

Open House on Saturday, March 13th, from 10am-3pm This Open House is for the citizens of central Alabama to have an opportunity to visit our office, talk with our staff, and meet many others involved in the Emergency Management community AND tour a WC-130 Hurricane Hunter. For more information about the Open House, CLICK HERE.

For directions to the National Weather Service office in Calera, CLICK HERE.

Severe weather can happen at any time. Here are some events from 2009.

Central Alabama Tornado Outbreak - April 19, 2009 : Several bands of severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and lasted into the evening hours. These thunderstorms produced 11 tornadoes, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall.
8 Confirmed Tornadoes - May 6, 2009 : The broken line of storms exhibited brief small rotations that produced some short lived tornadoes. 8 tornadoes were confirmed in the following counties; Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Blount.

Educational activities will be held throughout the week to educate people on preventing injuries and deaths from tornadoes, damaging winds, flash floods, lightning, and hail. Each day of the week focuses on a specific type of severe weather or on the warning and drill system.

Severe Weather Awareness Week Schedule
Monday, February 22	Severe Thunderstorms
Tuesday, February 23	Lightning
Wednesday, February 24	Tornado Safety There will also be a statewide Tornado Safety Drill in conjunction with a special Weekly NWR Test at 9:00 am.
Thursday, February 25	Flooding and Flash Flooding
Friday, February 26	NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards and Emergency Alert System

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office