National Weather Service Huntsville, Alabama --- Severe Weather Awareness Week 2011

2011 Severe Weather Awareness Week
Alabama: Sunday, February 20 - Friday, February 25
Tennessee: Sunday, February 20 - Saturday, February 26


Many across the central Tennessee Valley will long remember the April 24th storms that hit portions of Cullman, Marshall and DeKalb Counties. These tornadoes occurred during the evening hours of the 24th, producing several significant tornadoes, including one that tracked for over 40 miles! We encourage you to BE PREPARED for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms heading into the spring season.

Governors Robert Bentley of Alabama and Bill Haslam of Tennessee have proclaimed a Severe Weather Awareness Week this February. In Alabama, the awareness week will last from Sunday, February 20th through Friday, February 25th; in Tennessee, the awareness week will last from Sunday, February 20th through Saturday, February 26th. Your National Weather Service, the Alabama and Tennessee Emergency Management Agencies, and other supporting organizations, ask your help in providing your relatives, friends and neighbors with information about severe weather safety. Although severe weather is more likely as we progress into the spring months, it can happen at any time of the year here in the Tennessee Valley. So, take time now to become aware of the different types of severe weather that can occur in this region, and what to do in the event of a severe weather situation. The information could save your life, and the lives of others.

Educational activities and drills will be held throughout the week to help people prevent 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.

The table below shows the severe weather theme for the day indicated. Click on the links in the table to see the appropriate pages from the 2009 Alabama severe weather awareness brochure (these files may take a minute to download). A link to the Tennessee brochure follows below the table.

Severe Weather Awareness Week Schedule
Sunday February 20	Severe Weather Awareness Week "Kickoff" & SKYWARN Both Alabama and Tennessee begin the week by highlighting the significance of Severe Weather Awareness Week and SKYWARN (Storm Spotters & Amateur Radio Volunteers).
Monday February 21	Severe Thunderstorms and Damaging Winds Damaging winds from severe thunderstorms are much more frequent than tornadoes in the Tennessee Valley. These straight line winds can exceed 100 MPH and can be devastating.
Tuesday February 22	Lightning Lightning is the underrated killer. All thunderstorms have lightning, and this hazard can be deceptively deadly.
Wednesday February 23	Tornado Safety The best way to survive a tornado is to know weather safety rules and take appropriate and timely actions. Tornado drills will be conducted both in Tennessee and Alabama on Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Huntsville will issue its routine weekly test via NOAA Weather Radio at 9:30 am. Schools and state, county, and other interested agencies are encouraged to participate and help everyone learn life saving rules. Friday will be the alternate drill day if adverse weather is expected on Wednesday.
Thursday February 24	Flooding and Flash Flooding Flooding is the number one weather killer in the United States. Flash flooding is a fast-moving event that can catch you quickly before you realize it. River flooding is a longer-duration event that can cause more widespread destruction.
Friday February 25	NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio and Emergency Alert System Day NWR is the voice of the National Weather Service, and is your fastest way to receive warnings in case of severe weather. During hazardous weather, normal broadcasts are interrupted for watches, warnings, and other important information, and many warnings are tone-alerted.
Saturday (TN) February 26	Severe Weather Wrap-up

If you have not done so already, this is the time of the year to check your preparedness plans.

Make sure your NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio has fresh batteries.
Make sure you have a means of receiving severe weather information.
Make sure you know what to do if severe weather approaches.

Related Links

Severe Weather Awareness Week Brochures

Alabama Severe Weather Awareness Brochure - UPDATED
Tennessee Severe Weather Awareness Week Brochure

Additional Weather Safety Information

Tornado Safety in Schools Brochure (PDF) - Tips and suggestions for keeping students safe in the event of a tornado, including a poster you can fill out with local safety information.
NOAA Weather/All-Hazards Radio | Brochure (PDF) - Details on transmitters and SAME codes that you can use to set your NOAA Weather/All-Hazards Radio.
Lightning | Brochure (PDF) - Information on the dangers of lightning, including facts and statistics specific to the Tennessee Valley.
Flash Floods and River Floods - While tornadoes are a big threat to the area, flash flooding kills more people per year than any other weather hazard. Find out more through this brochure.
Tennessee Valley Tornado Database - Check out details on the tornadoes that have hit the area since 1874 (not yet including February's tornadoes).
Public Service Announcement from Elwood Blues of the Alabama Blues Brothers:
Basic Severe Weather Awareness (0:48 MP3) | NOAA Weather Radio (0:48 MP3)

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office