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Awareness Info

2012 Severe Weather

NOAA Weather Radio

Safety Info

Louisiana
Severe Weather Awareness Week

March 3 - March 9, 2013

Severe Weather Awareness Week Information

Tornadoes, damaging thunderstorm winds, large hail, and flash floods can occur at any time of the year. However, late winter and spring usually bring the greatest chance of these severe weather events occurring in Louisiana.

The week of March 3, 2013 has been designated as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Louisiana. The goal of the awareness week is to call attention to the threats posed by these weather hazards and to review severe weather safety rules in an attempt to reduce the loss of life and injury. Post-storm interviews with survivors of severe weather events prove that preventative safety measures greatly enhance the chance of survival.

Now is the time to develop a severe weather safety plan. A successful plan should include:

• Knowledge of terminology such as watches and warnings
• Knowledge of safety rules to follow when severe weather strikes
• A reliable method of receiving emergency information
• Review and testing of the plan.

Emergency managers, schools, government agencies, private businesses, and local citizens are encouraged to review their severe weather safety plans and conduct drills as appropriate.

Severe Weather Highlights in Southeast Louisiana for 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pictures above show damage from two EF1 tornadoes that occurred during a severe weather event in late March. The picture on the left shows damage in Ascension Parish, and the picture on the right shows damage in Walker, LA. .

A total of 22 tornadoes touched down in southeast Louisiana and the adjacent areas of southwest and coastal Mississippi in 2012. Of those 22 tornadoes, 10 tornadoes which occurred in southeast Louisiana during the past year were all rated as weak; either EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornado that produced the most property damage in southeast Louisiana last year, occurred in the Prairieville area of Ascension Parish on the morning of March 21st. The tornado produced considerable property damage to a number of house roofs as well as downing trees and power lines along its 4 mile path. Two of the tornadoes in southeast Louisiana last year originally developed as waterspouts before moving onshore and causing minor property damage. On May 9th, a large waterspout moved from Barataria Bay southward onto Grand Isle damaging several houses and camps; and on July 13th a waterspout moved onshore Port Fourchon causing minor property damage and a minor injury. Similar to 2011, lightning produced the only direct weather related severe weather fatalities in southeast Louisiana during 2012. Two fisherman were fatally injured when lightning struck a tree next to a small structure they had sought refuge during a thunderstorm south of Ponchatoula

Severe Weather Product Issuance Guidelines

Visit this link to see an interactive timeline of the products we issue and how we issue them.

NOAA Weather Radio - Tornado Test Message

As part of the Severe Weather Awareness Week activity we will transmit a Tornado Test Message on NOAA Weather Radio Wednesday morning, March 6th, around 915AM. The test message will be similar to the Routine Weekly Test message transmitted each Wednesday. Some NOAA Weather Radios will alarm with the test message, others will only have a TEST message displayed on their LCD screens. The test message will allow individuals and organization to make sure their NOAA Weather Radios are in good working order, and also is a good time to review severe weather safety plans.

Severe Weather Criteria

National Weather Service considers the following criteria as severe weather phenomenon:

• Hail 1 inch in diameter or larger (quarter-sized or greater)
• Measured wind gusts greater than 58 MPH (50 knots)
• Observed wind damage, such as fallen trees, property damage, etc.
• Tornado - a funnel cloud that contacts the ground
• Flash flooding or flooding that causes death, injuries, or property damage

Local Severe Weather Climatology

To get local parish and county specific severe weather climatology, please visit here.  

Severe weather can happen at any time of the year, but it is most common during the months of March, April, and May in Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.

Severe weather can also happen at any time of the day, but it is most common during the afternoon hours in Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.

NOAA Weather Radio

NOAA Weather Radio is a vital communication link in your severe weather safety plan. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts continuous weather information. When severe weather watches and warnings are issued, most NOAA Weather Radios are automatically alerted and turned on so that you are alerted about a potential severe weather situation. Some receivers can be programmed specifically for the parish or county where you live.

In the southern United States...including the Gulf Coast states...tornadoes can occur at night. Unfortunately...nocturnal tornadoes have a much greater chance of causing fatalities and injuries as many people are asleep and not monitoring weather conditions or media to know if warnings have been issued. NOAA Weather Radios can be a life saving weather monitoring device during the overnight hours. The Weather Radio can be set in "stand-by" mode overnight and will automatically alarm and turn on if a severe weather watch or warning is issued. When a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch or Warning is issued, the weather radio will automatically alert and broadcast the warning.

Six transmitters serve southeast Louisiana and southwest and coastal Mississippi.  Click here for additional information on NOAA Weather Radio.

NWS Weather Radio Transmitter Sites

New Orleans/Baton Rouge http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix 504-522-7330 985-649-0357 Lake Charles http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch 377-477-5285 Shreveport http://www.srh.noaa.gov/shv 318-631-3669 Jackson http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan 601-936-2189 Mobile http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob 251-633-6443

Home Safety Tip
	Move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
School Severe Weather Safety Tip
	Practice a severe weather action plan that includes a means of receiving severe weather watches and warnings, and safety procedures to follow when warnings are issued or when severe weather develops. Seek shelter in an interior hallway on the lowest floor.
Other Structures Safety Tips
	If you live in a mobile home, move to a substantial shelter if severe weather threatens. The thin walls are vulnerable to wind blown debris, and they can be easily overturned by strong wind gusts. In large buildings such as office buildings, hospitals, or shopping centers, move rapidly to a designated shelter. Do not try to escape in your car.
Outdoor Safety Tips
	Move inside a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds or under isolated trees. Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent.
Flash Flood Safety Tips
	Avoid walking, swimming, or driving in flood waters. If you live in a flood prone area, move to higher ground.
Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Watches
	Atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and/or tornadoes during the next several hours. Stay alert for rapidly changing weather conditions and be ready to take action if warnings are issued.
Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
	A tornado or severe thunderstorm has been reported or indicated by radar. Seek appropriate safe shelter if you are in the path of the storm.