What does severe weather season mean in Ohio?
As we welcome the spring season, it’s the perfect time for Ohioans to prepare for severe weather like flooding, accumulated rain storms, damaging winds and tornadoes.
Governor Mike DeWine has set this week, March 19-25, as Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week.
At 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Mahoning and surrounding counties will participate in a statewide tornado drill and test their emergency and sheltering plans.
“Severe weather can impact Ohio at any time of year,” DeWine said in a “Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week allows Ohioans the opportunity to learn more about severe weather and be prepared before, during, and after a storm.”
What Ohio hopes to do through Severe Weather Awareness Week
His office, alongside the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service, encourages Ohioans to prepare for spring and summer weather hazards.
“Ohio’s weather can often be unpredictable, especially in the spring when temperatures fluctuate between warm and cold, which can be a recipe for severe weather or even tornadoes,” said Ohio Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Sima Merick. “We encourage all Ohioans to make or review an existing emergency plan and be prepared.”
Ohioans encouraged to help each other in dangerous thunderstorms
Kirk Lombardy works for the Cleveland branch of the National Weather Service.
He urges community members to be weather-aware and look out for one another in dangerous thunderstorms.
“When there’s a severe thunderstorm watch, that means you can pretty much go about your business and be alert that the possibility of when thunderstorms develop, that those storms could become severe,” Lombardy said. “A severe thunderstorm would be winds of 58 MPH and hail of one inch or greater in diameter,”
He also discussed what to know about these conditions turning into damaging tornadoes.
“When we issue a tornado watch, it means the conditions are right for the possibility for tornadoes to develop,” Lombardy said. “When that’s issued, be prepared because if the storms develop in your area, then they could produce tornadoes.”
Flooding can also be a risk to residents during severe weather.
“When we have thunderstorms.. there’s heavy rain and the ground becomes so saturated that there’s nowhere for that water to go, flooding can sometimes develop very rapidly,” he said. “If you encounter any flooded roads or areas, first, don’t go near it. You’re safe far away from it, but once you go near it, you’re putting your life at risk. Don’t drive through any flooded roads because you don’t know how deep that water is...The best thing to do is stay away.”
2023 Ohio Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest
Kids can enter an art contest for OCSWA’s severe weather awareness campaign.
It’s open to students in grades 1 through 6.
Visit their website for rules and submit your weather poster by April 21.
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