Severe Weather Preparedness Week: Tornado, wind, and hail safety

Among the many changes in the spring season, you should be especially prepared for the possibility of severe thunderstorms and the threats they bring. Spring is a ripe time for storm development as cold and warm air clash and winds increase.

Missouri's severe weather season generally peaks from April to June with another bump in activity toward the end of the year. Severe storms are still possible anytime enough energy and dynamics are available.

Tornadoes get much of the attention in the spring, and for good reason. They can produce the strongest winds on the planet and give little warning. If a tornado warning is issued for your location, immediately find a sturdy shelter and get to the ground level in an interior room with no windows. If you are in a car, it is generally recommended to stay put; flying debris can be deadly and it will take an EF2 tornado or worse to lift a vehicle.

Strong winds and large hail can be just as deadly as a tornado. In 2023 in Missouri, 5 people were killed by tornadoes and 4 died from non-tornadic strong winds. All of the deaths attributed to tornadoes occurred in mobile homes.

Some places, including several cities in Central Missouri, may set off warning sirens for the strongest winds or largest hail. The same best practices of remaining indoors away from windows also apply to high winds and hail.

Climate change also influences severe weather season. In recent decades, severe storms have become the most frequent and costliest weather disasters, outpacing the typical big-dollar hurricanes and wildfires.

With more intense storms in a changing climate, it is more important than ever to be prepared for severe weather season.