April 19, 2021
On April 10, two severe weather incidents occurred, and each carries a lesson. How would you react?
The National Weather Service (NWS) has an outstanding record protecting property and saving lives by issuing timely severe weather watches and warnings. NWS watches are generally issued one or more hours before severe weather impacts your area. Warnings, on the other hand, are more immediate: you are in imminent danger. NWS averages a 13-minute lead time on Tornado Warnings. Getting these alerts the instant they are issued gives you valuable time to protect your property and save lives.
Do you have a NOAA Weather radio that will allow you to use every minute to your best advantage? Consider how a weather radio such as a WR120 would have helped you on April 10.
Tornado Watch #87 had been issued for areas including Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL just after midnight, warning of the potential for severe storms with large hail: A few hours later, this started pelting Mobile, Pensacola and Orange Beach,