MONROE — Wisconsin’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness week is April 4-8, 2022. All villages and cities throughout Green County will be participating in the statewide tornado siren test on Thursday, April 7, with April 8 as the back-up date in case of severe weather on Thursday. Tornado sirens will be activated at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
The National Weather Services is providing two severe weather/tornado spotter classes on March 31. The first class is at 1 p.m. at Monroe Fire Station #1 (601 W 17th St) and 6:30 p.m. at the Juda Fire Station-Community Room (N2350 County Road S, Juda). The classes, which are free, are about two hours long, and pre-registration is appreciated by calling Green County Emergency Management at 608-328-9416. One NOAA weather radio will be given away at the end of each class.
Now is a great time for residents to test their personal severe weather plan and ensure that they have identified a safe place to take shelter at home and at work too. Everyone should have an emergency supply kit with first aid supplies, water, non-perishable food etc. A complete list, along with more emergency preparedness tips can be found at Green County Emergency Management’s website at www.greencountyem.com.
Tornadoes can be indicated by radar, but sometimes they form so quickly that there isn’t time for warnings to be activated. During severe weather, be sure to remain alert for approaching storms and changes in the weather. Look for these danger signs: dark, often greenish sky, large hail, a large dark, low — lying cloud (particularly if rotating) and a loud roar similar to a freight train. Stay alert for weather information on local radio and television stations. Everyone should have a NOAA weather radio, which are activated by the National Weather Services and provides listeners with immediate weather watches, warning and advisories. It is encouraged to understand weather terms as well. If a tornado watch is issued, this means that a tornado may be possible and keep alert for changing weather conditions. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, and everyone must take shelter immediately.
The safest place for shelter is a basement, safe room, a storm shelter or the lowest building level. If there isn’t a basement get in to a closet in an interior room on the lowest level, away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.
“Put as many walls as possible between your and the outside,” Green County Emergency Management wrote in a March 25 press release. “If you live in a manufactured home, or caught in a vehicle or camper get out immediately and get to a sturdy nearby building or storm shelter. If you are caught outside with no shelter you should lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Do not get under an overpass or bridge — you are actually safer in low, flat location.”
Wisconsin averages about 23 tornados a year, in 2021 there were 41 tornados in Wisconsin ranging from F0 to F2. The peak season is April through August, but tornados can occur anytime of the year. They can happen day or night, but are most frequent between 4 and 9 p.m.