Severe Weather Awareness Week Set for April 15-19

From the city of Minnetonka:

Each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 15–19, focuses on a different topic and provides the perfect opportunity to ensure you and your family are educated about and ready for these severe weather events.

• April 15: Thunderstorms, hail, straight-line winds and lightning cause extensive damage across Minnesota every year.
• April 16: Severe weather warnings, watches and advisories are prepared by the National Weather Service in Chanhassen and distributed through the Emergency Alert System (via local media), weather radios and outdoor warning sirens (tornado warnings).
• April 17: Floods and flash floods occur every year in Minnesota, most of them in June. Half of flash flood fatalities occur in vehicles.
• April 18: Tornado Drill Day. The National Weather Service will simulate a tornado watch starting at 9 a.m. Two tornado drills, with simulated tornado warnings and sounding of the outdoor warning sirens, will occur at 1:45 and 6:55 p.m. The first allows schools and businesses to practice sheltering plans while the second allows families and second-shift workers to practice their plans.
• April 19: Heat-related fatalities outpace deaths in several other weather categories. Based on national averages from 1992–2001, excessive heat claimed 219 lives each year while floods killed 88, tornadoes—57, lightning—52 and hurricanes—15 each year.