Severe Weather Awareness Week Day 3: what you need to know about tornadoes
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Day 3 of Severe Weather Awareness Week focuses on tornado and thunderstorm safety.
According to the National Weather Service, an average of 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide every year.
While tornadoes can happen any time, in any place…the peak season for Florida and surrounding southern states is March through May.
Severe Weather Awareness Week: The dangers of rip currents
Bay County officials say like with any kind of natural disaster, staying connected and making a plan is the best way to stay prepared
'Being able to receive alerts is the primary of importance. And then the second thing is making sure you have a plan and you know what you're going to do to react to the issuance of a tornado watch or a tornado warning' Bay County manager Bob Majka said.
But what is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
'Tornado watch is where we want folks to kind of be ready, get that preparedness plan ready, know what you're going to do, and then when a warning is issued, that's when you take action. That's where we want folks to get to that safe place,' National Weather Service representative Kelly Godsey said.
In 2024, Florida saw over 100 tornadoes…6 of those hit the Panhandle in January of 2024.
Severe Weather Awareness Week: Protect yourself from lightning
'They're really prepared for the hurricanes, but they don't understand that same level of preparedness. Needs to be taken for the other threats that the community faces. And so tornadoes are one of those threats. And you having a disaster plan is just that. It's a disaster plan. It's not a hurricane plan. It's not a flood plan. It's not a snow event plan. It's a disaster plan. And those consequences that the community can face are consistent. And so having that plan is really important,' Majka said.
Officials say your disaster plan includes the best place to seek shelter if a tornado comes your way, whether that's in your home or a 2nd location. They also say part of that plan should include checking your home insurance and knowing your coverage before something hits.
'We always encourage people, make sure you understand what your insurance policy covers, understand, you know, what those benefits are.'
Tomorrow's topic will be hurricanes & flooding.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Looking less humid and mild for the rest of our Tuesday, more sunshine for Wednesday
The Storm Team 11 forecast calls for a mild but less humid Tuesday evening for the Tri-Cities. Mostly clear skies are expected tonight with a low of 57 degrees. Patchy fog will be possible late tonight. Skies will be mostly sunny on Wednesday with a high of 85 degrees. Wednesday night will be mostly clear with a low of 60 degrees. Thursday will be partly cloudy with a hot high of 88 degrees. There will also be a 20% chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms, mainly across the higher terrain. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 64 degrees. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Friday, there will be a 40% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms with a high of 86 degrees. Friday night, a passing shower or thunderstorm will be possible early; otherwise, skies will be cloudy with a low of 65 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms are likely on Saturday with a high of 86 degrees. The rain chance will be 70%. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will be possible Saturday night with a low of 67 degrees. More showers and thunderstorms are expected on Father's Day under cloudy skies. The rain chance on Sunday is 80% with a high of 86 degrees. Showers and a few thunderstorms are expected to continue Sunday night, with a low of 67 degrees under cloudy skies. The wet pattern continues into early next week with an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms for Monday. The high will be 85 degrees. Cloudy skies are expected to persist into next Tuesday, accompanied by a 40% chance of scattered showers. The high will be 87 degrees. Have a great rest of your evening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How many tornadoes has Missouri had this year so far?
MISSOURI — If it seems like Missouri has already had an unusually high number of tornadoes this year, you are correct. The state of Missouri has already seen double the yearly average of tornadoes only halfway through the year, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS shared on X that the state has had a very active weather season, with 43 tornadoes already accounted for so far. This number is two times more than the yearly average of 21.5 tornadoes while only half through 2025. At-large murder suspect arrested after wild crash in north St. Louis The majority of these tornadoes were rated EF-1 tornadoes with 86 to 110 mile-per-hour winds, making up 20 of the tornadoes experienced across the state. EF-0 tornadoes with 65 to 85 mile per hour winds have been seen 10 times already in Missouri. The state has also had nine EF-2 tornadoes with 111 to 135 miles per hour winds and three EF-3 tornadoes with 136 to 165 miles per hour winds. Missouri has only had one tornado with an unknown tornado rating, leaving no damage to rate. Compared to previous years, in 2024 the state had 47 tornadoes in total. The NWS reports other active years include 2006, when the state saw 75 tornadoes. FOX 2 Severe Weather Specialist Chris Higgins said one big clue for this year's active severe weather season can actually be found in the Pacific Ocean. The possible cause: the slowly fading La Niña in the central Pacific Ocean. The cold water associated with La Niña and a warmer-than-normal pocket further north up towards Alaska enhance the northern branch of the jet stream. That branch of the jet stream is a key contributor to the wind energy needed for an active severe weather season across the Midwest. That wind energy helps contribute to storm rotation, and rotating storms produce our most violent severe storms. The active jet stream has supplied a constant flow of triggers, which is why severe weather events have come at somewhat regular intervals since March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bond issue finances upgrades to McDonald County Schools' exteriors
MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo. — Six FEMA-related storm shelters, and a multitude of interior renovations are complete, but that's not all that's being done within the McDonald County School District. Work now involves a whole lot of asphalt. Crews are making exterior improvements to all of its campuses, many of which have gravel parking lots and roads. Work that was being done Tuesday morning outside Pineville Elementary. Parking lots and other areas at Anderson, White Rock, Southwest City and the Mustang Academy are getting upgrades. Work outside the high school has already wrapped up. 'Everyone is really excited about having the parking lots done. It makes our schools look nicer. It makes our whole community look nicer. Everyone's excited about it. Not just our school staff, but our community is excited, as well,' said Dr. Eric Findley, McDonald County Schools Supt. 'We're the hub here at the high school. All of the buses come through here. They all originate here, and they all end up here in the morning and leave out of here in the afternoon. So, this road here behind the high school. It's probably the busiest dirt road in the county before now.' The projects are being funded by the 21-and-a-half million bond issue voters approved in 2022. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
