Tornado Season Has Arrived

After a string of deadly tornadoes killed more than 200 people in the South, could similar weather be headed our way?

According to Meteorologist Gino Izzi of the , it’s tough to say — but it’s possible.

“To forecast over one week ahead in [another] part of the country is impossible,” he said.

But the continuing La Niña weather system, characterized by colder than normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, means stormy weather is likely for the Central and Eastern states, Izzi said. The result of La Nina is more storms moving out of the Pacific Northwest. Recently, those storms have pulled moisture from the Gulf of Mexico north, resulting in lines of strong thunderstorms in the South.

Whether severe storms and deadly twisters like those in the South happen here remains to be seen.

“The jet stream has stayed to the south, and it’s kept the severe weather to the South,” Izzi said of the current of fast-moving air found in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Eventually, Izzi said, that will change, bringing storm systems to the Romeoville area.

“At some point in time, that’s definitely going to lift further north,” he said. “Whether we see anything remotely like what they experienced down in the South is impossible to say.”

But as we get further into peak storm season next month, it’s possible that more active storm systems will pick up in the area, Izzi said.

“It’s important to remember that this area hasn’t seen a major tornado in a long, long time, for more than 20 years,” he noted.

But for many Will County residents, the deadly storms of the past, most notably the , remain vivid memories.

“The best thing to do is look at the news,” Izzi said. “The outbreak in the southeast is the second deadliest outbreak ever,” second only to the Super Outbreak of 1974, which spawned 148 tornadoes in 24 hours and killed as many as 330 people in the central U.S. and southern Canada.

“They’re still digging out bodies,” he said of this week's outbreak in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky. “This could end up being the deadliest outbreak.”

To stay safe during severe weather, Izzi said Will County residents should have an emergency plan in place, and know where to go during an event like a tornado.

The basement is the best place, he said, but if you don’t have one, don’t panic.

“Your goal is to put as many interior walls between yourself and the outside as possible,” Izzi said, adding there have been many cases of a tornado leveling a home but leaving an interior room, like a closet, standing.

“That small, interior closet is your best bet,” he said.

Another severe weather must have, Izzi said, is a weather radio.

“Absolutely have a weather radio,” he said. “It’s as important as a smoke detector.”

Naperville Emegency Management

According to the , since 1968 the Emergency Management Agency has maintained an outdoor warning system to alert residents to severe weather, major emergencies and potential attacks.

As the city has grown the number of sirens located around the city has also increased. There are now 19 siren units, which are tested the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m.

Safety tips

• Pay attention to watches and warnings.
• Know where to get weather information (NOAA weather radio, NOAA, WPFP AM 1610, cable TV, Naperville.Patch.com, etc.).
• Know what to do if tornado sirens have been activated.
• If you are inside of building, go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level.
• If you are in a vehicle, get out and find a structure with a safe shelter area as described above. If you can’t find a structure, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Source: City of Naperville