Central Texas is slowly approaching severe weather season and the number of weather alerts and advisories are expected to increase in number as the weeks pass.
A number of questions tend to arise in the form of:
- How can I be prepared?
- How can I best prepare my family?
- What can I do now so that if severe weather strikes, my family and I can maximize our safety?
Severe weather can happen anytime if conditions are favorable.
In Central Texas, our severe season typically occurs between April 1 and June 1, with peak activity in the month of May. This severe weather season may include thunderstorms, damaging high winds, tornadoes, large hail and flooding.
Historically, the latter has shown to be our biggest threat due to Austin’s proximity to the Hill Country and the underlying rock bed.
READY:
The KVUE Storm Team is committed to keeping everyone in Central Texas fully informed.
National Weather Service defines a severe thunderstorm by the following criteria:
- One inch-sized hail (size of a quarter) in diameter or larger
- Wind gusts of at least 58 mph
- Tornado
SET:
You also need to know your risks. Do I live in a flood-prone area? Can loose objects nearby become airborne in high winds? Am I in the path of the storm? Where can I get my information?
In an instant, your ability to make a sound decision could be impacted by lots of thoughts and emotions. Thus, it is critically important to make sure you, your family and your friends have a reliable source available at moment’s notice to get the latest notifications and information. For residents of Central Texas, this can easily be done through the KVUE News app, online at KVUE.com and also through Facebook and Twitter.
By definition, when a watch is issued for your area, it means severe storms are possible in or near your area. It is important to know that this watch can be extended to numerous counties and even beyond state lines. Furthermore, a warning means severe weather has been spotted and also appears on the radar. In this event, swift action should be taken immediately.
GO:
If you have a severe weather safety plan, you should review it. Make sure everyone in the family knows what to do in individual and collective situations. Know where everyone is during the day, how to reach them and have an emergency safety kit prepared for use if needed. Plan an evacuation route, have reliable means of communication -- such as a fully charged cell phone -- and also keep track of and update emergency contact numbers for family and close friends.
