News You Can Use
Get ready for stormy weather
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Pam McTeer
Feb. 24, 2005
STARKVILLE, Miss.—This winter’s cyclic fits of rain, clouds and extreme temperature variations are normal precursors, in fact, to the upcoming severe weather season.
“We’re not terribly outside of normal,” observes Michael Brown, an assistant geosciences professor at Mississippi State University. “The unusual thing this season is that we’ve had very strong stretches of warm weather leading to pretty long stretches of cold weather.”
While the weather has been varied, it actually has been in the normal range for Mississippi temperature and precipitation levels at this time of year, he adds.
Late February marks the actual beginning of the region’s severe weather season as cold air pushing southward from the north meets warm air flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico. As these fronts pass through the state, they can result in a high variability for day-to-day weather patterns, Brown says.
While Brown doesn’t foresee any dramatic weather changes this year, he continues to stress the need for continued awareness of and preparation for sudden meteorological occurrences during the traditional severe weather season. He offers several suggestions, including:
—Keeping fresh batteries in home and vehicle flashlights in case of power outages.
—Having available a basic, battery-operated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-approved weather radio to keep abreast of updates during stormy periods.
—Designating a home basement or storm cellar as the family “go-to” place in case of a tornado warning. If a basement or cellar is unavailable, substitute the center and lowest place in a home.
—Knowing where and how to shut off main switches and valves for water, gas and electric lines when homes and associated structures are damaged by severe weather.