Severe Weather Safety - Tornadoes

This week is Severe Weather Awareness week in Pennsylvania.  Today, we'll talk a little about tornadoes and tornado safety.  This is very important for around here because we're in an area that usually only sees a handful of tornadoes a year, so safety information may not be as well know as in "Tornado Alley."

Most tornadoes in Pennsylvania are on the weak side, but that does not mean we cannot see strong, damaging tornadoes.  They can and do occur in Pennsylvania from time to time.  The tornado in Springfield, Massachusetts last summer was a reminder that strong, damaging tornadoes do occur outside of the Midwest and Plains states.

Pennsylvania averages 20 tornadoes a year, mostly between late April and September.  The peak tornado season in Pennsylvania is during the months of May, June and July.

The best way to stay safe is to stay informed about the weather during these months.  Know the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning.  Know what county you live in and the ones that border it.  Also know what towns, roads and landmarks are near you.

A Tornado Watch is issued for a large area, usually a portion of several states.  When a Tornado Watch is issued, you should continue with your activities as normal, but keep a close eye on the sky around you to watch for approaching or developing storms.  Check in with WeAreCentralPA.com for more information and updates throughout the time of the watch.

A Tornado Warning is issued when a developing tornado is spotted on Doppler Radar, or a tornado has been sighted by spotters.  The warning means that the potential tornado will move through the area soon.

When a Tornado Warning is issued, that's when it is important to take action to keep yourself safe.  If you are at home or in a small building, go to the basement.  If you do not have a basement, go to a small interior room without windows, like a closet or bathroom.

If are in a school, hospital or shopping center, avoid large, open areas.  Hallways and small interior rooms offer the best protection.  Do not go outside to your car.

If you are in a mobile home, take shelter in a substantial structure if you have time.  Mobile homes are easily tossed about by the strong winds of a tornado.  If you don't have time to get to a substantial structure, get into a small interior room away from windows.

If you are caught outdoors and cannot get to a safe building, as a last resort, you should:

If you have access to a vehicle, get in and buckle your seatbelt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.  If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park.  Stay in the car with the seat belt on.  Put your head down below the windows and cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion.

If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that low area, covering your head with your hands.

You can always count on WTAJ and WeAreCentralPA.com for the latest severe weather information.  We will break into programming when a Tornado Warning is issued in the viewing area and information can also be found on our website.

--Meteorologist Brian Thompson

Earth Gauge Report - Fix a Leak Week

March 12–18, 2012 is Fix a Leak Week! Did you know that common household leaks can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water per year, or enough to wash 10 months’ worth of laundry?

It’s as easy as check-twist-replace to find and fix leaks at home:

1. Check toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait 10 minutes before you flush; if color appears in the bowl, you have a leak.

2. Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water, twist in a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.

3. Replace a fixture if you need to. Look for the WaterSense label when buying household plumbing products. They have been independently certified to save water and perform well.

This information is provided by the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more at http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/our_water/fix_a_leak.htm.

February Summary

Here is a summary for the weather of February. It is based off of Altoona, but will give you a good feel for the entire region.

Ave High: 42.7 (+4.5)

Ave Low: 27.6(+5.8)

Ave Temp: 35.1 (+5.1)

Month Precip: 1.08” (-1.43”)

Precip to Year: 3.30” (-1.85”)

Month Snow: 2.2” (-9.3)

Season Snow: 17.2” (-19.2”)

Snow to Year: 11.5” (-12.7)

Historical Rankings for February:

5th warmest. Warmest was 1949 with a temperature of 35.9.
13th driest. Driest was 1968 with only .26" of precipitation.
10th least snow. Least snowfall for the month was .2" set in 1968.