(ABC 6 News) – This week in Minnesota is Severe Weather Awareness Week, which is an opportunity to remind Minnesotans about the importance of being prepared for severe weather and how to stay safe when it strikes.

Severe weather can be unpredictable and deadly; being prepared can help save lives and reduce the risks from severe weather events.

Authorities recommend having multiple ways to receive warnings whether that is through weather apps for your phone, buying a weather radio or staying tuned to local TV and radio during severe weather. Download the ABC 6 News Now App, HERE.

The Severe Weather Awareness Week themes are:

• Monday — Alerts and Warnings
• Tuesday — Severe Weather, Lightning and Hail
• Wednesday — Floods
• Thursday — Tornadoes
• Friday — Extreme Heat

Minnesota’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division says the topics aren’t just a good reminder about seasonal weather threats but are also a good time to make and practice an emergency plan and refresh your emergency preparedness kit.

Thursday’s topic is: Tornadoes

Tornadoes are probably the most well known types of severe weather in this part of the world. Tornadoes are often associated with our neighboring states to the south, but they are just as capable of happening here as anywhere else east of the Rocky Mountains.

Tornadoes form under a specific set of atmospheric conditions that typically includes the collision of warm, moisture-rich air, and cooler, drier air. Once a tornado forms, it can be on the ground for only seconds, or it can be on the ground for hours, depending on how favorable conditions are.

Often times, tornado producing storms give a host of clues that it may drop a tornado in the immediate future. The National Weather Service is able to actively keep an eye on these clues and issue warnings on the storm before it is producing a tornado.

The National Weather Service strongly urges anyone who finds themselves under a tornado warning to seek shelter immediately, as a tornado is capable of touching down at any times.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Alex Ferguson says, “If we ever issue a tornado warning for your location and you’re within this polygon, what you need to do is go to the interior room in the lowest available floor of the structure you are in, that will give you the most protection possible from a potential tornado”.

Tornadoes can range in intensity, from EF0 to EF5, with EF0 being the weakest strengthened tornado, and EF5 being the strongest. But the National Weather Service does not have a way of confirming how strong a tornado will be beforehand. This increases the importance of treating every tornado event as a significant one that can cause extensive damage.

Michael Kurz, Warning Coordination Meteorologist from the National Weather Service of La Crosse says, “We want to convey that EF0 to EF5, obviously EF5 is really bad, but any scale of tornado can produce life threatening damage if you don’t take precautions”.

Unfortunately, multiple communities in our local area have been impacted by tornadoes such as Clarks Grove, Taopi, Rudd, Hartland, Charles City, Albert Lea, and even Rochester in the 1883.

The most common time of year for tornadoes is May through July across southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa, with June being the most common month during this time period for both Minnesota and Iowa. Tornadoes can happen anytime of year, however, if atmospheric conditions allow. December 15th, 2021 was a day that featured multiple tornadoes across our local area, including tornadoes that tore through multiple small towns across southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

Today is a great day to review your tornado plan. If you haven’t created one or thought of one, now is a good time to do so. The best thing you can do now is prepare a plan to keep yourself and/or your family safe.

Some tips regarding tornado safety and survival:

1.) When a tornado warning is issued, go to the lowest level of your house and into the most interior room. The more walls between you and outside, the better.

2.) Stay away from windows! They can shatter and debris can fly through them, and potentially harm you.

3.) Wear a helmet to protect your head from injury.

4.) Have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings, so you know when the threat has passed.

5.) Have a storage of bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights and batteries in case electricity is lost.

There will also be 2 tornado siren tests today, one at 1:45 PM and one at 6:45 PM. These are just drills, but are meant to encourage you to practice executing your tornado plan so you are better prepared in case of a tornado this severe weather season.