Photo Courtesy of NWS/NOAA
With two rounds of severe thunderstorms in the last two weeks in southeast Iowa, it’s an important reminder that spring is severe weather season. The National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Iowa Department of Homeland Security are promoting preparedness by observing March 24th through the 28th as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. Each day of the week focuses on a different hazard of severe weather, with Tuesday highlighting tornadoes.
According to NWS and NOAA there were 125 confirmed tornadoes in Iowa in 2024, 49 in each of April and May last year. There were 29 tornadoes alone on April 29th, a new daily state record.
The two agencies promote preparedness by taking action before the storm, including monitoring forecasts, having a plan, designating a shelter and knowing your community’s warning systems. During a severe weather event it’s advised to remain weather ready by monitoring changing conditions and the latest information through a trusted news source like a local radio station or weather radio. If a warning is issued while at home, seek shelter in the lowest floor of an interior room such as a basement, with an emergency kit. If at work or school, follow safety guidelines and avoid windows and large open rooms. If outdoors, try to find shelter, if none is available seek cover in a ditch or low-lying area, it is not safe to remain in a vehicle, seek shelter in a ditch or ravine.
Keokuk County Emergency Management Coordinator Richard Fortney spoke with KCII News this week to clarify the difference between a tornado watch and a warning, “During watches, the conditions are favorable and present, a tornado or severe weather could happen. Everybody has seen the meme on social media of all the ingredients to a cupcake is a watch, when the bell dings and the cupcakes are done, it’s a warning, time to come get cupcakes because they’re done. So those warnings, are when there’s actually one spotted or when the event is actually occurring. So a watch, be ready, warning, take cover.”
In the last 75 years, tornadic formation is most common late afternoon to late evening, with more than 77% of tornadoes occurring between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The KCII Severe Weather Action Team provides live coverage 24 hours per day when a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warning is issued for Washington County, and our emergency backup generators make sure the coverage continues, even during a power outage. KCII will also participate in the statewide tornado drill Wednesday, March 26th at 10 a.m. The one to count on for up-to-the-minute severe weather coverage is KCII.