No Statewide Tornado Drill This Year

February 21, 2006, 9:58 pm
Posted by James Spann in Severe Weather
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This is severe weather awareness week in Alabama. A time when all of us need to think about the coming spring tornado season. The two keys to saving your life are having a way of getting the warning, and having a safe place identified for your family available at any time, day or night.

The best way of getting a warning for your home or business is a NOAA Weather Radio. If you have an old analog model, time to upgrade to the new digital models using technology (called S.A.M.E.) that allows you to choose the counties for which the alarm sounds. If you don’t have one at all, it is time to buy your first one. Weather Radio receivers cost around 50 dollars, but they will guarantee you get a tornado warning at any hour of the day or night. Every Alabama home has a fire alarm system, but very few have a NOAA Weather Radio. You will be dealing with more tornado threats than fire threats in your lifetime. NOAA Weather Radio receivers are available at many discount retail stores and electronic stores. GET ONE!

As part of severe weather awareness week, National Weather Service offices around the southern U.S. will be testing the NOAA Weather Alarm this morning at 9:30. There is a chance the test will be moved to Friday morning due to the clouds and rain expected today. This test will give you a chance to be sure your Weather Radio system is working. And, when the alarm goes off we ask that you take the time to think about where you would go in the event of a real warning.

This NOAA Weather Radio test will take the place of the statewide tornado drill, which is usually held on the Wednesday of severe weather awareness week. There will not be a statewide tornado drill this year.

You can learn more about severe weather safety today at McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa; this event is sponsored by the Tuscaloosa County EMA and we will be there doing the weather live at 12:00, 5:00, and 6:00 on ABC 33/40!
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Posted by Rusty Pitts  
on February 21, 2006, 10:52 pm
NO severe weather here today, but it is on everyones mind.. It is that time of the year again.... Just thought I would post some of my readings for today ... At 2235 it is 46.2 degrees with a RH of 82% wind out of the NE with a max wind of 6.4 MPH today/// Min temp of 31.6 ... the current pressure is 29.00 in and falling... Now my actual high shows at 76degrees, but it must have some bug in it.. I am still playing with its location... I am planning on mounting it on the top of the house, becasue everywhere else will have obstructions from the trees and house... any suggestions...???? I guess the temp was from it being in the sun and I have to mount it out of diect sunlight.... My old unit was self contained and just was places in the yard..but I moved up and am really wanting the most accurate readings.... Thanks

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Posted by   www
on February 22, 2006, 7:30 am
Have you tried the thermometer next to your old one to compare readings. I think it's more than a sunlight problem. BHM temps on the 21st were approx. 40 and 56, so your low of 31.6° was way off too.....assuming you live in the BHM area. Up here north of Gadsden my temps were 38.3° and 54.5°. That 31.6° sounds like the probable low from Tuesday morning and the high could have been from where you had it inside the house. Perhaps you're just failing to get it cleared correctly at midnight.

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Posted by John T.  
on February 21, 2006, 11:09 pm
Rusty , I have my anemometer and wind vane at approx. 30' up against the house , clears the "A" point of the roof by about 3' . My rain guage is attached to our back poarch on the rail at an amazing even level ( big poarch ) & the thermometer and hygrometer is under our camper port mounted against the wall just the instructions for "best place" said . I use my phone cable connection since it is more accurate . Also , when you get all hooked up , get signed up as a weather watcher with James . Its very simple .

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Posted by John T.  
on February 21, 2006, 11:14 pm
Did not mention that I found an extention pole for an antenna that I was able to secure really well to the side of the house for durability . It surprised & impressed me .

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Posted by  
on February 22, 2006, 3:07 am
NOAA weather radios are VASTLY over rated. I have one and my mother has one and neither has a signal half the time and rarely do we get warnings on them. I have tried every frequency and we barely get a signal at best from anything other than the Winfield station which is off the air half the time or more. NOAA either needs to get better coverage or quit pushing these $50 paper weights because if you live in a rural area more than 10 to 15 miles from a transmitter you are wasting your time.

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Posted by John T.  
on February 22, 2006, 5:57 am
Well , obviousley if your not able to receive a signal take it back . Most of AL is pretty well covered by a signal . I know from going camping . And its not them thats pushing them . They are not vastley over rated , I know for a fact .

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