Tornado Season Has Arrived

After a string of deadly tornadoes killed more than 200 people in the South, could similar weather be headed our way?

According to Meteorologist Gino Izzi of the , it’s tough to say — but it’s possible.

“To forecast over one week ahead in [another] part of the country is impossible,” he said.

But the continuing La Niña weather system, characterized by colder than normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, means stormy weather is likely for the Central and Eastern states, Izzi said. The result of La Nina is more storms moving out of the Pacific Northwest. Recently, those storms have pulled moisture from the Gulf of Mexico north, resulting in lines of strong thunderstorms in the South.

Whether severe storms and deadly twisters like those in the South happen here remains to be seen.

“The jet stream has stayed to the south, and it’s kept the severe weather to the South,” Izzi said of the current of fast-moving air found in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Eventually, Izzi said, that will change, bringing storm systems to the Romeoville area.

“At some point in time, that’s definitely going to lift further north,” he said. “Whether we see anything remotely like what they experienced down in the South is impossible to say.”

But as we get further into peak storm season next month, it’s possible that more active storm systems will pick up in the area, Izzi said.

“It’s important to remember that this area hasn’t seen a major tornado in a long, long time, for more than 20 years,” he noted.

But for many Will County residents, the deadly storms of the past, most notably the , remain vivid memories.

“The best thing to do is look at the news,” Izzi said. “The outbreak in the southeast is the second deadliest outbreak ever,” second only to the Super Outbreak of 1974, which spawned 148 tornadoes in 24 hours and killed as many as 330 people in the central U.S. and southern Canada.

“They’re still digging out bodies,” he said of this week's outbreak in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky. “This could end up being the deadliest outbreak.”

To stay safe during severe weather, Izzi said Will County residents should have an emergency plan in place, and know where to go during an event like a tornado.

The basement is the best place, he said, but if you don’t have one, don’t panic.

“Your goal is to put as many interior walls between yourself and the outside as possible,” Izzi said, adding there have been many cases of a tornado leveling a home but leaving an interior room, like a closet, standing.

“That small, interior closet is your best bet,” he said.

Another severe weather must have, Izzi said, is a weather radio.

“Absolutely have a weather radio,” he said. “It’s as important as a smoke detector.”

What to do when severe weather strikes

According to the , the village has 16 outdoor warning sirens, each with a battery backup, to warn residents when severe weather strikes. The sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of every month.

Signs that a tornado could be headed this way include hot, humid weather combined with a cold front. A tornado watch means that a tornado is possible in the area, and residents should be alert. On the other hand, a tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted in the area, and residents should take cover immediately.

REMA offers the following tips for staying safe and preparing for severe weather:

• You should take cover for at least 15 minutes after the sirens are activated, or until the tornado warning has expired.
• If you are at home, go to the basement or take shelter in a small, interior, ground-floor room like a bathroom, closet or hallway. In all cases, stay away from windows and outside walls and doors.
• If you are at the office or in an apartment building, take shelter in an inner hallway or room, ideally in the basement or ground floor. Do not use the elevator and stay away from windows. Avoid buildings like gymnasiums, churches and auditoriums with freespan roofs. These roofs do not have supports in the middle and may collapse if struck by a tornado. If you are in one of these buildings when a tornado hits, take cover under a sturdy structure.
• Do not get caught in a car or mobile home. Take shelter elsewhere, such as a buiding with a strong foundation. If no shelter is available, lie down in a ditch, away from the car or mobile home.
• In all cases, get as close to the ground as possible, protect your head and watch out for flying debris. Small objects, such as sticks, can become lethal weapons when driven by a tornado’s winds.
• Do not call 9-1-1 to ask about the weather situation unless someone is hurt inside your home. The 9-1-1 system can easily become overloaded with calls during this time.

After a tornado strikes:

• Monitor local media reports for advice and to find out where assistance is available.
• Drive carefully and watch for debris, damaged bridges or roads and dangling wires.
• Report any emergency situations to the local police or fire department.
• Notify your insurance agent or broker if your property is damaged.
• If you smell gas: Immediately call the fire department; open windows and doors; and leave the house and go to another location.

Source: The Village of Romeoville Emergency Preparedness Guide. For more information on how to prepare for emergencies, including severe weather, click HERE.