This is Severe Weather Awareness Week

Today (Monday) marks the beginning of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brenda Bock says the week is a chance to refresh people’s memories on severe weather information. She says things like the difference between a watch looking out for severe weather, and a warning that means severe weather is imminent and you need to seek a safe place immediately. Bock says you never can be sure what the severe weather season will bring. Last year was a busy one. She says we had a record breaking 120 tornadoes across the state. The 120 twisters shattered the old record of 105 set back in 2001. The Weather Service will issue information throughout the week, and on Wednesday, there’ll be a statewide tornado drill. She says they have a “fan out” procedure so that when they put out a tornado warning the information goes out law enforcement, emergency management and the media receive it. Bock says the drill lets them test the system each spring. The statewide tornado drill will be held Wednesday at 10 a-m.