LANSING, MI — Severe weather season is here, but as parts of the state can attest after February’s storms, severe weather in Michigan can hit just about anytime. Severe Weather Awareness Week runs March 18 through March 24.
Regardless of when severe weather hits, the National Weather Service will issue watches and warnings for various locations, and knowing the difference between the two can save lives.
The National Weather Service will issue a watch whenever severe weather is possible. Whenever a watch is issued, you should think about ways to receive weather alerts and make sure you know what to do if a warning is issued. The NWS has various criteria for severe weather warnings. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued whenever a thunderstorm has hail an inch or larger in diameter, and/or winds gusting at or above 58 miles per hour. A tornado warning means a funnel cloud has been detected on radar or seen on the ground by storm spotters.
A statewide tornado drill will take place this Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Sirens will sound across Michigan to test the state’s systems and awareness.
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