It’s the time of year again, when we start gearing up for severe weather – and it crucial to sort of “check-in” and touch-base on the watches/warnings 
that are posted and what they mean for you. Wait, don’t tune out!! This is meaningful stuff!! Now, I know most of you will likely put your little ear-buds in and “pretend to listen” for the following important message. However, I encourage you to buckle your safety belts, take that little “safety-information-card” out of your seat-back pocket, and review this vital information to help us help you! :c)
This week (May 1-5th) is Severe Weather Preparedness Week. It is that time of year – and severe weather happens even here in New England. While this isn’t your typical weather blog, or written forecast, I’d like to take this time to “catch up” on the valuable information the NWS has posted in the last three days (Mon-Wed). All of this info is so very useful and crucial to review!! In the case of severe weather, it is our job to provide important and up-to-the-minute information so that YOU can be prepared. The rhyme I tell students when I do school visits is, “Don’t be scared. Be prepared!”
MONDAY’S TOPIC: Severe Thunderstorms
TUESDAY’S TOPIC: Lightning and Thunderstorms Remember this rhyme too, “When thunder roars, go indoors!” 
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Take shelter in the nearest building. That means YOU, Golfer. Statistically speaking, men are more likely to be struck by lightning than women. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions as to why that may be.
WEDNESDAY’S TOPIC: Understanding Severe Risk Do you ever watch the forecast and wonder, “what do those colors mean?!” The Storm Prediction Center (governmental forecasters) will issue forecasts for the risk for severe weather that look like this:
Here’s how those risk categories break down:
THURSDAY’S TOPIC: Tornadoes
With technology improving daily, it gives meteorologists the opportunity to provide better lead time (time to prepare) in the event of a tornado… which will hopefully save lives!! However, it’s up to YOU to head the warnings and act. Remember, “Don’t be scared. Be prepared!” While our area may only average a few tornadoes each year (most brief and weak; EF0 or EF1) it DOES happen here!
If a Tornado WATCH is issued for your surrounding area, it means we are “watching out” for conditions that are favorable for producing a tornado. If a Tornado WARNING is issued for your surrounding area it means ACT NOW! When a WARNING is issued, it means a tornado is either happening NOW or appears as though it could be occurring (or could touch down soon) based on radar and spotter information.
The picture below is from August 22 2016, when an EF1 tornado tore through Concord, Massachusetts. This tornado happened late at night, when most of us were sleeping. It’s always important to stay vigilant!
FRIDAY’S TOPIC: Downburst Winds
