As Mississippi prepares for the tornado season to begin in November, forecasters are looking at shifts in weather conditions — such as El Nino and La Nina — as indicators that this year’s outlook could be quite unpredictable.
The 2015-2016 tornado season battered Mississippi, leaving 13 dead and 66 injured. Eleven of those fatalities and 56 of those injured occurred in a rash of tornadoes that hit the state two days before Christmas last year.
“Severe weather deaths, injuries and damage are devastating whenever they occur, but more so around the holidays when we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with friends and family,” said Gov. Phil Bryant in a Thursday release. “I encourage all Mississippians to be prepared and have a plan.”
In 2015 alone, Mississippi was bombarded by 45 tornadoes. And Mississippi started 2016 with five tornadoes in January and 25 in February, which set a record.
To date this year, Mississippi has experienced 38 tornadoes, setting a record in February for 25 in 29 days. And next month happens to be a typical peak time for the storms in the state.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Ed Tarver said Mississippi’s tornado activity is usually focused in November, March and April.
“At this point it’s kind of hard to gauge what we’re going to see,” he said. “November is going to be interesting what happens at this point.”
Meanwhile, Monday begins Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the state. Officials with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency say the state has been hit by 772 tornadoes in the months of November, December, January and February since 1950. Going into this week, authorities are reminding people to be aware that being prepared can mean the difference between life and death in a tornado.
“There are three things for people to remember when severe weather threatens,” said MEMA Director Lee Smithson. “Get off the roads, get out of mobile homes and get to a safe place.”
People are also being advised that shelter is available. The federal, state and local governments have invested millions of dollars in nearly 100 safe rooms around the state that can withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour. Their locations are available from local emergency management offices.
The NWS will issue a statewide test tornado warning on weather radios at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. Schools, government agencies and businesses throughout the state are encouraged to participate in the tornado drill.
By Therese Apel , The Clarion-Ledger 3:47 p.m. CDT October 23, 2016
“November starts the tornado season in Mississippi, and officials are saying this season could be even more unpredictable that the past few which have spawned some fatal storms.”
(Photo: National Weather Service)
