Severe Weather, Tornadoes, and Situational Awareness
National Weather Service
When Thunder Roars!
WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY
The sultry days of summer have faded, but the season of powerful electrical storms is not over in Oakland County, or for the rest of our Great Lake State. Nature’s way does not always follow the calendar and in the last few weeks I’ve witnessed boaters on our local lakes pursuing their passion as thunder was clearly audible, picnickers waiting out a storm under an open picnic shelter instead of retreating to their cars (a much safer option), and most worrisome, kids playing sports in fields to the accompaniment of not so distant thunder. Continue reading
Train to be a Weather Spotter: Oakland County Offers Free Skywarn Classes
In an effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies, Oakland County is offering FREE Skywarn classes coordinated by the Oakland County Homeland Security Division. There is no way to stop tornadoes, and not all tornadoes show up on radar, but they can be seen. In fact, the human eye is the only instrument that can detect a tornado or funnel cloud with complete certainty. Skywarn will expand our networks of spotters, encourage the widest possible participation in tornado warning programs and potentially save lives. All interested parties (e.g., fire, police, EMS, security, volunteers and citizens) are encouraged to attend.
