Governor David A. Paterson has proclaimed the week of
April 27 - May 3, 2008 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in the
Empire
State.
In addition, a Hazardous Weather Communications Drill is
scheduled for today at 1:15 PM. A test Tornado Warning
will be issued statewide at that time. This will give all
New Yorkers, from emergency responders to the general
public, the opportunity to see if they are able to receive
vital information on potential weather hazards. The drill
also gives National Weather Service forecasters the chance
to test their ability to communicate information on those
hazards quickly. Tone Alert NOAA Weather Radio receivers
should activate. SAME Digital NOAA Weather Radio Receivers
should display the Routine Monthly Test (RMT).
Tornadoes are an awesome display of nature's power.
Although they are most common in the Midwest and Great
Plains, tornadoes do occur in New York as well. On June
30, 2006, a tornado moved across the
Buffalo
suburb of Cheektowaga, injuring two people and resulting
in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. A tornado
in that same town on July 30, 1987 caused millions of
dollars of damage, but no injuries or fatalities. In
previous years however, two people died when a tornado
ripped through Batavia on September 3, 1993. On June 2,
1998 a larger tornado destroyed or damaged several homes
and barns in Wyoming County causing over a million dollars
in damage. Fortunately, there were no injuries. However,
it could have been much worse if a family did not evacuate
their mobile home for a nearby basement minutes before
their home was demolished. On May 11, 2003 a tornado
touched down in
Ontario,
Wayne County damaging several homes
The primary mission of the National Weather Service is to
protect lives from hazardous weather. Meteorologists
closely monitor the atmosphere for conditions which may
produce tornadoes or severe thunderstorms. If there is a
potential for storm development within the next several
hours, a Tornado Watch is issued.
While you can continue with your routine activities when a
Watch is in effect, you should pay close attention to the
sky. If it becomes unusually threatening, or if you hear
thunder, it's always best to go indoors until the storm
passes. Why take a chance? Tornadoes can form very
rapidly. Also, listen for the latest weather information
on your favorite radio of TV station, or on NOAA Weather
Radio.
Doppler radar currently in use at all National Weather
Service Offices has greatly aided forecasters in detecting
tornadoes. In addition, volunteer storm spotters trained
by the National Weather Service have provided valuable
ground truth information on tornado touchdowns.
If a tornado is sighted by spotters or detected on radar,
the National Weather Service would quickly issue a Tornado
Warning for communities in the storm's path. If you live
in or near a community mentioned in the warning, you
should take cover immediately by going into an interior
room, away from windows, on the lowest level of a sturdy
building. A basement offers the best protection followed
by interior closets and hallways. Mobile homes, even if
tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and
should be abandoned.
Never
attempt to outrun a tornado in your car. It is always
better leave your vehicle for a sturdy shelter. If that's
not possible, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression.
Remember, flying debris from the wind of a tornado causes
most deaths and injuries.
www.nws.noaa.gov 
