Produced by the Birmingham National Weather Service
Primary severe weather season across the United States is considered to be in the spring (March-May), but did you know that Alabama also has a secondary severe weather season in the fall? Yes, it’s true! Fall severe weather season in Alabama typically runs from the beginning of November until mid-December. Occasionally, it may begin in late October or last until late December. Just like in the spring, the severity of the fall season varies from year to year. However, the important thing to remember is that severe weather, including tornadoes, doesn’t just happen in the spring. The information below will hopefully give you a better idea of just how common it can be across the state of Alabama during the fall months.
Severe weather statistics are not meant to put fear into the citizens of Alabama, but they do emphasize the need to be prepared. Preparation can and does make the difference between life and death.
- Every home should have a Safety Plan, exercise it monthly. Has anything changed in your household since Spring? Now is the time to check your emergency supplies, and ensure your NOAA Weather Radio or other portable radio has fresh batteries.
- ALL tornadoes should be considered dangerous. Regardless of the strength, all tornadoes are capable of producing damage and causing injuries.
- Most storm-related damage occurs with Severe Thunderstorm winds. Treat a Severe Thunderstorm Warning the same as you would a Tornado warning!
First and foremost, KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!! No matter what you have in your severe weather plan, it will never be complete until you can pinpoint your location on a map. Take a few moments NOW to learn some local geography so you can be more prepared when severe weather strikes. Don’t just stop at your home location, learn surrounding counties and communities. This extra bit of knowledge will help you determine if storms in other areas are heading your way.
To help you with this, we’ve put together a Story Map that highlights some information about each of the 39 counties in Central Alabama. It can be found here.
Knowledge is power, a power that could SAVE YOUR LIFE!!
The original article can be found here https://www.weather.gov/bmx/outreach_fsad2017