Chances of severe weather increased

Continuing cold fronts from the north mixing with warmer Gulf of Mexico air means that there’s a better chance for severe thunderstorms and tornados from now through May, according to the National Weather Service.

To get people thinking about how to prepare, the National Weather Service is hosting a Severe Weather Awareness Week from starting Monday, continuing through Friday.

“Every spring we try to target one week as severe weather week,” said Frank Revitte, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge forecast office in Slidell.

“We’re entering the period of where we get severe weather.”

The National Weather Service will post information about severe weather preparedness on its website, including how to get severe weather alerts.

The best way, Revitte said, is to get a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather alert radio, which can be set on standby and only turn on when a weather alert is issued for a particular area.

“Make sure you have some way to get your severe weather warning,” he said.

Unlike other areas of the country, southern states do get severe weather that appears overnight, he said.

In addition, it’s a good time for people to review what they would do in the event of severe weather, he said.

“The best safety rule is to get inside a strong building,” Revitte said. “Put as many walls between you and the outside.”

More information is available at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/.