Severe Weather Educational Broadcast Thursday and Monday

The KDHL AM Minnesota program has been expanded to an hour Thursday morning at 9:30 and will be replayed Monday night at 7 for those who can't listen during the day.

Next week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota, as designated by Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Each day information will be shared on a different weather topic.

In addition to tornado drills scheduled for Thursday at 1:45PM and 6:45PM, we'll be educated about the dangers of lightning, hail, straight-line winds, heat and flooding.

Thursday's show is presented by Craig Keller Insurance Agency of Nerstrand, Zumbrota Telephone, Dakota Electric Association, Syngenta Seeds Research Center in Stanton, Dean's Westside Towing and Owatonna Public Utilities.

I did a little research and the first tornado ever reported in Minnesota was on April 19, 1820, at Fort Snelling at 11PM.

In 2016, 37 tornadoes were reported in Minnesota from May 25 through September 9.

The earliest ever reported tornado in Minnesota happened March 6 of this year. The latest was November 16, 1931, east of Maple Plain.

The last death in a tornado in Minnesota occurred in 2011 thanks to the technology we have to communicate with masses of people.

It's not simply a catch phrase, but seconds really do save lives during weather emergencies, particularly tornadoes. Severe thunderstorms can frequently spawn tornadoes with little or no warning.

Every year I am asked about the difference between a watch and a warning so we will cover that information.

I conducted a taped interview with Dakota Electric Association Public Relations Director Joe Miller about a new app their cooperative members can download. It's really exciting news and he can explain it better than I so I hope you can listen to the show either Thursday morning or Monday evening.

The program will also be available online under the AM Minnesota tab at the KDHL YouTube channel beginning Friday morning.

Faribault Emergency Management Director Dusty Dienst, Rice County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Hauer-Schmitz and other local officials have been invited to join us. I sure hope you can access the program at some time.