Get Educated About Severe Weather in Southern Minnesota

KDHL Radio will be hosting a Severe Weather Awareness Show Friday, April 9, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  The program will be replayed at 920 AM and 97.9 FM at 7:00 p.m. Friday for those who can't listen in the morning.

The program will also be recorded for a podcast that can be accessed 24/7.  It is recommended you go over the information with your family members so when severe weather strikes there is no hesitation about what to do.

Rice County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Hauer-Schmitz, her Deputy in emergency management John Rowan and City of Faribault Emergency Management Director Dustin Dienst will be our panel of experts.

Severe Weather Awareness Week is observed next week April 12-16, 2021 in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Each day of the week a different topic will be highlighted on our website.  We will try to summarize each on the Severe Weather Awareness Show.

Here is a rundown of each day's topic:

• Monday: Alerts and Warnings, What is the difference between a watch and a warning?
• Tuesday: Severe Weather, Lightning, Hail.  We'll go over some lightning safety information from the National Weather Service.
• Wednesday:  Floods, Flash Floods.  Flash Flood safety information from the National Weather Service.
•  Thursday:  Tornado Drill Day.  Test Tornado Warnings will be issued at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021. You are strongly encouraged to practice your severe weather safety plan.  It's probably a good idea if possible to practice the plan during each test.
• Friday: Extreme Heat is Minnesota's third deadliest weather factor since 1990.  18 people have died from excessive heat and humidity.  Only tornadoes and flooding have killed more people over the last 25 years.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota experiences an average of 28 tornadoes each year.  In 2018 44 twisters touched down including multiple touchdowns in Rice, LeSueur, Goodhue, Steele Counties.

The record was set in 2010 when 113 tornadoes touched down across the state.

Knowing what to do when a warning and watch are issued can save lives.

Check out this information!