A Johnson County tornado siren is seen in this 2017 photo.
Daily Journal file photo
Johnson County residents need to be weather aware as severe storms are possible today.
The potential for showers and severe storms remains possible today and tonight. Johnson County has been placed under a slight risk of severe weather by the Storm Prediction Center, according to the National Weather Service.
Confidence was increasing Monday for severe weather, but uncertainty remained on the coverage, intensity, timing and types of hazards expected. As of Monday afternoon, forecasts indicated storms could begin this afternoon, with the greatest chance of them being severe tonight. A full spectrum of weather hazards are possible, including damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes, the weather service says.
Meteorologists ask the public to monitor forecast updates and to take time to review preparedness plans.
The most important things to remember when dealing with severe weather are:
- GET IN: If you are outside, get inside. If you’re already inside, get as far into the middle of the building as possible.
- GET DOWN: Get underground if possible. If you cannot, go to the lowest floor possible.
- COVER UP: Flying and falling debris are a storm’s number one killer. Use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris.
As a reminder, outdoor storm sirens are meant to warn those who are outdoors. People should have multiple ways to get warnings — weather radios, weather apps, TVs or more, officials say.
In Johnson County, outdoor storm sirens are activated by the county’s Public Safety Communications Center. They only sound when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, or when trained weather spotters or public safety personnel see a funnel cloud or tornado.
All sirens in the county will be activated, even if the weather service issues a tornado warning is issued only for a specific area of the county, according to the policy.
