The National Weather Service out of Paducah warns the chance for severe weather, especially in the Poplar Bluff area is a real possibility this afternoon through the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday.
A cold front is moving into the area and brings the possibility of strong winds, damaging hail, and heavy rain, which increases the chance for flooding, and a slight chance of an isolated tornado.
“The Storm Prediction Center issues different categories of severe weather,” explained Mike York from the NWS office in Paducah. “There’s a marginal risk, a slight risk, enhanced, moderate, and high, so there’s five categories and usually with an enhanced risk, which covers Southeast Missouri, that means the potential for a higher end event — meaning higher wind speeds and larger hail. With an enhanced risk that implies that there’s a potential for some of those higher end events.”
To protect yourself, it’s a good idea to remember to check the backup batteries on your weather radios and that cell phones have the capability to receive weather warnings that can alert you if severe weather is eminent.
Mike York from the NWS office in Paducah stressed the importance of being alerted.
“There is an enhanced chance for severe weather with high winds and the fact that it’s occurring late at night, it’s particularly important to have a mechanism to alert you and wake you up in the event of severe weather,” he said.
It’s also important to remember that if flooding occurs, it is never a good idea to drive in water over roadways. Almost 100 people die each year in flooding-related accidents and the risk is amplified at night when visibility becomes more difficult. Turn around, don’t drown is the best way to protect you and your loved ones.