Stay up to date on unseasonal weather in our area

With unseasonal temperatures as the rule across the area, it is important to stay in the know of what weather will be moving into the area over the next few days and how to be prepared for it.

With the weather fluctuating as it is and the temperature unusually high for this time of year, bad weather is almost always expected.

There are many ways to stay up-to-date on everything weather-related aside from watching the news. A lot of people as of recently have been cutting cable and opting for streaming services that don't feature commercials, but it also leaves cable-cutters without access to live coverage from meteorologists on stations like WTVA and WCBI.

Apps such as Accuweather and Weather Channel are available to smartphone users, and they alert you to impending weather conditions such as watches and warnings. They also let you know, in advance, what kind of weather can be expected should inclement weather be on the horizon. They can also offer unique insights such as when the rain is expected to start in your area and how far away the last lightning strike was.

One of the most reliable sources to stay informed on severe weather is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio. The National Weather Service falls under NOAA, so all updates come from the National Weather Service in Jackson. These radios can be purchased nearly anywhere that electronics are sold, and they alert you to watches and warnings for everything weather related like tornadoes, floods, severe thunderstorms, tropical storms, and even winter storms. These radios also alert you to different hazards from local authorities like child abductions, shelter in place warnings, and law enforcement warnings. Most of these radios are battery-powered, so make sure they are charged at all times.

It is important to have a plan for what to do and to know what to do to remain safe. When a tornado watch is issued, it means that the conditions for a tornado are present but one has not been spotted. Only when a tornado warning has been issued has one been spotted either in person or on radar.

During a tornado, damaging winds can knock down branches, trees, and even mobile homes.

In Oktibbeha County, as soon as a tornado watch has been issued, the shelter on Lynn Lane opens to all of those who may need shelter. It will be open to all for the duration of the watch.

Being informed and prepared is one of the easiest ways to stay safe in severe weather.