Indiana Severe Weather Awareness Week reminds Hoosiers to stay vigilant this spring

Community members are reminded about the unpredictable circumstances severe weather can bring each spring during the official Severe Weather and Flood Preparedness Week.

Since 1950, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been pinpointing cyclone touchdown locations and their paths of destruction throughout the U.S. Records show a total of 110 historical tornado events with a magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Fulton County. The most infamous, the Tornado Super Outbreak on April 3, 1974, that caused extensive damage with an F4 in Fulton County. It was reported that day 21 tornadoes had been tracked throughout the state, killing 47 Hoosiers and injuring 900.

Mark Steinwedel, meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Northern Indiana office, said despite Tornado Alley previously being thought of as being in the Great Plains tornado belt in states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, studies in more recent times have found states much farther east experience deadly tornadoes in frequent numbers throughout the years. The difference, Steinwedel said, is the strength of the tornados, with those in the Great Plains seeing more frequent, larger tornados due to the region being notorious for having cool, dry air.

Steinwedel said this year's winter was a weak La Niña event that emerged in December 2024 and was short-lived, bringing a middle-average winter with dryer than normal, below-average precipitation. The outlook going into mid-late spring, Steinwedel said, the area will most likely be looking at above average temperatures with high rainfall, with a possibility of severe storms. 

Each year, the Indiana Department of Human Services collaborates with the National Weather Service during Severe Weather Preparedness Week to remind and educate Hoosiers about seasonal severe weather threats and how to effectively prepare for them. Throughout this week, IDHS shared severe weather safety tips on their social media platforms.

Storms, floods and tornadoes are common occurrences to Hoosiers. IDHS said planning ahead and staying prepared for these weather events not only minimize their effects, but also save lives.

A tip included on the site was for all families to have a designated safe spot in their home for weather emergencies, regardless of the building. While a basement or storm shelter is best, an interior room, stairway, or hallways without windows is an acceptable place for seeking shelter in times of an emergency.