There are currently no warnings or advisories for this location.
Public Information Statement
Statement as of 10:12 am CDT on May 12, 2008
... May is peak tornado month in Texas... ... Are you prepared... ... Flash flood is the number one related killer in Texas... ... Remember to turn around... don't drown...
May is peak tornado month in Texas. This is the month that experiences the highest frequency of tornadoes. The following is a list of violent tornadoes rated at or above F4 that have been reported across west central Texas since 1950. Remember... even the weak tornadoes can kill or inflict serious injury.
Date f scale deathslocation
April 28 1950 F4 5 north central Callahan County March 13 1953 F4 12 northwest Haskell County may 11 1953 F4 13 Lakeview... Tom Green County may 26 1962 F4 0 central Haskell County April 19 1976 F5 0 Lake Brownwood... Brown County may 11 1999 F4 1 Loyal Valley... Mason County
The old Fujita scale rated F4 tornadoes from 210 to 261 mph... and F5 tornadoes were rated from 262 to 317 mph. Today... the new Enhanced Fujita scale rates an EF4 tornado with winds from 166 to 200 mph... and an EF5 tornado with speeds over 200 mph.
Preliminary reports for 2008 indicate about 96 people have lost their lives from tornadoes across the U.S.
Here are two safety rules that could save your life.
Safety rule number 1... be sure you can receive warnings from the National Weather Service. Don't just depend on sirens. Have more than one way to receive your warnings.
Sirens are used to warn those who are outdoors... and may not be loud enough to awaken you in the middle of the night. NOAA Weather Radio is like a smoke detector that can warn you anytime both indoor or outdoors. This radio will produce a loud sound when a Tornado Warning is issued by the National Weather Service.
Safety rule number 2... know what to do. The safest place to survive these violent... killer tornadoes is in an approved underground storm shelter or in above ground storm shelter.
The next safest place is on the lowest floor in an interior room like a closet... hallway... or bathroom... of your home... school or business. Get down low and cover yourself with blankets... pillows... and mattresses.
If a tornado approaches and you live in a Mobile home... abandon it for a more substantial shelter. If nothing is available... lie flat in a nearby ditch covering your head and neck.
These tornadic storms can also produce flash flooding. Watch out when you come to a flooded low water crossing... especially at night... when you can't tell. Always turn around... don't drown. Last year about 45 Texans drowned when they tried to walk or drive into flooded areas.
The men and women of your National Weather Service office located near Mathis Field in San Angelo monitor the weather 24 hours a day as they work with their partners to alert you of any approaching severe weather.
Your National Weather Service closely coordinates with these partners that include your local emergency managers... volunteer fire fighters... law enforcement officials... Skywarn storm spotters... storm chasers... and the media.
If you have any questions... please feel free to contact your nearest local emergency manager or you can call US at 9... 4... 4... 9... 4... 4... 5.
