Secondary severe weather season returns to the Mid-South

While most Mid-Southerners are fully aware of the possibility of severe weather from mid-March through early June, there is also a distinct "secondary severe weather season" in the Mid-South that runs from November into early December.  The autumn transition season brings an increased number of frontal systems and diverse airmasses battling for control of the sky.  With cold air beginning to dive south out of Canada, strong Pacific fronts moving across the country, and Gulf moisture still exerting it's influence on the region due to southerly wind between frontal systems, the stage can be set for violent weather this time of year. Those who have lived in the region a number of years will recall the Thanksgiving weekend tornado that devastated a portion of Germantown in 1994 and be reminded that spring is not the only time we receive severe weather.

Now is a good time to review severe weather safety tips. The MWN Storm Center contains tips for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding. Be sure that your NOAA Weather Radio (you do have one right?)  is programmed and has fresh batteries in case of a power outage. Share your severe weather plans with your family, especially any minors living at home, so that everyone is on the same page if severe weather does strike.

In addition, be sure to take advantage of a variety of ways MemphisWeather.net helps you stay informed before and during severe weather. MWN's array of "StormWatch" services include notifications of severe weather watchs and warnings by e-mail and Twitter, nowcasting during severe weather via Facebook and Twitter, and - coming very soon - StormWatch+!  While our e-mail and Twitter severe weather feeds will alert you if any part of your county is warned, StormWatch+ takes the process one step further, using the latest technology to alert you only in the event that your specific location is in the warned area, as defined by the National Weather Service.  StormWatch+ is coming to the MemphisWeather.net app for Android and iPhone in the coming days. (Android release is expected on November 14; iPhone release is pending Apple approval.)

For more details and information, or to sign up for StormWatch warning notifications, visit www.MemphisWeather.net/stormwatch.  You may also wish to follow @mwnstormwatch on Twitter for updates as they become available.

Finally, if you are interested in underground storm shelters, MWN endorses Take Cover Storm Shelters (read our endorsement review here).  Take Cover will provide you that extra peace of mind you may need during severe weather.  Give Jessica or Jon a call and tell them I sent you!
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For weather information for Memphis and the Mid-South, where and when you need it, visit MemphisWeather.net on the web, m.memphisweather.net on your mobile phone, download our iPhone or Android apps, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.