The National Weather Service wants everyone to be part of a Weather-Ready Nation.  Colorado is an annual host for tornadoes, flash floods, large hail, killer lightning, and wind damage.  Are you weather ready?  Now is the time to make sure you know how to stay safe when severe weather threatens.  Therefore, the week of April 16-22 has been designated Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week.      

Each year, for the past 20 years, there have been an average of 50 tornadoes in Colorado.  Each year, on average, three people have been killed by lightning and another 13 people have been injured by lightning.  Some of the biggest insurance losses each year are due to large hail.  

The National Weather Service offices which serve Colorado will issue a series of public information statements during the week, which will be published at www.KiowaCountyPress.net,  covering the following topics:

• Monday..........Watches and Warnings
• Tuesday.........Tornados and Tornado Safety
• Wednesday...Floods and Flash Floods
• Thursday........Damaging Wind and Hail
• Friday.............Lightning and Wildfires
• Saturday........A review of the week

Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service for a variety of thunderstorm hazards.  Make sure you have a way to receive warnings.  If you live in a community with a siren, understand the protocol for sounding those sirens.  If you have a relatively new cell phone, you will receive tornado and flash flood warnings on your phone if you are in the areas of the warning.

NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio is another great way to monitor the weather and receive warnings. KiowaCountyPress.net and Plains Network Services in Eads will be giving away three weather radios at the end of the month – just stop by 1208 Maine Street in Eads to register to win.

Safety information, watches, warnings, forecasts, past weather, and much more information is available at your local National Weather Service web sites: 

• www.weather.gov/denver         NWS Denver/Boulder
• www.weather.gov/pueblo         NWS Pueblo
• www.weather.gov/goodland   NWS Goodland
• www.weather.gov/gjt                  NWS Grand Junction

Check back Monday to read the first article in this week’s series, and remember to stop by 1208 Maine Street in Eads to register to win one of three weather radios being given away by KiowaCountyPress.net and Plains Network Services. Entries close at 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 28, 2017.