The ‘spot’ to be

There’s a little saying Kansans like to use, “If you don’t like the weather wait five minutes.”
Kansas weather is fickle — one day it might be snowing and the next it could be 80 degrees.
However, one part of Kansas weather that every citizen should know more about is tornado season.
A U.S. Weather Service Storm Spotter/Safety presentation at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center Thursday night gave the skinny on severe weather.
“Weather is a lot like a puzzle,” said meteorologist Chance Hayes. “People need to communicate.”
Communication tied into each lesson Hayes gave. He described how a tornado forms and what the warning signs are. He tested attendees to make sure they understood the parts of the storm.
“Sometimes storm spotting isn’t easy,” he said. “And sometimes it’s not possible.”
Hayes said spotters always should make safety their top priority. Being stationed at a safe distance can be a lifesaver.
Last year, three spotters lost their lives in a storm. Many spotters feel that they have to be up close to get the “money shot” to send to media or a weather service.
“Don’t get up under the storm,” Hayes cautioned. “It’s not worth your life for a photo.”
When reporting weather conditions to a weather service explain the parts of the storm that are visible, he advised. Where a spotter is stationed can make a difference in a report.
Hayes showed three videos from three different spotters watching the same storm.
In the first the spotter could see a majority of the storm and reported it to a radio station. The second spotter could see a tornado on the ground. The last spotter saw nothing but clouds.
Knowing the proper terminology of a tornado can prevent false reports. If a spotter says there is a “massive tornado” on the ground when there is not, it can lead to the infamous outcome of people eventually dismissing reports.
“The more false alarms we issue the less you pay attention,” Hayes said.
He urged spotters to report what type of event is happening, when it is happening and where the spotter is.
Paying attention to weather advisories and downloading weather apps can help save lives. If sirens do go off make sure to take shelter in a basement, storm shelter or a closed off or interior room.
“Those who take shelter in the proper place have a 95 percent chance of survival,” he said.
On Tuesday at 1:30 sirens will sound in Iola for a state-wide test.