Louisiana Severe Weather Tips Your Kids Should Know for Today

Today's severe weather outbreak in Louisiana is already underway. A quiet morning has now "exploded" into rapidly developing showers and thunderstorms that are racing quickly out of the Gulf of Mexico and on shore in Louisiana's coastal parishes. And these storms aren't even the "heavy storms" we've been concerned about for the past week or so.

Louisiana is no stranger to severe weather. Today's storm is a bit on the unusual side since we don't normally get such strong storms during the winter months. Sure, we get showers and storms but today's weather event feels more like a spring storm. Of course, the obvious exception is that the temperatures are much cooler in January than we might expect during similar storms in the springtime.

With today's potential severe weather threat and so many kids getting out of school early this could be a concern for parents. Our hope is that the weather won't get that bad but the forecast for cities like Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans includes an enhanced threat of severe storms including possible tornadoes.

What Should You Do If a Tornado Threatens?

Here are some basic tips to help them stay safe and give you peace of mind.

1: Pick A Safe Room In Your Home- You can make this designation well ahead of a storm situation. This room should be an interior room away from windows and doors. A closet or bathroom usually makes a great safe room during severe weather. It's a good idea to bring a mattress, pillows or even a bike  helmet into this room to help protect the head.

2: Know The Difference Between a Watch and a Warning- They are two very different things and knowing the difference could save your life. A "watch" is designated when weather conditions over a broad area show favorable characteristics for the formation of tornadoes. This does NOT mean a tornado is imminent. It just means that you should be aware of changing weather conditions and be prepared to act quickly if the need arises.

A "warning" means that a tornado has been spotted or indicated by Doppler radar and there is imminent danger. Tornado warnings mean the time to move to a place of safety is now.

3: Stay Informed on Changing Conditions- Radio and TV do a great job of keeping people abreast of changing weather conditions. We suggest you have a battery operated radio handy in case of a loss of power. We also suggest that you download this station's App for your smart phone. That way you always have the latest information in your hands even if the power goes out in your home or business.

4: What is A Safe Place: Mobile homes are not safe places to be during times of severe weather. We suggest that you and your family make plans well in advance of where you might find substantial shelter should the need arise. This might be a neighbors house or an office building, again choosing an interior room would be the safest.

Here is a link to the National Weather Service Radar for South Louisiana. You can click that and see where the storms are in relation to what you hold near and dear. This is a serious weather situation and we might not be out of the woods until much later in the day today.