"The New Tornado Alley?"

That’s the question some weather watchers have been asking since our region seems to be experiencing more severe weather over the past decade, but Local6 Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Rukavina says the jury is still out. She said the winds of La Nina could be a factor, which bring higher than normal levels of precipitation to our region, when active.

Regardless of the cause, the effect is well documented. The four state region has averaged 36 tornadoes a year with the highest number (12) occurring in May, followed by April and June. The second tornado season occurs in October and November. The deadliest aspect of the typical tornado that threatens our area is they are most likely to strike in the dead of night when most people are sound asleep. “That’s why I’m a strong believer in weather radio. It’s like a smoke detector for tornadoes that will wake your family up,” said Rukavina.

The region has seen some devastating tornadoes in recent years, including F-3’s and F-4’s that have touched down in our area resulting in a tragic loss of life and incredible property damage. Rukavina said the same weather patterns that bring us strong tornadoes also brought the tremendous amount of moisture into the area that resulted in the recent ice storm.

She said Doppler Radar is an important tool in warning viewers about severe weather. The technology has improved dramatically in recent years and allows forecasters to view “almost live” what could take up to five minutes to see five years ago. Rukavina said the most important aspect of her job is keep people informed about severe weather.

“Just be prepared. We never what Mother Nature has in store.”

Local6 has prepared a special DVD on Winter Storm ’09, which is on sale for $19.95 on wpsdtv.com. All proceeds go to the Red Cross Emergency Fund.