TUPELO — National Weather Service meteorologists are warning Mississippi residents to be wary of severe weather in November.
Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana are the only states that historically have a fall tornado and severe weather season each year, Stephen Wilkinson, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Jackson, tells The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal .
For most states, tornado season is traditionally between March and May, with most tornadic activity in April.
Between 1950 and 2011, Mississippi reported 341 tornadoes in April, 221 in March and 200 in May.
However, November has the second-highest number of tornadoes for the same period, with 227 reported.
“A lot of the tornadoes we see in November occur at night and we can’t reach a lot of people at night because they’re sleeping,” Wilkinson said.
“Even before the event, be prepared. Have a weather radio or means of getting info in your home, business or school. Know how to respond and have some supplies to get you through some time until an emergency worker can get to you.”
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