Tornado and Rain Season: How Should You Prepare?

Updated 2021

The tornado and rainy seasons are both quickly approaching.

Tornadoes can form during thunderstorms when warm and cold air mix and the wind speed and direction change. In addition, no region is safe from flooding during heavy rain, making these some of the most widespread natural disasters in the US. 

Here, we’ve broken down what you need to know about both seasons as well as how to stay safe in the event of a weather emergency.

When is Tornado Season in 2021?

While tornadoes can occur year-round, most occur alongside thunderstorms during the summer months, peaking in May and June. 

But this year, meteorologists and scientists are bracing for an above-normal tornado season due to extreme cold snaps and an increase in signals from La Niña (the cooling of surface ocean waters along the tropical west coast of South America). The signals are the highest they’ve been since the winter of 2010-2011, which led to the deadliest tornado season in nearly a century.

It’s important to remember that there’s a second tornado season in America as well, running from late October to mid-November. This is caused by a seasonal change and alternating cold and warm weather. 

The spring tornado season more directly affects the American Midwest while the second tornado season more commonly affects the Atlantic Coastal plain.

With the first tornado season and rainy season both quickly approaching, it’s important to know how to keep yourself safe from a tornado.

When Is the Rainy Season in 2021?

The rainy season typically runs from July to November in the US.

Rainfall varies by region. Some states see very little rainfall throughout the year, including Nevada, which receives an average of nine inches yearly. 

Others, such as New Mexico and Arizona, see an onslaught of rain each summer due to the North American Monsoon. According to the National Park Service, heavy afternoon thunderstorms in this region are most frequent and severe in July, August, and September.

But remember, severe weather and rain are year-round threats. 

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that this spring, rainfall will be heavy in parts of the Northeast, Southeast, Florida, and Great Lakes. 

Regardless of the region you are in, you must know how to prepare for heavy rain, no matter the time of year. Oftentimes, it can come with dangerous lightning and flash floods. 

How to Prepare for Severe Weather

Whether you are responsible for protecting your family, home, employees, students, or others, you should have a plan in place to ensure safety during incidents such as these.

There is no time like the present to prepare, and we’re considering the best ways to prepare for the severe weather ahead. That’s why LifeSecure has created an easy-to-follow guide to preparing for severe weather conditions like tornadoes and heavy rain.  

Easy ways to prepare for tornadoes and heavy rain

Monitor the weather. Stay alert to changing weather conditions by listening to powered radio coverage, such as an NOAA weather radio, or tuning into television newscasts for the latest in tornado watch or thunderstorm information.  

Plan communication methods. Keep important numbers written down in your wallet, send text messages instead of calling, and consider using social media to keep others informed. LifeSecure offers emergency two-way radios in the event of separation.

Evacuate before flooding starts. In the event of a flood, seek higher ground and avoid being trapped when the flooding begins.

Establish a safe location. The location can be at home, at work, or school. This should be a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest level with no windows in the event of a tornado. If flooding is a possibility during a storm, however, higher ground is imperative. 

Invest in an emergency kit. Make sure it’s clearly marked and everyone who might need it knows where to locate it. If you’re not sure what to put in your tornado kit, check out our full list, which includes metal whistles, thermal blankets, toilet paper, and more. 

Teach others basic first aid. Show others in your group how to administer basic first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity. A proper first aid kit is especially important given the risk of flying debris during a tornado.

Stock up on emergency supplies, including food and water. Families should set aside one gallon of water per day for each person as well as a three-day supply of food per person.

Include short and long-term dehydrated food options such as canned or emergency dried foods, tuna, crackers, or high-calorie food bars.

Protect your supplies. If the safe zone isn’t a large space, make sure to have a compact, easy-roll, durable and protected place for all of your supplies.

Include hygiene and sanitation items. This includes biohazard bags, toilet paper, and moist towelettes, all of which are a must for any emergency kit.

Plan for necessary medications. Make sure those who are on medication have it easily accessible to them.  

The Best in Emergency Preparedness Kits

While it’s impossible to control the occurrence of natural disasters such as tornadoes or flooding, many measures can be taken to keep yourself and those around you safe. 

Investing in an emergency kit for flooding or tornadoes and making sure it’s marked so that everyone knows where to locate it is invaluable in a disaster.

You must be prepared with the necessary survival supplies so you and others can survive without power and other everyday comforts in days after severe weather.

David Scott

David co-founded LifeSecure in 2005, just a few months before Hurricane Katrina taught everyone that one can go hungry and thirsty in America and even die before help arrives. For over a decade David has focused on developing and discovering superior emergency and disaster survival solutions - kits and supplies. He has trained community groups in emergency preparedness, helped non-profit organizations prepare emergency kits for needy individuals, conducted community emergency response exercises, and developed emergency plans for non-profit organizations. David makes an ongoing study of how best to prepare for and respond to various natural and man-made disasters, and his mission has been to help others “live Life SECURE” every day by preparing for what may come someday.

Learn more about David.