National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest; Critical Fire Weather in the West; Dangerous Heat in the Central and Eastern U.S.

Severe thunderstorms are likely today across the northern Plains and into the upper Mississippi Valley. Gusty winds and dry conditions will result in widespread critical fire weather through Saturday across parts of the Four Corners region and the Great Basin. A significant and dangerous heat wave will expand from the Central U.S. into the Eastern U.S this weekend through much of next week. Read More >

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December 9-14, 2024 is Southern Plains Winter Weather Preparedness Week. Please join us in promoting winter weather safety during this year's "Winter Weather Preparedness Week". The National Weather Service asks emergency management, public safety officials, local media and Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to help join forces in improving the nation's readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against extreme weather during the winter weather season.

  Winter Weather Preparedness Week Schedule
Monday, December 9th
Winter Weather Terminology 
Tuesday, December 10th
Winter Precipitation Types 
Wednesday, December 11th
Winter Driving Safety 
Thursday, December 12th
Winter and Your Home
Friday, December 13th
Cold Weather Safety 
Saturday, December 14th
Measuring Snow and Ice
 
Deaf and Hard of Hearing      Español

 


So how does one prepare for winter weather? For a winter weather preparedness plan to be successful, it must include the following:

  • knowledge of terminology such as watches and warnings,
  • understanding the types of winter weather that could occur in the local area, 
  • a thorough knowledge of safety rules to follow when winter weather strikes,
  • a reliable method of receiving emergency information,
  • the designation of an appropriate shelter from winter weather and the extreme cold


 

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Contact Information
You are also invited to contact the National Weather Service for interviews, information, or answers to any questions you may have. In many instances, we are also able to present severe or winter weather preparedness programs to civic and industrial organizations, schools, amateur radio clubs, hospital staffs or any other community groups.

  • Samantha Brown, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
    National Weather Service Office: Dodge City, KS
    620-225-6514

  • Joanne Culin, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
    National Weather Service Office: Amarillo, TX
    806-335-1121

  • Scott Overpeck, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
    National Weather Service Office: Albuquerque, NM
    505-243-0702

  • Marissa Pazos, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
    National Weather Service Office: Lubbock, TX
    806-745-4260

  • Klint Skelly, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
    National Weather Service Office: Pueblo, CO
    719-948-9429

  • Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist
    National Weather Service Office: Norman, OK
    405-325-3816