Quad Cities, IA/IL

Weather Forecast Office

Awareness Weeks

Severe Weather Awareness
Winter Weather Awareness
Flood Awareness
Heat Awareness
Lightning Awareness

Statewide Severe Weather Preparedness/Awareness Weeks are an opportunity to increase awareness of and response to severe weather hazards. They are scheduled throughout the spring, targeting a time before the spring severe weather "season" typically begins in that state. Most states also conduct a tornado drill during their awareness week, when test tornado warnings are issued at a predetermined time. Please mark your calendar and plan to participate in the drill for your local area, as this is an opportunity to test your communication methods as if it were a real situation.

Official Severe Weather Preparedness

Illinois	Missouri	Iowa
Mar. 2-6, 2026 Required Weekly Test (RWT) Drill Tuesday, Mar. 3 at 10 AM	Mar. 2-6, 2026 Required Weekly Test (RWT) Drill Wednesday, Mar. 4 at 11 AM	Mar. 23-27, 2026 Required Weekly Test (RWT) Drill Wednesday, Mar. 25 at 10 AM
Daily Topics Monday: Have a Plan Tuesday: Lightning Wednesday: Tornadoes Thursday: Wind and Hail Friday: Flooding	Daily Topics Monday: Receiving Alerts/Forecast Information Tuesday: Lightning Wednesday: Tornadoes Thursday: Wind and Hail Friday: Flooding	Daily Topics Monday: Lightning Tuesday: Tornadoes Wednesday: Preparedness Thursday: Severe Thunderstorms Friday: Flash Floods
NEW: Storm Anxiety Information

The Bottom Line:

Living in the most severe weather prone country in the world,
your best defense is to be both prepared and informed.

Know the local warning systems.
Invest in a NOAA Weather Radio.
Stay informed.
Take action – indoors or out!

Severe Weather Social Media Graphics

Look for these and other messages on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, then "Share"/"Retweet"!

Click on the titles for a direct link to the corresponding Facebook post.

Watch v. Warning

Severe Thunderstorm WATCH

Tornado WATCH

Tornado Watch v. Warning

Hazards

Outlooks

Severe Thunderstorm WARNING

Tornado WARNING

Check Weather.gov Daily

Related Topics

Statewide Winter Weather Preparedness activities provide a focused opportunity to increase awareness of and response to winter weather hazards. Click here for additional winter storm safety resources.

Winter Weather Awareness

Reminders of NWS Headline Criteria:

NWS Quad Cities Watch, Warning and Advisory Criteria: https://www.weather.gov/dvn/headlines

Winter Weather Preparedness 2-Pager

Winter Weather Social Media Graphics

Look for these and other messages on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, then "Share"/"Retweet".

For a full suite of updated graphics, see the NWS Safety Page.

Snow Squalls

Freezing Drizzle

Flash Freeze

Rain After a Long Dry Stretch

What's a Blizzard?

Science of Snowflakes

Winter Driving

What Causes Winter?

Winter and Pets

Science of Wind Chill

Winter Injuries and Fatalities

Winter Precipitation

Snow Water Cycle

Hypothermia

Dressing for the Cold

Cold Weather

Ice Storms

Winter Storm Advisory,
Watch, and Warning

Black Ice

Driving in Snow #1

Driving in Snow #2

Snow Shoveling Risk

Pets and Cold

Warning Signs of Hypothermia

Driving in Snow #3

Dressing for Cold

Driving Tips #1

Winter Storm Products #1

Winter Precipitation Types

Where to Find Road Condtions

5 Tips for Shoveling Snow Safely

What is Freezing Rain?

5 Facts of Winter Forecasts

Driving Tips #2

Apparent Temperature Chart

Sending Reports to the NWS

Cold Weather Safety in Home

Cold Weather Safety in Car

Winter Storm Checklist

Car Supplies Checklist

Colorado Low Facts

Alberta Clipper Facts

Ice Facts

Winter Flooding

What Causes Winter?

Types of Winter Hazards

Ice on Bridges

Black Ice

Cold Weather Safety Tips

Winter Driving

Fire Safety

Carbon Monoxide

Outdoor Winter Safety

Winter Storm Advertisement

6 Tips to Properly Measure Snow

NWS Quad Cities Winter Headlines

Average First Snow

Average Annual Snowfall

Related Topics

Flood Safety Awareness activities strive to increase awareness of and response to flooding. Whether it be river flooding or flash flooding, knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.

Flood Safety Awareness

Illinois

Iowa

Missouri

The Bottom Line:

Knowledge is Power!

Have a plan in place before a flood occurs.
Invest in a NOAA Weather Radio.
Stay informed.

NEVER drive, walk, or swim into flood waters!
Turn Around! - Don't Drown!

Flood Safety Social Media Graphics

Look for these and other messages on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, then "Share"/"Retweet"!

How Deep Really is the Water?

Don't Underestimate the Power of Water!

Never Drive Through Flood Waters!

Never Drive Into Flood Waters!

Never Drive Around Barricades!

Never Walk Into Flood Waters!

Rescuers and Flood Waters

Flash Flooding Can Happen in a Flash!

Mud Slide Risks with Flash Flooding

Your State
{Interactive Map}

Flood Watch

Flood Warning

Prepare

Make a Communications Plan!

Related Topics

U.S. Flood Fatality Statistics
(2013-2015*)

1986-8/26/2015

Through 8/26/15, there have been 86 flood related fatalities
Just over 2/3 (59) of the fatalities were male
Age was not a factor
56 fatalities occurred in Texas and Oklahoma

Activity

Month

Age

Gender

Driving - 45
Walking/Hiking - 16
Sheltering - 9
Boating - 7
Fell in - 1
Working - 0
Other - 8

Jan - 3
Feb - 2
Mar - 11
Apr - 8
May - 51
Jun - 11

Jul - 0
Aug - 0
Sep - NA
Oct - NA
Nov - NA
Dec - NA

0-9 - 8
10-19 - 7
20-29 - 5
30-39 - 11
40-49 - 11

50-59 - 8
60-69 - 14
70-79 - 8
80-89 - 6
90+ - 0

Male - 59
Female - 27

2014 - 41

Roughly 2/3 of deaths were male
Driving into flood waters continues to be the leading activity
Half of the fatalities were west of the Mississippi River; half east.
Quiet tropical season led to fewer deaths.

Activity	Month	Age	Gender

2013 - 84

61% of deaths were male
Driving - the leading activity
IA, IL, & MO all reported a flood-related fatality
1/3 of the fatalities were in May

Activity	Month	Age	Gender

HEAT Safety Awareness activities are an opportunity to increase awareness of and response to excessive heat.

On average, heat is the leading cause of weather related fatalities. Heat waves have the potential to cover a large area, exposing a high number of people to a hazardous combination of heat and humidity, which can be very taxing on the body.

Heat Safety

Official Heat Safety Awareness Dates (2024)

Iowa	Missouri	Illinois
Heat Awareness Day June 6, 2024	None	None

The Bottom Line:

Knowledge is Power!

Have a plan in place before excessive heat settles in!

If possible, stay inside an air-conditioned place.

If you must be outside, take frequent breaks in the shade.
Drink plenty of water and don't forget to apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Never leave a child, pet, or disabled adult in parked vehicles!

Heat Safety Social Media Graphics

Look for these and other messages on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, then "Share"/"Retweet"!

Heat Wave

Children & Heat

Working Outdoors in Heat

Dress for the Heat	Auto Safety

Sunburn Safety

Heat Symptoms

Heat Index Chart

Pet Safety	Heat Wave	Heat Safety Infographic


Playing Outside	Working Outside	Staying Safe in the Heat


4 Questions before working outdoors	Protect Yourself	Excessive Heat


Record Highs by State	Urban Heat Island

Related Topics

Lightning Awareness

Lightning Facts

Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year.
Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year.
Over the past 30 years, lightning has killed an average of 47 people in the United States yearly, with over 1,000 more injured.
Since 2008, lightning has killed 3 people in Iowa, 4 in Illinois, and 11 in Missouri.
- â€‹Missouri ranks 7th, Illinois ranks 24th, and Iowa ranks 27th.
On average, around 64% of lightning fatalities occur during leisurely activities, with around 1/3 of deaths occurring on the water.
The vast majority of lightning victims are male (based on 376 cases between 2006 and 2017, 80% of victims were male and 20% were female).

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Official Lightning Safety Awareness Dates

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week

TBD

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week was started in 2001 in an effort to bring awareness and education about lightning and its potential. Since then, lightning fatalities have been decreasing on average each year.

Illinois	Missouri	Iowa
None	TBD (Summer Weather Safety Week)	None


Look for these and other messages on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, then "Share" / "Retweet".


When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!	Outdoor Safety Organizations/Large Venues	Safety Tips	Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful Links

Go to Top of Page

Severe Thunderstorms in the Southeast; Critical Fire Weather in the Northern Plains

Awareness Weeks