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Heat and Fire Weather Concerns for the Center of the Nation; Coastal Impacts Across the East

Excessive heat returns for portions of the Plains today where heat indices will likely climb above the century mark. Furthermore, warm temperatures, strong winds and dry fuels may result in rapid spread of wild fires across the western High Plains today. For the east coast, lingering storm with onshore flow will bring high surf, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding, especially at high tide. Read More >

UW-Madison and Wisconsin Emergency Management became StormReady on Thursday, September 10th

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) became the first state emergency management agency in the nation to become certified as StormReady by the National Weather Service. Dr. Louis Uccellini, Directory of the National Weather Service, presented the StormReady designation to WEM Administrator Brian Satula and staff in the state Emergency Operations Center in Madison (pictured bottom left). Dr. Uccellini also recognized UW-Madison as StormReady in a ceremony with UW Chancelor Blank (pictured bottom right). The designation of the University was a collaborative effort by UW-Madison Police, UW Emergency Management, CIMSS, SSEC, AOS, and the NWS. Our Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Tim Halbach, represented our office at the ceremonies. Also in attendance was the NWS Central Region Deputy Directory and former Meteorologist In Charge of our office, Steve Brueske.

 

Wisconsin Emergency Management StormReady Designation UW Madison StormReady Designation
Photo courtesy of ReadyWisconsin Photo courtesy of UW CIMSS

 

To be StormReady, an organization must have a 24-hour warning point, have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and to alert the public, create a system that monitors weather conditions locally, promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars, and develop a formal hazardous weather plan which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises. For more information on StormReady see https://www.stormready.noaa.gov/ .

Press Release for Wisconsin Emergency Management Certification 

Press Release for UW-Madison Certification


National Weather Service- Milwaukee/Sullivan