Severe storms are expected in our area today, Tuesday, April 4. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) storms capable of producing large hail, damaging wind, and tornadoes are possible through 6 a.m. Wednesday. When this dangerous weather is anticipated, it is important to pay attention to the forecast, make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, and take all weather watches and warnings seriously. Remember to close and lock your windows if a storm passes through and/or you are not in your room, so your belongings do not get damaged.
Please remember to use good judgment, avoid traveling during active weather warnings, and be mindful of your surroundings. Make a safety plan in advance. Review the emergency response guidelines from the UI Department of Public Safety. If you receive an emergency notification or encounter severe wind-related weather conditions, take action and follow these guidelines from the National Weather Service:
- Inside: Go to the basement or a safe room and assume a tornado safety position. If you don't have either, proceed to the lowest innermost room of the building away from windows. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
- Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately.
- In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
- Stay weather-ready: Continue to monitor local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about watches and warnings. In addition to Hawk Alert, you should consider signing up for weather alerts through your county (Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty are in Johnson County) or local weather station.
Please evaluate your individual circumstances and make reasonable judgments to avoid serious risks when traveling to and from campus. If students and employees can safely travel to and from campus, regular operations will continue.
A Hawk Alert will be issued — and the weather sirens will sound — when there is a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning that includes winds of 70 MPH or greater and/or hail measuring 1.75 inches or greater issued for our area.
You can view the most current information on the forecast via the National Weather Service.
During a Hawk Alert, you can find updates at emergency.uiowa.edu and the Campus Safety twitter account.
