As the seasons begin to shift across the state, it’s important to be mindful of how that impacts the weather in your area.
It’s the National Weather Service’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the state. As severe weather begins to make its way to South Dakota, there are many things to keep in mind.
Kelly Serr is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NWS in Aberdeen. She said the week is the NWS’s way of encouraging individuals across South Dakota to start preparing for what’s ahead in the coming months.
Preparing for severe weather isn't a difficult process, if you know what you need to take care of. Here's an easy guide to get you started! pic.twitter.com/Je9rKvSxC8
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) April 7, 2025
“So this time of year can be problematic because we can still get winter weather at the same time as we move into severe weather season,” Serr said. “And so, the whole idea is to not have people caught off guard as we move from one threat to another. So we want people to start thinking about severe weather and summer weather and their emergency and preparedness plans and what they would do in the event of severe weather in the area.”
That includes having multiple ways to receive alerts about severe weather in the area. NWS encourages people to have a weather radio, listen for outdoor sirens and download apps that send weather alert information.
The NWS also says to know the weather before you head out for the day, so you can be prepared in the event of an emergency.
Serr said Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a good time to evaluate safety plans in multiple scenarios in your day-to-day life.
Do you know the differences between a severe weather watch and severe weather warning?
— NWS Rapid City (@NWSRapidCity) April 7, 2025
A watch means “be ready to take action”
A warning means “TAKE ACTION”.
Here is a closer look at the differences. pic.twitter.com/J2xWPVOYnV
“It’s not just at your house you need to be prepared. I think a lot of times people know where to go in their house, where their safe spot is. Whether that’s their basement or the most interior room on the main floor of their house,” Serr said. “But also think about work, or school, or you’re at a sporting event, or all these different types of things because severe weather doesn’t happen at convenient times. So now is a great week to talk to your employers or your place of work and review those severe weather safety plans.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that over 60% of businesses don’t have emergency plans in place for severe weather.
