Tornado season gets early start in high plains

Though Cannon is not in what is defined as “tornado alley,” which begins about 18 miles farther east, Friday’s storm showed how unpredictable the storm area is. At the end of the day, 13 confirmed tornadoes were sighted in Eastern New Mexico.

“We began to prepare for the stormy weather Friday afternoon as we watched the low pressure system to our south,” said Cannon meteorologist James Kratzer. “We issued the Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warning for the base warning of the worst storm cells.”

Cannon Weather meteorologists Staff Sgt. Robert Royals and Mr. Kratzer saw two lines of severe thunderstorms form around Roswell and in the vicinity of Melrose at 3 p.m. The storms, which initially formed in southeastern New Mexico, moved into Clovis and Cannon, leaving large hail, high winds, and tornadoes in its wake.

Sergeant Royals handled principal radar duties as the tornadoes moved through Curry and Roosevelt County, said Mr. Krazer. When he sighted the tornado six miles east of the base, he issued the tornado warning.

“As forecasting the storms went, we were right on the mark,” Mr. Kratzer said. “Thankfully, those kinds of strong tornadoes are rare around here.”

While knowing that severe weather is imminent, knowing what to do can mean the difference between discomfort and injury, or worse.

When radar indicates a tornado in the immediate area, a warning is issued by a three-to five-minute steady tone on the base siren. This is not to be confused with the weekly test the Command Post performs every Friday at noon, said Jerry O’Connell, 27th Civil Engineer Squadron.

“Your home is your shelter,” said Mr. O’Connell. “There is no storm shelter for Cannon Military Family Housing residents. Go to the most interior room with your family, away from windows and bring cover such as a mattress with you.

Individuals caught in a car in the path of an approaching tornado should get out, lie in a low area such as a ditch and cover their heads, advised Mr. O’Connell. They should stay away from bridges and overpasses because tornado winds can increase as they travel under overpasses or bridges,

“Don’t become a sightseer when the siren sounds; it’s sounding for a reason,” he said. “There could be ruptured gas or electric lines. Let the emergency personnel do their jobs.”

Cannon typically conducts a natural disaster exercise during late spring, said Mr. O’Connell and now is a good time to review preparations.