View from the Cab: Staying weather aware

By Kent Casson

Staying weather aware is important, even if we are in a dull time of year for significant weather events.

I recently visited with a weather guru who has 350,000 followers on his Illinois Storm Chasers online page and is deputy coordinator for the Ford County Emergency Management Agency.

Danny Neal was the speaker at a disaster meeting hosted by the Fairbury ESDA. Those attending became certified storm spotters following Neal’s presentation.

General awareness was the theme of the meeting as many don’t know about the Storm Prediction Center website or even the National Weather Service. Neal suggests ensuring your sources are accurate and that there is continuity.

“Social media can be dangerous,” explained Neal. “There are a lot of people out there with information and that may not be the best information.”

If you have a cell phone tower near you when a weather alert is issued, it will “ping” that tower and alert you no matter the location in the United States. Those who were not weather aware in the past now are.

Neal caught my attention when he discussed tornadoes. The strongest one Illinois has seen occurred in Washington a decade ago.

“Since then, there has only been one of comparable strength.”

Neal noted there is a gap in reported weather activity – especially in our rural part of the state. He hopes severe weather is being reported to the proper people.

Most either love or hate severe weather and for Neal, it was the latter at first.

“You fear the unknown because you are not understanding why it is happening,” he said.

Neal moved to the Paxton in Ford County about a year ago from the Chicago area. His Illinois Storm Chasers web page has been in business since the 2010s and is very popular.

“We work closely with National Weather Service offices and are a part of the Weather Ready Nation.”

I forgot to ask him what he anticipates for winter weather here in Central Illinois this season. Perhaps I don’t want to know.