The best precaution during Wisconsin’s active summer storm season is to stay alert for severe weather.

Wisconsin is experiencing a strong storm season this summer, bringing with it multiple tornadoes and the risk of flooding.

Six tornadoes struck the state on Saturday, including one that damaged parts of the city of Janesville. The state also experienced the first tornadoes recorded in February and five tornadoes that struck western and central Wisconsin in late May.

Jonathan Naylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in La Crosse, said a southwesterly airflow brought moisture and warm temperatures, some of the conditions needed for severe storms.

He said this is not unusual for the state, but represents a stark difference from the prolonged drought of last summer.

“It’s definitely a shock when you compare last year to this year,” Naylor said. “We’ve already had some active events, and given the pattern we’re in, we can’t rule out that we’ll see more active severe weather.”

To stay safe during the coming summer months, Naylor said residents should “closely monitor the weather forecast,” be alert for severe weather and take action if danger occurs.

Search for weather alerts in different ways

Naylor says it’s especially important to stay up to date on weather alerts when there’s a threat of tornadoes. He recommends that people have more than one way to receive tornado warnings, such as a NOAA Weather Radio.

“Make sure your phone is charged for any wireless tornado warnings, follow local media and just have multiple sources to get alerts on higher activity days,” he said.

He said weather warnings were also posted on the National Weather Service website, Facebook and Þjórsárden.

Andrew Beckett, spokesman for Wisconsin Emergency Management, said residents also need to know where to go if they receive a tornado warning.

“Basements are considered one of the safest places,” he said. “If there is no basement, you should go to an interior room on the ground floor of a sturdy building, something without windows, to put as much distance between you and the outside world as possible.”

He said it’s also important to check weather alerts when camping or doing other outdoor activities and have a plan for finding shelter. He said a portable weather radio can ensure campers or hikers in areas without cell reception receive alerts.

Even if a severe storm doesn’t pose the risk of a tornado, lightning strikes can also be extremely dangerous, even to people miles away from the center of the storm, according to Beckett.

“If you hear thunder, you should be aware that lightning could be nearby,” he said. “So you need to do things like go inside to make sure you’re safe.”

Beckett said an enclosed building is the best protection from lightning strikes, but people seeking shelter in a vehicle should avoid touching metal surfaces.

Plan to reach higher ground as flood waters rise

The repeated storms this summer have also increased the risk of flooding.

The Mississippi River is experiencing light to moderate flooding in southwestern Wisconsin. As of Tuesday, the National Weather Service has also issued flood warnings for the Yellow River near Necedah, the Trempealeau River near Dodge, the Black River near Galesville, the Baraboo River near Baraboo, the Wisconsin River near Portage and the Rock River near Afton.

Beckett said people in flood-prone areas should locate nearby higher ground and make sure everyone in their household knows that evacuation point. He said people should also avoid walking or driving through floodwaters.

“You may think you know how deep the water is, but it could very easily be that roads or culverts have been washed away, or large potholes or sinkholes have formed beneath the water’s surface,” he said.

According to information from the Mayo Clinic Health System, floodwaters can carry pathogens that cause gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea, as well as dangerous chemicals from agricultural or household runoff.

The health system also called on the population to pay attention to the safety of their food, to throw away food that has come into contact with flood water and not to open the refrigerator or freezer in the event of a power outage to keep food cool.