…MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR ALL OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE ON SATURDAY… A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TODAY AND BRING A CHANCE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO THE MID STATE AS EARLY AS LATE TONIGHT. BY EARLY SATURDAY…SOME STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE…AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE…WITH THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY…INTO THE EARLY EVENING. A FEW STORMS WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL…DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS PUT THE ENTIRE MID STATE IN A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS. THIS IS THE STRONGEST STORM SYSTEM TO AFFECT MIDDLE TENNESSEE SO FAR THIS SPRING…AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER LOOKS TO BE INCREASINGLY LIKELY…INCLUDING TORNADIC SUPERCELLS. A MODERATE RISK MEANS THAT THERE IS A 45 PERCENT CHANCE OF A SEVERE WEATHER EVENT (DAMAGING WINDS…LARGE HAIL OR TORNADOES) OCCURRING WITHIN 25 MILES OF ANY GIVEN LOCATION. NOW IS THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL GO SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA ON SATURDAY. HERE ARE A FEW TORNADO SAFETY RULES. TORNADO SAFETY RULES

1. IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN INTERIOR ROOM, SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM, ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR A BED.
2. IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES, ABANDON THEM AND GO TO A STURDY STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY, LIE FLAT IN A DITCH, RAVINE, GULLY, CULVERT OR LOW SPOT WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD.
3. IN LARGE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND SHOPPING CENTERS, GO TO THE PREDESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE USUALLY BEST. STAY AWAY FROM ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS.
4. IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR HALLWAY.
5. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON’T BOTHER OPENING OR CLOSING THEM. IT WON’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE AND YOU’LL JUST WASTE TIME OR PUT YOURSELF AT RISK SHOULD GLASS BREAK AS YOU ARE NEAR.