Fast-moving storm traveled through Sumner, bringing needed rain and no tornadoes
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — 2023 is not yet two months old, but we had already had our first tornado warning in Sumner County.
The National Weather Service issued a warning yesterday for a significant portion of Sumner County, mainly in the northeast. People in Wellington and Belle Plaine were urged to take shelter around 10 p.m.
Sumner County Emergency Management Director James Fair reported no tornadoes touched down yesterday evening. The warning was more precautionary based on the upper-level atmospheric conditions making it conducive to potential tornado activity.
“It was a fast-moving storm,” Fair said. “The front line for this particular storm was around 55-65 mph.”
Thankfully, the storm, brought nothing but moisture. Precipitation was measured anywhere between 1.4 to .48 inches. According to the Community Collaborative Rain and Health Network weather gauge measures, Wellington received .68 inches of rain.
The sirens in Wellington did go off at 9:55 p.m., even though the NWS had called off the tornado warning at 10 p.m. Some complained on social media that the sirens didn’t go off soon enough.
Fair said tornado warnings went off on people’s cell phones before that, and your phone should be your primary source of communication.
“Unless you have a cell phone manufactured before 2013, it is impossible to shut off tornado warnings,” Fair said. “When your cell phone sounds, it is time for you to get to your available shelter.”
Fair said town sirens are meant for those who are outside at the time or may not have access to a cell phone.
