At 10:20 a.m. today the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Hastings will issue a test or mock tornado warning for the area.

People should also be aware of weather terminology to be prepared for severe weather.

The following information is provided by the National Weather Service Office in Hastings.

A watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather in and close to the watch area.

A warning means that severe weather has either been detected by radar or reported by storm spotters. People in the affected area should seek shelter immediately.

Before severe weather strikes, develop a plan of action. Identify a place for you and your family to take shelter. Once you have a plan of action, conduct frequent drills to ensure everyone knows what to do.

People also should be aware of the various types of severe weather.

A thunderstorm is considered severe when it produces hail one inch in diameter or larger, winds that are equal to or greater than 58 miles per hour, or a tornado. A tornado can strike with little or no warning.

A flash flood is a rapid rise in water that occurs with little or no warning, and is usually the result of intense rainfall over a relatively small area in a short amount of time.

Lightning is one of the more dangerous aspects of thunderstorms, and is sometimes not taken as seriously as others. All thunderstorms contain lightning, and if you are close enough to hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Lightning strikes 10 to 15 miles away from a thunderstorm are possible, so seek shelter if a storm approaches.

If you are outside and a thunderstorm threatens, get into a sturdy building or hard-topped vehicle. Do not stand near open doors, windows or metal pipes. Do not use corded telephones or electrical appliances, do not take a shower, and do not do laundry or dishes until the storm is over.

Terminate any outdoor activities and seek shelter immediately.

If you are outside and no building or vehicle is nearby, stay away from isolated trees or utility poles. Get off of tractors or other metal farm equipment. Get out of and away from open water. Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, or other metal objects.

If you feel your hair starting to stand on end, lightning may be about to strike you. If no shelter is available, and only as a very last resort, crouch down on your feet and get as close to the ground as possible. Do not lie flat on the ground, as this presents a larger area for lightning to strike.

Remember, a sturdy building or hard-topped vehicle is always the best choice for shelter when a thunderstorm approaches.

When thunderstorms are in the area, remember the 30-30 safety rule. Count the seconds between the time you see a lightning strike and hear thunder. If that time is less than 30 seconds, you should already be in a safe location or quickly heading to shelter.

You may go outside and resume activities after 30 minutes have passed since you last heard thunder.

More complete information is available at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gid/ and then clicking on Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness Week - April 7-11.

Additional severe weather information can be found on the NEMA Web site at http://www.nema.ne.gov.