Thoughts from the Sheriff
April 13-17, 2026, is severe weather awareness week. This month, I want to touch on the importance of severe weather awareness and know what to do in case of such an event. It won’t be long and the threat of severe weather will be upon us.
On average, there are 40 tornados statewide per year. The highest total was I 04 in 2010. Tornados, however, are not the only severe weather threat that we experience. In the last two years, we have had severe thunderstorms come through our county that produced strong straight- line winds and downbursts. These winds can reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour and can be mistaken for tornadoes, as they can overturn small structures and topple trees. The main difference between straight-line winds and downburst compared to tornadoes is the lack of rotation.
In addition to strong winds, lightning can pose a significant threat when a thunderstorm is nearby. Each year, lightening kills approximately 100 Americans. It can strike from as far away as ten miles. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. No place is safe outdoors. You should get inside a safe shelter when you hear thunder to prevent becoming a victim of a lightning strike.
You can be struck by lightning in five different ways. The first is a direct strike. This is most likely to occur in an open area. In this case, you are the object struck by the lightning bolt. The second way is called a side flash. This occurs when you are standing near a tall object that is struck and you are close, usually within a foot or two. The lightning will jump from the taller object to you causing the strike. The third way is through a ground current. When lightning strikes another object, the energy from the strike will travel out from the strike along the ground surface. This is the most common cause of a lightning strike as it affects a much larger area. The fourth way is caused by conduction. Lightning can travel long distances in wires or other metal surfaces. Even if you are indoors, this type of strike is a real threat. If you are in contact with anything metal including wires, plumbing or metal surfaces that extend outdoors, such as windows and doors, you can be struck. The last way to be struck by lightning is by a streamer. A streamer develops as the downward-moving leader approaches the ground. The leader is the main lightning bolt. A streamer is an electrical discharge that comes off the leader. If you are around a lightning strike, one of the streamers could hit you. This is not a common occurrence; however, it is still possible to be struck in this fashion.
What should you do to keep yourself safe when the season for severe weather comes? First, be alert to approaching weather. Use common sense if you see a storm on the horizon. Listen to a radio or other electronic device for weather watches and warnings and know what each means.
A watch means that the weather is favorable for severe weather and a warning means that severe weather has been confirmed in a defined area and is headed in your direction. Do not take these warnings lightly. Storms move very quickly and you could find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation if you are not aware of what is happening around you.
Always have a plan in place in case of severe weather. If you are camping or at an outdoor event, know where a storm shelter is located and have a plan made with your family or friends. You can become separated during a storm, so it is good idea to have a meeting place in case that happens. Know what to do ahead of time to save precious minutes if a storm is upon you.
Clearwater County also has a system to notify citizens in case of severe weather. The system is called "Clearwater County Alerts". If you log onto the county website at www.clearwatercountymn.gov you will see a link on the bottom of the home page to sign up for emergency alerts. You can click on the link and sign up for severe weather alerts. If you signed up for these types of alerts through our old system, CodeRED, you will have to re-register with the new system. After creating a new account, you can select what types of watches and warning you want to be alerted to. You can also choose what phone numbers you want to be notified on. You can use your home phone as well as cell phones. If you register for this system, whenever the National Weather Service issues a watch or warning for your area, you will automatically be called or texted, whichever you have selected. In the case of a tornado warning, the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office will make an "all call" in which all land line phones in the affected area will be called regardless if you have registered or not.
I hope that this summer will spare us from any significant severe weather, however, that is probably wishful thinking. I encourage everyone to take some of the recommendations in this article to help you stay safe. Being prepared and alert is your best chance in case of severe weather. I hope everyone enjoys the warmer months ahead. Get out and enjoy the outdoors and what Mother Nature has blessed us with and as always, stay safe.
If you have questions that you would like answered or any suggestions, please email me at darin.halverson@clearwatercountymn.gov or call the Sheriffs-Office at 218-694-6226. You can also find us on Facebook by searching for Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office.
Thank you and as always, I am honored to serve as your Clearwater County Sheriff.