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Anyone who has lived in Minnesota even for a short time knows that weather here can change within minutes. While one day it is sunny and 70 degrees, the next day it’s 30 degrees and snowing. In the summer, it can go from sunny and clear to a few minutes later seeing severe weather move in.

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, a time in Minnesota to remind us all to prepare for severe weather and reduce the risks and costs that could come with hazardous weather.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota experiences an average of 46 tornadoes per year, though there have been as many as 83 in 2022 and 113 in 2010.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management hopes to save lives by helping people understand the threat and know what to do when a tornado is approaching.

The department has identified different hazards for families and individuals to review this week to make sure you’re prepared.

On Monday, the focus was on alerts and warnings, encouraging people to be aware of the differences between advisories, watches and warnings and to remind people what they should and should not do during those warnings. People should make sure to sign up for weather alerts.

On Tuesday, the focus was on severe weather, lightning and hail and how to be safe during these conditions.

On Wednesday, people are encouraged to plan for floods. In 2019, six out of the nine state and federally declared disasters in Minnesota involved some sort of flooding.

On Thursday, the focus is on tornadoes. Statewide tornado drills are expected to take place, one at 1:45 p.m. and a second at 6:45 p.m., so people can practice their tornado drills, not only at home, but also at school and work.

Lastly, on Friday, people should consider safety in extreme heat.

The state had 54 deaths directly attributable to extreme heat between 2000 and 2016, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Again, alerts are critical to staying aware and prepared about conditions.

Use this week to create or update emergency plans with your family so everyone is on the same page in the event of an emergency.

Know your plans for the workplace and schools, as well as churches and other places you may spend your time.

See what you can do to make your plans stronger, and make sure everyone in your family, workplace and school understands the plans.

Though technically Minnesota’s severe weather season has not yet begun, we all know that severe weather can strike at any time.