UPDATED: Fridley No Longer under Tornado Watch

Update (9 p.m. Sunday): As of 8:26 p.m., Fridley is no longer under a tornado watch. The National Weather Service has cancelled the watch for Anoka County.

Update (7:30 p.m. Sunday): For many counties in Minnesota, the National Weather Service has cancelled the tornado watch. However, it remains in effect for Anoka and nine other counties.

Original post (4 p.m. Sunday): Fridley is under a tornado watch that is in effect until 11 p.m. Sunday.

Despite predictions of , the weekend's weather as of late Sunday afternoon has been moist but relatively calm.

A storm system so far centered in states south of Minnesota has spawned nearly 100 tornadoes and is blamed in five deaths.

The National Weather Service announced the tornado watch at 3:40 p.m.

Tornado watches are typically issued in advance of bad weather. The watch is intended to give people time to review tornado safety rules and identify a safe place to stay if dangerous weather moves in.

Here are tips on preparing for tornado season from the NWS tornado web page:

Before the Storm:

• Develop a plan for you and your family for home, work, school and when outdoors.
• Have frequent drills.
• Know the county/parish in which you live, and keep a highway map nearby to follow storm movement from weather bulletins.
• Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery back-up to receive warnings.
• Listen to radio and television for information.
• If planning a trip outdoors, listen to the latest forecasts and take necessary action if threatening weather is possible.

If a Warning is issued or if threatening weather approaches:

• In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
• If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture.
• Stay away from windows.
• If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building.  If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter:
  • Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.  
  • If flying debris hits your vehicle while you are driving, pull over and park.
    
    Now you have the following options as a last resort:
  • Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.
  • If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
  • Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.
• Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most deaths and injuries.

Who's Most At Risk?

• People in mobile homes
• The elderly, very young, and the physically or mentally impaired
• People who may not understand the warning due to a language barrier
• People in an unfamiliar place such as tourists
• People that are outdoors