are you ready for severe weather? jeff last noaa national weather service plan, practice, monitor,...
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Are You Ready forAre You Ready forSevere Weather?Severe Weather?
Jeff LastNOAA National Weather Service
Plan, Practice, Monitor, Act
March 18, 2008
Are You Ready?Are You Ready?
The National Weather Service Plan, Practice, Monitor, Act Watching the Storm Weather Terminology Receiving Weather Information What the NWS Can Do for You
Today’s Presentation
Weather Decision Advisors:Weather Decision Advisors:
National Weather National Weather ServiceService
The National Weather Service (NWS) is an agency in the Federal Government. The NWS is in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Department of Commerce.NOAA conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans, atmosphere, space and sun, and applies this knowledge to science and service that touch the lives of all Americans.
The National Weather Service is responsible for issuing forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.
There are 122 NWS Weather Forecast Offices across the country, including an office in Puerto Rico and Guam.
Minneapolis
Green Bay
Weather Forecast Officeand Doppler radarlocations
La Crosse
MN
IA
Five offices serve 72 counties, rivers, and marine areas of Wisconsin.
Each office has aDoppler radar, which gives meteorologists a unique view of storms. Milwaukee/Sullivan
Duluth
Green Bay
The NWS in WisconsinThe NWS in WisconsinNational Weather Service:
Meteorologists are on duty 24 hours a day, monitoring the weather for 22 counties in northeast Wisconsin including the Bay and nearshore waters of Lake Michigan.
The NWS in Green BayThe NWS in Green BayNational Weather Service:
NWS Green Bay:22 staff members-12 meteorologists- 5 forecaster assistants- Electronics Technicians- IT Support
The NWS in Green BayThe NWS in Green BayNational Weather Service:
Are You Ready for a Storm:Are You Ready for a Storm:
Plan, Practice, Monitor, Plan, Practice, Monitor, ActAct
Plan, Practice, Monitor, Plan, Practice, Monitor, ActAct
The key to saving lives and protecting property is preparing for all weather hazards...
Parsons Manufacturing Plant140 employees inside
Plan, Practice, Monitor, Plan, Practice, Monitor, ActAct
Plant had a weather safety plan. Plant had designated weather
watchers. Weather safety plan was tested
regularly – employees knew what to do and where to go when a real tornado threatened.
Plan, Practice, Monitor, Plan, Practice, Monitor, ActAct
Watching the StormWatching the Storm
Storm spotters and weather watchers are volunteers that help communities and the NWS watch storms.
They provide valuable lead time to businesses, large gatherings, and the public.
Storm SpottersStorm Spotters
The National Weather Service (NWS) has a network of trained storm spotters who keep an eye to the sky.
Spotters report severe weather to NWS and local officials.
Watching the Storm:
Storm SpottersStorm Spotters
NWS Doppler Radar shows forecasters where significant weather might be occurring.
Spotters tell NWS forecasters exactly what is occurring.
Watching the Storm:
Storm SpottersStorm Spotters
Note: Spotters plotted on map are those who accept phone calls from NWS.
Watching the Storm:
Storm SpottersStorm Spotters
Training, sponsored by local emergency management and the NWS, is held every spring across northeast Wisconsin.
Watching the Storm:
Designated Weather Designated Weather WatchersWatchers Businesses, hospitals, schools,
churches, and other places where a large number of people gather should designate a “weather watcher” when severe weather threatens.
The weather watcher should have a weather radio handy, a view to the outside, and a method to alert building/area occupants.
Watching the Storm:
Designated Weather Designated Weather WatchersWatchers When a warning is issued or a
tornado is observed, the weather watcher can alert everyone of the hazard so protective action can be taken.
Weather watchers don’t have to be trained spotters, but should consider it.
Watching the Storm:
NWS Watches and NWS Watches and WarningsWarnings The National Weather Service uses Watches,
Warnings, and Advisories to alert the public of weather hazards.– Watch: Severe weather is possible. Stay
tuned to your weather info source for later forecasts.
– Warning: Severe weather is likely or already occurring, possibly life threatening.
– Advisory: A weather hazard that will cause an inconvenience, but is not life threatening if proper precautions are taken.
Weather Terminology:
CONVECTIVE & HYDRO EVENTS WHEN ISSUED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH Thunderstorms with winds 50 kts and/or hail 3/4 inch or larger are possible in and close to the watch area
TORNADO WATCH Severe thunderstorms with tornadoes are possible in or close to the watch area
FLOOD / FLASH FLOOD WATCH Flooding that produces life/property threat is possible
COLD-SEASON EVENTS THRESHOLDS
WINTER STORM WATCH Winter weather conditions that pose a threat to life are possible
NON-PRECIPITATION EVENTS THRESHOLDS
HIGH WIND WATCH Sustained winds 40+ mph (35 kts) for 1 hr or more, or any gust 58+ mph (50 kts) are possible
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH Heat Index > 110°F for 3 or more hrs (80°F at night if prolonged event) is possible
WatchesWatchesWeather Terminology:
CONVECTIVE & HYDRO EVENTS THRESHOLDS
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Winds 50 kts (58 mph or implied by damage), and/or hail 3/4 inch
TORNADO WARNING Tornado occurring or developing
FLASH FLOOD WARNING Flooding that produces life/property threat in 0-6 hrs
FLOOD WARNING Flooding that lasts 6 hrs or more; flooding that affects mainstem rivers; usu. a threat to property
URBAN/SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY
Inconvenience flooding in 0-24 hrs
MARINE EVENTS THRESHOLDS
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING Winds (convective or non-conv) 34 kts for 2 hrs or less
GALE WARNING Sustained winds 34 to 47 kts or freq gusts 38 to 47 kts
STORM WARNING Sustained winds 48 to 64 kts or freq gusts 50 to 64 kts
HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING Sustained winds 65+ kts
LAKESHORE WARNING Significant lakeshore flooding, erosion, ice jam, or seiche
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY Winds 22-33 kts and/or waves > 4 ft
Warnings and AdvisoriesWarnings and AdvisoriesWeather Terminology:
COLD-SEASON EVENTS THRESHOLDS
WINTER STORM WARNINGEvent-specific warnings such as: HEAVY SNOW
WARNING, SLEET WARNING, LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING will be issued if only one event is
expected
☞ Winter Strm Warn: A combo of two of the following: heavy snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain/drzl
☞ Winter Strm Warn: Snow or lake-effect snow squall accms 6 inches within 12 hrs, or 8 inches within 24 hrs, with winds 25 mph, producing blowing snow
☞ Hvy Snow/Lk Effect Warn: Heavy snow with winds less than 25 mph and little/no blowing snow
☞ Forecaster Discretion: Winter Storm Warn for lesser amts in shorter time pd w/ blwg snow
☞ Sleet Warn: Sleet accums of > 1 inch in 12 hours or less
BLIZZARD WARNING Sustained winds or freq gusts 35 mph and falling/blowing snow with vsby near 1/4 mile or less for 3 hrs (only blowing snow needed for ground blizzard)
ICE STORM WARNING Ice accum over 1/4 inch in 12 hours or less
WIND CHILL WARNING Wind chills 35 below or colder with at least 10 mph wind
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORYEvent specific advisories such as: snow, lake-effect
snow, sleet, freezing rain, blowing snow will be issued if only one event is expected
☞ Winter Wx Advy: Sig. mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain/drizzle
☞ Snow/Lk Effect Snow Advy: Snow accums 3 to 5 inches within 12 hrs
☞ Sleet Advy: Sleet accums 1/2 to 1 inch in 12 hours or less
☞ Freezing Rain Advy: Light freezing rn or freezing drzl with ice accum < 1/4 inch in 12 hr or less
☞ Winter Wx Advy: Wind driven snow, blowing snow, intermittent vsbys < 1/2 mile
☞ Blowing Snow Advy: Blowing snow reducing vsbys to 1/2 mile or less
WIND CHILL ADVISORY Wind chills 25 to 34 below with at least 10 mph wind
Warnings and AdvisoriesWarnings and AdvisoriesWeather Terminology:
NON-PRECIPITATION EVENTS THRESHOLDS
HIGH WIND WARNING Sustained winds 40+ mph (35 kts) for 1 hr or more, or any gust 58+ mph (50 kts)
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING For any 24 hr period: HI > 110°F for 3 or more hrs (80°F at night if prolonged event)
AIR QUALITY WATCH/ADVISORY Major buildup of air pollution/particulate due to stable atmos. conditions (initiated by Wisc. Dept. of Natural Resources)
HEAT ADVISORY For any 24 hr period: HI 105-110°F for 3 or more hrs (80°F at night if prolonged event)
WIND ADVISORY Sustained winds 30+ mph (26 kts) for 1 hr or more, or any gust 45+ mph (39 kts)
DENSE FOG ADVISORY Widespread vsby 1/4 mile or less for 3 hours or more
DENSE SMOKE ADVISORY Smoke producing widespread or localized vsby 1/4 mile or less
BLOWING DUST ADVISORY Widespread/localized vsbys less than 1 mile for 3 hrs or more with sustained winds 25 mph
FREEZING FOG ADVISORY Fog, usually with vsby 1/2 mile or less, freezing on cold objects with deposits resulting in impact to commerce, transportation, people, etc.
FROST ADVISORY During growing season, widespread frost (temps usually 32-38°F)
FREEZE WARNING During growing season, widespread temps around 30°F or less
RED FLAG WARNING Winds 15+ mph (20 ft level on NFDR sites), RH 25% or lower, temps 75+°F, and critically dry fuels combine to produce extreme fire danger and/or fire behavior
Warnings and AdvisoriesWarnings and AdvisoriesWeather Terminology:
Storms in the Forecast:Storms in the Forecast: Getting Weather Getting Weather InformationInformation
NOAA Weather Radio All NOAA Weather Radio All HazardsHazards
Getting Weather Information:
NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts all hazard emergency information, 24/7.– This includes weather and
non-weather emergencies When a warning is issued,
specially designed radios automatically turn on and broadcast the information.– “The smoke alarm for hazards
and severe weather information.”
NOAA Weather Radio All NOAA Weather Radio All HazardsHazards
The information comes directly from the local NWS office.
When the weather is calm, the radios broadcast current weather conditions, forecasts, and climate information.
Getting Weather Information:
NOAA Weather Radio All NOAA Weather Radio All HazardsHazards As an “all hazards” radio
network, NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts emergency messages about non-weather events in addition to weather emergencies.
Getting Weather Information:
The InternetThe Internet
The NWS has a comprehensive weatherweb site with the latest forecasts, watches, and warnings.– www.weather.gov/grb
Getting Weather Information:
The InternetThe Internet
The NWS web site contains– Forecasts and Current Weather
Getting Weather Information:
The InternetThe Internet
The NWS web site contains– Watches and Warnings
Getting Weather Information:
The InternetThe Internet
There are many web sites that offer free emergency e-mail, cell and pager messages. For example, the Emergency Email and Wireless Network (www.emergencyemail.org)offers NWS warnings and forecasts for your portable device.
Getting Weather Information:
Commercial TV and RadioCommercial TV and Radio
All NWS watches and warnings are disseminated to commercial TV and radio stations.
Many stations then broadcast the information to viewers/listeners.
Getting Weather Information:
Private Weather VendorsPrivate Weather Vendors
The private weather industry takes NWS products and tailors them for the specific needs of their customers.
For a list of private weather vendors: www.weather.gov/im
Getting Weather Information:
Methods to Receive InfoMethods to Receive Info
NOAA Weather Radio– Pros: Directly from NWS; 24/7; active; no fee for
service– Cons: No pictures
Internet (NWS web site)– Pros: Pictures and text; 24/7; no fee for service– Cons: Generally passive
Commercial TV and Radio– Pros: Free; some images (TV)– Cons: Passive if device is turned off
Private Weather Vendors– Pros: Tailored weather information; 24/7; active– Cons: $$
Getting Weather Information:
Summary
The National Weather Service:The National Weather Service:
What We Can Do for YouWhat We Can Do for You
What the NWS Can Do for What the NWS Can Do for YouYou
Plan and Practice– Weather safety web sites– Safety brochures
www.weather.gov/grb
What the NWS Can Do for What the NWS Can Do for YouYou
Monitor and Act– Weather info: www.weather.gov/grb– NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards– Attend storm spotter training
Questions?Questions?
www.weather.gov/grbwww.weather.gov/grb
Jeff Last [email protected] National Weather Service