chapter 5: storm chasing (meted, into the storm) chapter 6: lightning, thunder, tornados chapter 7:...
TRANSCRIPT
• Chapter 5: Storm Chasing (MetEd, Into the Storm)
• Chapter 6: Lightning, Thunder, Tornados
• Chapter 7: Tropical Storms & Hurricanes
Mr. Hartwell
UNIT B – SEVERE STORMS& STORM CHASING
A safety course in chasing, spotting, and
reporting Severe Weather
CHAPTER 5:STORM CHASING & SPOTTING
Inherent dangers
• Thousands of people chase severe weather in the United States
• Thrill seekers side by side with professionals
• Beware: Serious injury or death may occur
BASICS OF STORM SPOTTING
• Who can be a spotter?
• What spotters look for
• SKYWARN spotter training
• Types & stages of thunderstorms
• Severe weather mechanics
• Thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes
• Safety when chasing & spotting
NO UNAUTHRORIZED STORM CHASING!
• Serious injury can occur
• Course does not certify you to be a chaser
• Course does raise awareness of threats and safety measures
• Course does certify you to be a NWS storm spotter & reporter
• Any trained person may be a storm spotter
Spotters look for:
• Tornados
• Funnel Clouds
• Wall & shelf clouds
• Rain free cloud base
• Convective supercells
• Downbursts
• Lightning, hail, gusty wind, flooding, snow
• Any weather-related hazard!
• This course covers the basics of being a SKYWARN Spotter.
• Goals:
• Provide baseline training for all spotters in communication and spotter report criteria
• Safety considerations for all hazards
SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING
SKYWARN MODULES
Module 1: Role of the SKYWARN Spotter
Module 2: SKYWARN Spotter Convective Basics
AT THE CONCLUSION OF SPOTTER TRAINING…
• Pass the 2 module quizzes
• Earn & print your certificate of completion
• Register with the NWS (National Weather Service) office in Binghamton
• Begin spotting & reporting severe weather!
SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING
GOAL #1: ENROLL IN SPOTTER TRAINING SCHOOLGOAL #2: PASS MODULE 1 – EARN CERTIFICATEGOAL #3: PASS MODULE 2 – EARN CERTIFICATEGOAL #4: REGISTER WITH THE NWS
www.meted.ucar.edu
Basics of Storm Chasing
• Types of Thunderstorms
• Single cell
• Multicell cluster
• Multicell line
• Supercell
• Rear flank
• Classic
• Front flank
SINGLE CELL
MULTI CELL CLUSTER
LINE (SQUALL LINE)
LINE (SQUALL LINE)
MULTICELL LINE
SUPERCELL STORM
SUPERCELL STORM
Types of Supercells
• Rear flank
• Classic
• Front flank
REAR FLANK SUPERCELLS
• Low precipitation (LP)
• Updrafts in “rear” of storm (trailing)
• Hail is difficult to discern
• No “bow echo” visible on radar
CLASSIC SUPERCELLS
• Large, flat updraft cloud bases
• Heavy precipitation
• Large hail
• Potential for strong, long-lived
tornados
FRONT FLANK SUPERCELLS
• High precipitation (HP)
• Updraft in front of storm (leading edge)
• Wall cloud formation likely
• Tornados wrapped in rain
• Extremely heavy precipitation and flash flooding
FRONT FLANK SUPERCELLS
WALL CLOUD IN HP SUPERCELLS
Dangers of Supercell Chasing
1. Bad driving
2. Gusty winds /Tornado death
3. Hail
4. Heavy rain / Hydroplaning
5. Lightning strike
6. Core punching
7. No escape plan
CORE PUNCHING
• NOT RECOMMENDED!
• Even for the most advanced and experienced storm chaser
CORE PUNCHING
• NOT RECOMMENDED!
• Rushing through rain/hail to catch up to a storm moving away from you
• The only way to glimpse the tornado, or you’ve missed it
• Highly dangerous
• Poor visibility
• Heavy rain/hail
• Tornados may be masked in rain, or just beyond the rain/hail boundary
• IT MAY BE TOO LATE -- DEATH MAY OCCUR!
CORE PUNCHING
CORE PUNCHING
CORE PUNCHING
CORE PUNCHING
Notes on Safety
• #1 most dangerous place: highways
• Pull all the way off the road
• Ensure you have plenty of fuel (1/2 tank rule)
BEGIN SPOTTING & REPORTING SEVERE WEATHER!
• Pass the 2 module quizzes (Sept./Nov.)
• Earn & print your certificates of completion
• Register with the NWS (National Weather Service) office in Binghamton
• Be safe!