severe storm spotting preparation, safety, and communications

Severe Weather SpottingSevere Weather SpottingPreparation, Safety, and Preparation, Safety, and

CommunicationsCommunications

Steve Hilberg, N9XDC

Debbie Fligor, N9DN

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

of Champaign County

Attitude and Frame of MindAttitude and Frame of Mind

• You are a storm SPOTTER, not a storm chaser!

• Your job is to provide factual, real-time information about weather conditions

• We all work together in the interest of public safety

Attitude and Frame of MindAttitude and Frame of Mind

Severe thunderstorms can be deadly

To be an effective storm spotter you must also pay attention to your own safety!

•Training

•Awareness

AwarenessAwareness

Know What’s Going On

AwarenessAwareness

“Some people are weatherwise but most are otherwise.”

Benjamin Franklin

AwarenessAwareness

• Understand how the system operates

• Know the terminology– Key to effective communication

AwarenessAwarenessDaily Convective Outlooks are issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK

www.spc.noaa.gov

Four Levels of RiskFour Levels of Risk

APPROACHING– Strong thunderstorms are possible but little or

no severe weather is expected SLIGHT

– Well-organized severe thunderstorms are expected, but in small numbers and/or low coverage

Four Levels of RiskFour Levels of Risk

MODERATE– A greater concentration of severe

thunderstorms, and often greater magnitude HIGH

– A major severe weather outbreak is expected• Usually “PDS” (Particularly Dangerous Situation)

included in Public Severe Weather Outlooks (PWO) and watches

New Experimental OutlookNew Experimental OutlookDay 4-8 Outlook

Mesoscale Convective Mesoscale Convective Discussions (MCD)Discussions (MCD)

• Issued one-half to several hours before storms are expected to develop or move into an area

• Information is intended for forecasters

• Provide additional information on what action may be taken (e.g. issuing a watch)

Mesoscale Convective Mesoscale Convective Discussions (MCD)Discussions (MCD)

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0403NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK1134 AM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

AREAS AFFECTED...CNTRL THROUGH SW/S CNTRL MO

CONCERNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL

VALID 021634Z - 021830Z

A TORNADO WW WILL PROBABLY BE NEEDED BY AROUND 18Z...OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

MOISTENING/HEATING OF BOUNDARY LAYER IS CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASING POTENTIAL INSTABILITY IN WARM SECTOR...EAST OF DRY LINE/COLD FRONT TRAILING FROM SLOWLY DEEPENING SURFACE LOW WHICH IS NOW WEST/NORTHWEST OF ST. JOSEPH MO. LEADING EDGE OF STRONGER MID-LEVEL COOLING ALREADY APPEARS TO BE OVERSPREADING DEVELOPING INSTABILITY AXIS...AND INHIBITION IS WEAKENING. THIS MAY BECOME SUPPORTIVE OF NEW BOUNDARY LAYER-BASED CONVECTIVE INITIATION AS EARLY AS 18-20Z SOUTHEAST OF THE KANSAS CITY INTO THE SPRINGFIELD AREA.

BROKEN SQUALL LINE SEEMS LIKELY TO QUICKLY EVOLVE...IN ENVIRONMENT WITH MIXED LAYER INCREASING IN EXCESS OF 2000 J/KG. 70 KT MID-LEVEL JET STREAK NOSING INTO THE OZARK PLATEAU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DEEP LAYER SHEAR SUFFICIENT FOR SUPERCELLS. THOUGH LOW-LEVEL HODOGRAPHS MAY NOT POSSESS STRONG CLOCKWISE CURVATURE...SHEAR BENEATH 30 TO 40 TO WESTERLY 850 FLOW WILL STILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF TORNADIC ACTIVITY ...PARTICULARLY IN STRONGER/MORE ISOLATED CELLS WITHIN LINE.

.KERR.. 04/02/2006

WatchWatch

• Means the conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes to develop

• Issued for a period of 4 to 6 hours

• Area covered may be as much as 20,000 to 40,00 square miles

• May be trimmed, canceled, replaced, or re-issued as required

Formerly the “Box”

WatchesWatches

WarningsWarnings

• Issued by local NWS office

• Issued when severe weather detected by radar, observed by spotters, or observed by public safety officials

• Typically for periods of 15 to 60 minutes

• Area covered is usually one to three counties or parts of counties (polygons)

Preparing for the SeasonPreparing for the Season

Preparing for the SeasonPreparing for the Season

• Attend training

• Be sure your vehicle is good operating order

• Assemble necessary equipment - ready kit

Ready KitReady Kit

Items to have with you for safe and effective spotting

RequiredRequired

County or site map Radio or other communications equipment

If using H-T, be sure to have extra batteries and/or auxiliary power cable

Clipboard, paper and pen Identification – ARES or ESDA ID, drivers

license, vehicle placards

Strongly SuggestedStrongly Suggested

Report forms or a micro cassette recorder to keep logs with

Wind gage, ruler, compass or GPS Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs

RecommendedRecommended

Binoculars or small telescope Rain coat that is bright colored or worn with

orange vest

OptionalOptional

Folding chair or lawn chair Snacks, non-alcoholic drinks Video or film camera, with extra tapes,

batteries and film Fire extinguisher and first aid kit Spare fuses, paper towels, insect repellant

Vehicle PreparationVehicle Preparation

At the Beginning of Storm Season, At the Beginning of Storm Season, and Occasionally Thereafterand Occasionally Thereafter

Make sure the lights all work: headlights, flashers, turn signal, break/backup

Check your fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake, battery and windshield cleaner

Inspect your radios, coax, power connectors, antenna and antenna connector

Every Time You Go OutEvery Time You Go Out

Fill the gas tank Check your windshield wipers – it’s going to

rain on you Check your tires – tread, pressure, and spare Put a fresh coat of Rain-X on the windshield if

you have time

On the Job On the Job

Your Safety is Important!

Spotter SafetySpotter Safety

• Take a partner if possible

• Driver concentrates on the road

• Spotter concentrates on spotting and navigating

• Always let net control know where you are


• Move completely out of traffic

• Be visible - parking lights (not hazard flashers) or yellow caution light

• Be sure you have a good field of view (at least 180o)– Important for spotting and safety

• Are there power lines overhead?

Survey Your Spotting Location


• Too much mud?

• Tall dry grass - a potential fire hazard near your exhaust

• Avoid low spots or ditches that may flood quickly in heavy rain

• Know your escape routes!

Survey Your Spotting Location


• Rural intersections can have low visibility due to crops or weather

• Heavy rain and hail=poor visibility and may mean you are in “wrong” part of storm!

• Avoid water flowing over roads - six inches can float a moving car (hydroplaning)

• Lightning can strike miles away - stay in your vehicle

Driving Safely

CommunicationsCommunications• Your job is to observe and communicate

• CREDIBILITY is key!

• Be objective in your reporting– Report what you observe or experience, despite

what you may hear on the radio– Avoid subjective and personal descriptions – Observation should be communicated in

something measurable or comparative – Distance, direction, and movement should be a

part of every report where applicable


• Give all reports with respect to your location

• Estimate wind speeds or describe damage being caused

• “When in doubt, don’t shout.”– If not sure of what you are seeing, take extra

time to observe before you report– Report only what you see


• Avoid using the words “tornado” and “funnel cloud” unless you actually observe one! – May cause unnecessary public panic– May confuse other spotters

• Avoid mentioning specific towns or locations unless you are sure event is occurring there


• Know WHAT to report

• A thunderstorm is classified as severe if one or more of the following are observed:

• tornado or funnel cloud

• winds 58 mph or greater

• hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter (penny)


• Tornado

• Funnel cloud

• Rotating wall cloud

• Flash flooding

URGENT Priority


• Hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter

• Winds speeds greater than 58 mph (or damaging winds)

• Persistent non-rotating wall cloud

• Rainfall 1 inch or more per hour

HIGH Priority


• Hail 1/4 inch or larger

• Winds speeds greater than 40 mph

• Cloud features suggesting storm organization (if you are familiar with these)

Lower Priority


• Use break tags if necessary to break into existing net traffic– PRIORITY – used to report important but non-

life threatening info (such as damage)– EMERGENCY – used only for life or property

threatening or damaging incident


“I have light rain at my location”

“I can see lightning off in the distance!”

“It’s starting to brighten up here.”

“The clouds are really dark to the west.”

Examples of reports we DON’T want to hear...


• Log all of your reports– Note time, location, and what you observed

• If you have something to report but cannot for some reason, LOG IT!

Servere Servere Weather Weather Report Report FormForm


Keep your radio traffic...BRIEF

CONCISE

ACCURATE

THINKabout what you are going to say before you say it!


• Use proper radio procedures– “Hey you, It’s Me”

• “Net control, this is N9XDC”

• Repeat message back so person you are communicating with knows you understand– “I copy you want me to relocate to the intersection

of 1200N and 500E”– “I copy your report of 1 inch hail at your location”


Network Operations & Procedures

Network Operations & ProceduresNetwork Operations & Procedures

• Be sure to follow procedures for the particular net you participate in– This is critical to effective and efficient flow of

information

• Most nets are directed nets, i.e. all communications are directed to and through a net control station (NCS)


• Participating operators must check in with NCS by giving call sign and current location.– If you are not available, do NOT check in!

• If you check in to the net, be sure to check out when you must leave

• Remain at check-in location until dispatched or directed by NCS

Recommended General Procedures


• Notify NCS prior to any change in location, except in case of emergency or dangerous conditions– Get to safety. Report new location to NCS as

soon as possible once situation is secure

• Report significant events only!

Recommended General Procedures

April 2, 2006April 2, 2006

April 2, 2006

6:57 pm CDT

April 2, 2006

6:52 pm CDT

Base Velocity

April 2, 2006

6:52 pm CDT

Base Velocity

50-64 kts

58-74 mph

K9LMM

KB9NJW

Your Reports Are Important!Your Reports Are Important! 0714 PM TSTM WND GST 4 W CHAMPAIGN 40.11N 88.34W 04/02/2006 M63 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL AMATEUR RADIO 0714 PM TSTM WND DMG SAVOY 40.06N 88.25W 04/02/2006 CHAMPAIGN IL PUBLIC PIECES OF COLLEGE PARK APTS BLOWN OFF. 0714 PM TSTM WND GST (CMI)CHAMPAIGN ARPT 40.04N 88.28W 04/02/2006 M74 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL ASOS 0721 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE MAHOMET 40.22N 88.36W 04/02/2006 CHAMPAIGN IL TRAINED SPOTTER 30 FOOT TALL, 18 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN. 0721 PM TSTM WND GST 3 NE MAHOMET 40.22N 88.36W 04/02/2006 M58 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL TRAINED SPOTTER 0723 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WNW CHAMPAIGN 40.12N 88.30W 04/02/2006 E70 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL PUBLIC I-74 AT I-57. FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED. 0724 PM TSTM WND GST THOMASBORO 40.24N 88.19W 04/02/2006 M69 MPH CHAMPAIGN IL AMATEUR RADIO

Thanks!Thanks!

Good luck with your spotting this season!

severe storm spotting preparation, safety, and communications

Documents

cdt slide

communications slide

outlook slide

watch slide

public safety slide

training awareness slide

effective communication

benjamin franklin slide