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

F4 tornado!

Spotters gave plant precious lead time.

Employees went to shelters.

No deaths or injuries: Preparation, knowledge, and

action saved lives!

Storm shelters

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

Storms on the Horizon:Storms on the Horizon:

Watching the StormWatching the Storm

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:

Storms in the Forecast:Storms in the Forecast: Weather TerminologyWeather Terminology

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

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

The NWS web site contains– Live Radar

Getting Weather Information:

The InternetThe Internet

All available atwww.weather.gov/grb

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 Jeff.Last@noaa.govNOAA National Weather Service