Severe Weather Tips

What's the difference between a watch and a warning?

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:31:00 -0500

One of the most important things you and your family need to know before severe weather strikes is the difference between a watch and a warning.

A watch means severe weather is possible in the coming hours.

A warning means severe weather is ongoing or is about to hit, you need to take action now.

Watches

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma issues watches for the potential of severe weather in the coming hours. Watches are usually issued in advance of severe weather for a portion of a region. Watches usually last several hours.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH is issued when conditions are favorable for thunderstorms in and near the watch area to produce hail at least 1" in diameter and gusts of at least 58mph. A watch is issued when there is the potential for multiple severe storms across an area. At FOX 34 we use green to highlight severe thunderstorm watches on the weather crawl at the bottom of the TV screen and on radar maps.

A TORNADO WATCH is issued when conditions are favorable for thunderstorms to produce tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind. We use blue to highlight tornado watches.

In rare instances the SPC will issue a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch; This is when conditions are favorable for a dangerous tornado outbreak, including long-lived, destructive tornadoes. SPC may also issue a PDS severe thunderstorm watch when the tornado threat is low but there is a significant threat of widespread wind destruction.

Warnings

Local offices of the National Weather Service issue SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS for thunderstorms that produce hail of at least 1" diameter and/or gusts of at least 58mph. We use yellow to highlight severe thunderstorm warnings.

The Weather Service issues TORNADO WARNINGS for thunderstorms that are likely producing a tornado or about to produce one, based on ground reports from trained spotters or significant signatures on radar. When a tornado warning is issued for your area you need to get to your tornado safe place immediately. We use red to highlight tornado warnings.

Warnings are usually issued for a duration of less than an hour, specific to parts of a county or counties affected by the storm. The Weather Service uses polygons to outline the threat area, rather than issuing for an entire county.

Severe weather outlooks

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:38:00 -0500

The Storm Prediction Center issues severe outlooks a few times through the day, highlighting the potential for organized severe weather. This is merely a forecast outlook but is a tool we consider when conveying information to you. This is the current severe outlook for today from the SPC:

You'll often hear us refer to the threat of severe weather. Here are the definitions of these outlooks produced by the SPC forecasters:

Slight risk - implies that well-organized severe thunderstorms are expected but in relatively small numbers/coverage, or a small chance of a more significant severe event. Not all severe storm events will be covered with a SLGT risk, especially during the summer when short-lived, "pulse-type" severe storms are relatively common during the afternoon.

Moderate risk - implies a greater concentration of severe thunderstorms, and in most situations, greater magnitude of severe weather and greater forecaster confidence compared to a SLGT risk. A MDT risk is usually reserved for days with substantial severe storm coverage, or an enhanced chance for a significant severe storm outbreak. Typical MDT risk days include multiple tornadic supercells with very large hail, or intense squall lines with widespread damaging winds.

High risk - implies that a major severe weather outbreak is expected, with large coverage of severe weather and the likelihood of extreme severe (i.e., violent tornadoes or very damaging convective wind events). The HIGH risk category is reserved for the most extreme events with the least forecast uncertainty, and is only used a few times each year.

"See Text" placement on map - As a rule, the "SEE TEXT" is used on Days 1-3 for areas where severe weather may be possible, but enough forecast uncertainty exists (variability in model guidance, capping, moisture return, or other such factors) to not issue a risk area. Note that the SPC severe thunderstorms outlooks are not meant to cover every single possibility of a severe thunderstorm -- otherwise, severe and general thunder outlooks would often be the same.

What to do before and during severe weather

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:47:00 -0500

Being prepared for severe weather and making sure your entire family knows these steps is vital. Be sure your children know what to do if storms strike when they're home alone.

Tornado safety tips

When a tornado warning is issued you want to get to the lowest level of your home or business and place as many walls as possible between you and the outside. This may be a closet, a bathroom, beneath a staircase or a basement.

Use a blanket or pillows to cover yourself. Helmets provide excellent head protection. Whether it's a helmet for sports, bicycle or motorcycle, helmets can prevent head injuries. Researchers at the University of Alabama Birmingham found this after studying the 2011 tornado outbreak.

Either turn your TV up or take a radio or mobile phone with you to listen for coverage of the storm.

Here are more tips from the Weather Service:

The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or
safe room.
If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless
interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the
safest alternative.
Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes
and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately.
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 occurs while you are driving, pull over and park.

Now you have the following options as a last resort:

Stay in your vehicle 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

Of course Lubbock was devastated by an F-5 tornado in 1970. The Weather Service Lubbock office has a comprehensive account of that storm and the progress that followed.

Severe Thunderstorm Safety

Get inside a sturdy structure away from windows when a severe storm is approaching. If you can, secure lawn furniture and other loose objects before storms move in. If you can, move your vehicle to a covered area to avoid hail damage.

Even if a severe thunderstorm is not producing a tornado it is dangerous. Straight-line wind can cause widespread damage, like in June 2007 in Seminole, where the wind was clocked at 97.5 mph and estimated to have reached 100-120mph. Childress residents in 2008 experienced similar wind damage from widespread wind over 80 mph.

Mobile homes are not a safe option when storms produce destructive wind.

Lightning Safety

Lightning is not a criteria for severe warnings. But if you are in an open field and can hear thunder you are close enough to be hit by lightning. Get indoors when storms approach. If thunderstorms are approaching while you are on a lake get to land immediately.

Discuss Your Plan

Practice these plans with your family when the weather is quiet. Be sure you have water, a flashlight, batteries, towels, medicine and related items in your storm safe place. Think about what you would want there in the event your home suffers significant damage.

More Details

Click here - for a detailed .pdf from the National Weather Service on severe weather, preparedness and details on how these storms forms.

Highway overpasses and bridges are not a safe shelter from a tornado. Click here - for a detailed presentation from the Norman, OK. Weather Services citing why.

Texas Tech's Wind Science and Engineering is a leading group in storm shelter studies and technology. Click here - for information on these shelters and how you can find one.

Our coverage policy, ways to stay updated

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:13:00 -0500

Every severe weather event is different; we cater specifically to the factors coming together for each severe weather event. We will only interrupt your regularly-scheduled programming when conditions truly warrant.

We do offer many on-demand resources to relay weather information throughout the day, to keep you informed.

Like FOX 34 on facebook or follow us on twitter. You'll get severe watches and warnings for the area the instant they're issued. Be aware facebook restricts how many updates show in your news feed from pages you "like". Twitter will show all posts in your feed.

FOX 34 NewsNOW - on antenna channel 32.1 and 34.2 plus cable area-wide offers local weather and news information and is an outlet for expanded weather coverage.

On the Radio

Weather updates are heard throughout each day on FOX Talk 950-100.7FM, Magic 93.7, 97-3 Yes! FM and 107.7 The Eagle. You'll find the most frequent weather updates on FOX Talk 950-100.7FM, including expanded live coverage when warranted. In the event of destructive weather tune to these stations as well as Double T 104-3 for live coverage.

Keep these stations in mind if your power goes out.

Online and on your mobile device

You can check the latest weather information right here at myFOXlubbock.com as well as on our mobile site. You can also read our weather blog, get the seven-day forecast and use interactive radar on the FOX 34 News app. Download it free for the iPhone, iPad and Android.

We also now offer the FOX 34 MyWARN app. This is a pay app but it offers the unique ability to pinpoint your phone's location and only alert you if you are in the watch or warning, eliminating excess alerts. It works nationwide. Click here for more on this great tool.

Download the free UStream app for your iPhone, iPad or Android. Once installed search "fox 34". Most of the time you'll find a live stream of the radar. If we're on the air with continuous weather coverage we'll also be on this live stream. It's a great resource you can carry into your shelter area or if your power is out but still have mobile phone service.

You can sign up for free e-mails to be alerted when a watch, warning or advisory is issued for your area. You choose which products you'd like to receive.

For an updated forecast any time on your mobile phone text the word "weather" to 75044. You may also call 806.795.3434 for the time, temp and forecast at any time.