severe weather presentation

Keeping Your Family SafeBy Meteorologist Beau Dodson

Severe WeatherSafety

FIRST…

Thank you for inviting meto discuss severe weather

and spotting with you!

I am not here to sugarcoatwhat is happening with

our weather.

I am here to help you understand the warnings process

and how you can be weather-aware

It would be impossible for meto cover everything you need

to know.

When this is finished, though, I hope you have a better understanding

of the process

We live in an active region of the country…

Many people in our region are fascinated by weather.

There is rarely a dull moment in our regions weather – it is active – it can be extreme.

People in our region are “weather-aware”…

Weather can be beautiful

People ask me if I storm chase…

I chase snowstorms – to photograph them

I cover severe weather for emergency management, media, and for you – behind a computer and radar screen

So, yes – I do chase – snowstorms!

But when it comes to severe storms and tornadoes – I am committed to emergency management, media, and others…

I run the Weather Observatorywww.weatherobservatory.com

This is where I forecast from

Facebook and Twitter

Find me on Facebook under Beau Dodson Weather

Weeeeeee Weeeee Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

EXTREME weather – are you used to it yet?

We should be used to it by now!

Extreme Weather Events!

2003Jena Hillebrand Photograph

Ohio Valley Pre-Christmas Blizzard!


2004

Ice Storm

Extreme Weather Events! 2008

Chris Ellis Photograph

Remnants of Hurricane Ike


2008

Catastrophic Ice Storm


2009

Severe drought hits our region…


2010

2010

The Great Flood…


2011

2011 Tornado Strikes Bardwell, Kentucky!


Larrah Workman Photograph


Larrah Workman Photograph

2011 Tornado Strikes Bardwell, Kentucky!

The Bardwell Tornado

Radar from April 23, 2011

Radar images from the NWS

Bardwell

The Bardwell Tornado

Radar from April 23, 2011

Bardwell

Bardwell

Leap Year Outbreak48 Tornadoes

2012

Paducah, KY NWSForecast Area11 Confirmed

Tornadoes&

13 Killed in the regional

outbreak…

Ogden Landing Road

National Weather Service Photograph

Bandana, KY

National Weather Service Photograph

Harrisburg, Illinois

The Southern Illinoisan

The Southern Illinoisan


Ridgway, Illinois

Then a few days laterRare event

March 2, 2012

March 2nd Event

160 TORNADOES

March 2nd Event

37 Lives lost

21 Lives lost in Kentucky

Historic?

Top 3 largestoutbreaks so

early in the year

Most EF3tornadoes in themonth of March

in Kentucky

Henryville, Indiana TornadoJenn Brindley Photograph

Social Media Photograph

Unheard of MarchTemperatures

Extremely Rare

2163 Records Last Week

117 Years Of Record Keeping

Fourth Warmest Winter For the United States

But wait! It isn’t warm everywhere

Blue and green areas are below normal

Is the weather broken?

Global warming or normal cycles?

What’s causing this?


It is a complex issue

An important issue

What’s causing this?


Expect the unexpected!

Our region experiences some of the nations most extreme weather!

Not uncommon to have snow and tornadoes in the same week!

What has all of the above meant for you?

Fear of weatherCostly for your families $$$

Hollywood version of disasters…

Tornadoes are not sexy…

You and I know this…

This is Hollywood…

This is reality…

AP Photo/Mike Gullett

This is reality…

Chris Landsberger Photograph

This is reality…


AP Photo/Mike Gullett

Scary…Tragic…Painful…

2011 The Year Of The Tornado…


Tuscaloosa, Alabama – AP Photo

Fighting back…


The National Weather Service needs your help!

First respondersVolunteersWorking togetherEducating

ourselvesPreparing our

families

They need your reports!

The National Weather Serviceneeds your help!

The NWS depends on spotters for ground truth reports!

Work together!

TEAM WORK!

We need you to beon our team!

SpottersRelaying

information

And ears!

Paducah, KY NWS

Needs YourEyes!!!

Ground Truth Reports!

Paducah, KY NWS

What is going on

in your area

What is happening on the ground…

The Paducah NWS Office covers these counties

Paducah, KY NWS

KPAH

The Paducah, KY NWS Depends on YOU and YOUR reports!

Who are storm spotters?

A loosely organized group of volunteers who provide ground truth severe weather information to the NWS, often in real time.

Every NWS depends on spotter groups for information – including hail reports, wind reports, tornadoes, and damage assessment.

Wide range of individuals…

Who are storm spotters?.

Young and old alike can help with spotting…


Normal people like you and me!


First storm chaser – 1939

Of course the first storm chasers didn’t have the technology we have today!

Storm Spotting in 2012

Things have changed quite a bit over the century!

Who Can Be A Storm Spotter? Anyone can be a severe weather spotter.

Policemen, firemen, ham radio operators, weather enthusiasts and general public!

We need more spotters!

Why Are Spotters Needed?

Confirmation!Better warnings Those downstream from your

county

Spotters are important to the warning process…

The NWS depends on your reports to bridge the gap between what radar is showing and what is actually happening on the ground.

Tornado Deaths From 2008-2011

What the NWS doesn’t see can hurt you!

Why should you care?

125 21

45 551

2008

20112010

2009

2012

55

Tornado Deaths From 2008-2011

This is why we care

To help reduce deathsand injuries from severe weather

2011 Was a tragic and devastating year – marked with frequent and deadly severe weather outbreaks…

Disheartening for emergency management, first responders, forecasters, and the general public

Joplin, Missouri –Channel 13


This is why we need more spotters…

You can help by joining the team!Become a STORM spotterHelp keep your community safer


What do you report?

I am going to make this easy!

Spotter reports!

Please do not assume the NWS knows what is happening on the ground.

They depend on your reports

1-270-744-6440Twitter - #nwspah #tristatewx

NWS stands for National Weather Service

Chris Noles photograph

Leonard Costanzo Photo

When reporting hail size…

Compare hail size to coins!

Try to avoid saying “marble size hail” – the reason for thisIs because marbles come in many sizes.

When reporting a tornado…

Remember that it must be rotating in order for itto be a tornado!

A funnel cloud is a rotating column of air that is nottouching the ground.

Once it touches the ground – THEN it is a tornado

What we need most from you…

Wind damage reports…

Trees down – size of trees – trees blocking roadwaysLarge branches – size of branches if possible

Power lines downed by high winds Power poles snapped by high winds

Hail – nickel size or greaterHail covering the ground

Hail causing damage to structures or windows/windshields


Structural damage…

Windows blown out of houses or businesses

Damage to property – including roofs blown off buildings(be as specific as possible – if it just a few shingles off a

business or house then say that)

Semi-trucks blown overVehicles blown off the road

Barns blown downOutbuildings damaged


Flash flooding

Is the water swift?

Are roads being closed because the water is risingand covering them?

Vehicles swept off the road? Are there any injuries or missing people?


If you are experiencing quarter size or larger hail – report it

If trees and large limbs are being blown down – report it

If you see a tornado - it is rotating – then report it

Significant flash flooding – report it

I encourage you to spot from home or work…

We don’t need more people on the road!

I encourage you to spot from home or work!

Spotters scattered over a county are valuable…

50-100 people scattered over a county is great coverage for gathering reports…

Protecting your family!

Most important to you…


First – who issues thewatches and warnings

Second – the safety plan


UNDERSTANDING

Education – this is key!

AwareNOT

Scared


We fearthe unknown


I want youto be aware!

Aware!

I am going to teach youhow to be INFORMED!

Knowledge

When you leave here you should have a better understanding of…

How the process works

Knowledge

Organized way to view informationto help keep your family safer!

Weather may seem chaotic

BUT – forecasters do a greatjob of giving you at least a

headsup as to when severe storms

may occur…

Knowledge

Not perfect…

Forecasters are not perfect and

there will be times when warnings

are missed…

Knowledge

HOWEVER…

We usually do havea decent handle on when

a weather setup may producesevere storms…

Knowledge

First I want to remind you the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING

Knowledge

Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm WATCHES…

Watches mean stay alertand monitor for updates…

Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm WARNINGS…

Seek shelter when warnings are issued…

Warnings mean TAKE ACTION…

Watch = monitorWarning = TAKE ACTION

Seek shelter when warnings are issued…

Each day there is a processto learning whether or not

we have a threat for severe storms.

Your handout has those steps

to help you make decisions!

Step 1

Check the National Weather Service web-site

YOUR NWS Office is locatedIn Paducah, Kentucky!

National Weather Service - Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah, KY NWS

Step 1

NWS

These are the people that issue

the WARNINGS

They offer you dozens of weather

products to help keep you better informed!

This is not some distantgovernment agency

These are local forecasters!They CARE about you and

your community.

Local – caring - forecasters

The forecasts and warningsthat you hear on your

weather radio are madeby humans – these are

your neighbors

www.weather.gov

Local – caring - forecasters

www.weather.gov

Then click on your state/location…

www.weather.gov

National Weather Service Web-Site

Step 1

Click your location on theregional map…

Step 1

There is your forecast…

Also notice the HAZARDOUS WEATHER

OUTLOOK…

CLICK ON IT!

Step 1

You are finished with step 1…

These products areupdated several times a

dayMade by a local forecaster

Step 1

At this point you either see that there is no threat for

severe weather or that you need to move on to step

number 2

Decision?

Step 2

Check the Storm Prediction

Center’s web-site

These are the people that issuesevere thunderstorm and tornado

watches

They are located in Norman Oklahoma

Storm Prediction Center

Check it daily – more than once!

Storm Prediction Center (SPC)

www.spc.noaa.gov

1. Severe Weather Outlooks

2. Severe Weather Watches


CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS


CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK Is a fancy name for

Thunderstorm Outlook!


Convective Outlooks

FOUR RISK LEVELS!GENERAL thunderstorms

SLIGHT risk for severe stormsMODERATE risk for severe storms

HIGH risk for severe storms


CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS

Click on it


Click on the map

Day 1 Severe Storm Outlook

Categories


ChooseTornado

Wind Or hail


2% chanceof a tornado within 25 miles of your location


15% chanceof a damaging winds within

25 miles of your location


15% chanceof a large hail within

25 miles of your location



FOUR RISK LEVELS!GENERAL thunderstorms

SLIGHT risk for severe stormsMODERATE risk for severe storms

HIGH risk for severe storms



Do not get hung up on the wordSLIGHT RISK!

It means severe thunderstorms are likely

to occur but should be scattered in nature

May 23, 2011 – SPC started with slight risk a few days in advance

Example

Issued May 23rd

Then SPC upgraded to a moderate risk

Upgraded to a moderate

Issued May 24th

Then finally a high risk was outlined

Then upgraded to a high risk

Issued May 25th

Major outbreak occurred…

!

Remember I told you notTo get hung up on the word

SLIGHT risk?

This is why…

April 23, 2011

Slight Risk!

The tornado riskWas 2%

!

February 29, 2012Another SLIGHT risk event

Large slight risk

The tornado risk was 5%

Major outbreak of killer tornadoes

!

Slight risk days canproduce big outbreaks!

End of step 2

Now you know what both

The NWS and the SPC are thinking!

End of step 2

You checked the hazardous

weather outlook from the NWS

You checked the severe weather outlook from SPC

End of step 2

These are two of your weather partners – get

to know them!

Step 3

Let’s assume there issevere weather

expected…

Now what?

Severe thunderstormand

Tornado watches


Listen to your NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio!


Watches are broadcast live!

Storm Prediction Center, Norman Oklahoma

Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Watches…


If you want to view the watches…

www.spc.noaa.gov


Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Watches…

Watches mean STAY ALERT and MONITOR UPDATES…

What aboutWARNINGS…

Listen to your NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio!


Warnings are broadcast live!

Then click on your state/location…

If you want to view the WARNINGS…

www.weather.gov


Click your location

Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm WARNINGS…

National Weather Service - Paducah, Kentucky

Warnings mean TAKE ACTION…

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning

Polygon Warnings

Tornado Warning

Also known as storm based warnings

What is the definition of a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM?

Severe Thunderstorms Have A Definition!

Severe Thunderstorm Definition 2 Parts – HAIL and WIND

Hail 1” or largerOR Winds of 58 MPH or greater Or a tornado

Storm Based Warnings

Protecting your family!

I am going to tell you several ways to help keep

you safer!


NUMBER 1

HAVE A FAMILYPLAN

READY.GOV

MAKE SURE YOURKIDS KNOW THE

PLAN!

PRACTICE THAT PLAN!

EMERGENCY KIT

You should have an emergency kit with at least 3 days worth of water and food (per person).

Flashlight – after a tornado it can be extremely darkKeep shoes by the bed at night

Battery powered radioMedicines

First aid kit

YOUR SAFE SPOT

Keep a helmet

Keep blankets - pillow

Keep a flashlight – shoes – battery powered radio

YOUR SAFE SPOT

If your safe spot is not moistureproof then keep all of the

above in a duffle bag – plasticwrapped if necessary

NUMBER 2

This may save your life!

WEATHER RADIO

ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO!!!!

EVERY family should have a NOAA

Midland 300 All Hazards Weather Radio

Midland 300 or 301

This is the model I use each and

every day!

NUMBER 3

Around $1 a month - WeatherCall

WeatherCall delivers NWS warnings to any type of phone, SMS text, or email address – 24 hours a day!

ONLY calls you if YOUR home is in the warning.

Will call you ONLY if you are in the warning box!

Have more than one avenue for information…

How do you receive your warnings?

NUMBER 4


Trust our local storm teams!

Local Radio Stations

Local TV Stations

We work together!

When I say TEAM – I mean it

PhoneOnline NWS ChatConference Calls

TextingRadio

communicationTwitter/Facebook

Social

And while I am on the subject of media…


Social Media Updates!


Our local storm teams also have

Facebook and Twitter

Local Radio Stations

NUMBER 5

HEADS UP EMAIL

SIGN UP!

Weatherobservatory.com – click EMAIL UPDATES

NUMBER 6

SMART-PHONES

RADAR - CELL PHONE

RadarScopewww.basevelocity.com

Imap Weather Radioimapweatherradio.c

om

Home Page

We are constantly looking for newways to keep you informed

and aware!

Storm-ReadySupporter

EMAIL ME QUESTIONS

I WILL ALWAYS RESPOND

[email protected]

severe weather presentation

Education

extreme weather events

weather enthusiasts

severe weather spotter

storm spotters

national weather serviceneeds

storm spotting

paducah nws office

catastrophic ice storm