Summer & Severe Weather

Severe Thunderstorm

  • Advisory: N/A
  • Watch: A severe thunderstorm watch is issued for a large area (roughly on the order of 100 square miles or more) by the Storm Prediction Center when severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area; severe thunderstorms are defined as having winds of 58MPH or high AND/OR hail 1 inch in diameter or larger; a sever thunderstorm watch may also come with a qualifier that labels it as a “particularly dangerous situation” (PDS); a PDS is issued at the discretion of the forecaster and is meant to emphasize an enhanced risk of extraordinary severe and life-threatening weather
  • Warning: A severe thunderstorm warning is issued by the National Weather Service when sever thunderstorms are occurring or imminent for a localized are specific to the storm and the areas expected to be impacted; severe thunderstorms are defined as having winds of 58MPH or higher AND/OR hail 1 inch in diameter or larger AND/OR a tornado is occurring or has recently occurred with this thunderstorm

Tornado

  • Advisory: N/A
  • Watch: A tornado watch is issued for a large area (roughly on the order of 100 square miles or more) by the Storm Prediction Center when sever thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area; a tornado watch may also come with a qualifier that labels it as a “particularly dangerous situation” (PDS); a PDS is issued at the discretion of the forecaster and is meant to emphasize an enhanced risk of extraordinary severe and life-threatening weather
  • Warning: A tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service when a tornado is occurring or imminent; the area warned is a localized area specific to the storm producing the tornado and the areas expected to be impacted; when a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately

Tornado Emergency

  • Advisory: N/A
  • Watch: N/A
  • Warning: A tornado emergency is a more notorious version of a tornado warning issued (RARELY) at the discretion of the National Weather Service during significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas; a tornado emergency generally means that significant, widespread damage is expected to continue and a high likelihood of numerous fatalities is expected with a large, strong to violent tornado

Wind

  • Advisory: A wind advisory is issued when the following conditions are expected for three (3) hours or longer – sustained winds of 31MPH to 39MPH AND/OR wind gusts of 46MPH to 57MPH
  • Watch: N/A
  • Warning: N/A

High Wind

  • Advisory: N/A
  • Watch: A high wind watch is issued when the following conditions are possible – sustained winds of 40MPH or higher for one (1) hour or more OR wind gusts of 58MPH or higher for one (1) hour or more
  • Warning: A high wind warning is issued when the following conditions are occurring or imminent – sustained winds of 40MPH or higher for one (1) hour or more OR wind gusts of 58MPH or higher for one (1) hour or more

Extreme Wind

  • Advisory: N/A
  • Watch: N/A
  • Warning: An extreme wind warning is issued for surface winds of 100 KNOTS (115MPH) or greater associated with non-convective, downslope, derecho (NOT associated with a tornado), or sustained hurricane winds are expected to occur within one (1) hour

Dense Fog

  • Advisory: A dense fog advisory is issued when widespread fog is expected to reduce visibilities to 1/4 miles or less over a large area for an extended period of time, two (2) or more hours
  • Watch: N/A
  • Warning: N/A