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TODAYS T-STORM RISKS

 

MESSAGE BOARD Copyright 2010 MASA Inc. www.mke-skywarn.org SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEY A new Red Cross survey on how people obtain information on disasters and emergencies (including severe weather) reveals that 'Social Media" networks are becoming a dominant force. Stats, bar graphs, pie charts, 19 pages.   LINK TORNADO EMERGENCY: We all understand that a TORNADO WARNING means that a tornado has been detected on radar or seen by storm spotters.  But how do you get public attention when a confirmed tornado will likely hit a city and there is a high likelihood of damage and fatalities? A "Tornado Emergency" is not a new type of weather warning, but a new, visible, and high impact call-to-action statement issued by the National Weather Service. A TORNADO EMERGENCY means that significant, widespread damage with a high likelihood of numerous fatalities is expected to continue with a strong and violent tornado. INTENDED PURPOSE: ..... To motivate and provide a sense of urgency to persons in the path of this storm to take immediate shelter       in a reinforced structure that offers maximum protection from destructive winds. ..... To communicate to state, local, and county officials and emergency responders that they should prepare       for immediate search and rescue operations. ..... To communicate the need to prepare for immediate medical emergencies, evacuation measures, and       emergency sheltering. Tornado Emergency Wikipedia LINKS   BROCHURE: THUNDERSTORMS, TORNADOES, and LIGHTNING   /strong>lass="style22"> The NWS now has on-line it's updated (June 2010) brochure covering "Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Lightning." This 20 page (PDF) brochure is aimed at the general public. It uses easy to follow explanations, terminology, and has outstanding graphics. Recommended to everyone in our Milwaukee Skywarn family.  LINK HERE WHATS MAKES GOOD FLOODING REPORTS? The following examples are reportable flood criteria  1. Water over the curb (not just a small low spot)  2. High/rushing water impacting homes, businesses, basements, roads and transportation  3. Rivers, creeks, and streams at or above bank full.  4. Water created washouts, mudslides, cave-ins, and evacuations. VIDEO TOUR OF THE APPLE  "I-PAD" Surf some of your favorite weather sites and applications using Apple's new I-Pad. Websites include Radarscope, Weatherbug Elite, Weather Channel, Storm Prediction Center (SPC), the NWS, and others. 19 minutes.  LINK HERE WEATHER APPLICATIONS LINK/span> The Ipad, Ipod, and Iphone have revolutionized how we transfer weather data. Follow the left side menu button to the most used weather applications. Our favorites include "RadarScope and Trained Storm Spotter." 2010 SEVERE WEATHER WORKSHOP Many of the programs at this year's national severe weather workshop have now been posted on-line in PDF format. Target audiences include emergency managers, businesses, storm spotters, forecasters, researchers, TV media, and weather enthusiasts. A link to each session is on this page: http://www.mke-skywarn.org/storm_spotters.html Pick the programs that appeal to you, but scan others as well. Lots of pictures, charts, statistics, and important information. There is something for everyone in our Milwaukee Skywarn family.   SPOTTER HANDOUT MATERIAL Make a copy of these two reference documents to better understand the concepts presented during your spotter training. Each page is full color in a PDF format. Adjust your printer for the 'Landscape' mode (File/print/properties).               Page 1 - Diagrams and images      (1.1 Mb)        Page 2 - Descriptions & Definitions (.99Mb) 2010  SPOTTER TRAINING Annual storm spotter training programs are now completed for all of Wisconsin and will begin in February of 2011. Here in southern Wisconsin all storm reports require some form of T-L-C-S. Time when you observe the weather event, Location is your county and city, the Condition you observed, and Source of report (your name, agency, ham radio call, I-D number, etc). A new automated voice menu system for the non-trained general public will soon launch and only require a Zip code or latitude-Longitude. ON-LINE TRAINING PROGRAMS Okay lets assume you could not make it to a training program or you want more training. Then visit our Spotter Training Links page. It contains links to numerous training programs most which are produced by the NWS.  Training Link WARNINGS TO GET HAIL SIZE-WIND GUST TAGS Beginning March 1st 2010 all NWS offices in the north central U-S will add a tag line to severe thunderstorm warnings, follow up statements, and special marine warnings. This tag will indicate the maximum expected hail size and wind speed expected with a given warning. Inclusion of this information represents an effort to respond to partner requests from the emergency management community as well as several societal impact groups. The target audience for this product includes national, state and local emergency managers, media, the private weather enterprise, government, and military agencies. This copy from mke-skywarn.org With the hail-wind tags local area emergency managers can now make better decisions regarding the activation of their sirens which typically are activated only for tornadoes. Should a particular thunderstorm event exceed the E-M's defined threshold (say 75 MPH winds) a siren activation can occur because winds of 90 MPH are expected. The tag line will be found near the bottom of the message as: "WIND...HAIL  90MPH  2.75IN"  Indicating 90 MPH wind gusts and 2.75 inch [Baseball size] hail are the maximums expected with this event. The experimental max wind-hail tag line will be evaluated from March 1st through October 1st 2010. The NWS is seeking comments and suggestions regarding its usefulness or improvements. Feedback Survey:  http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=svr-wind-hail Service Description For this Experimental Product:  http://products.weather.gov Map of Affected States: http://www.weather.gov/os/notification/resources/cr_wfos.pdf Comments-Questions: kim.runk@noaa.gov    jim.keeney@noaa.gov OUR SKYWARN CALENDAR Mar  31     Governor's Conference On Emergency Management in Appleton WI. Apr  19-23    Wisconsin Tornado & Severe Weather... Awareness Week Apr  22 1-2PM    Statewide Tornado Drill Apr  26-27    Air Quality Awareness Week May 12    Wisconsin Weather Radio Awareness Day May 22-28   National Safe Boating Week Jun  6-12    National Rip Current Awareness Week Jun  10    Wisconsin Heat Awareness Day Jun  20-26    National Lightning Awareness Week Jun  26-27   Amateur Radio Field Day Jun  24   Milwaukee Summerfest Starts July 26    EAA Air Venture (Oshkosh Air Show) Oct 3-9   National Fire Prevention Week Nov 7      DST ends Nov 8      Wisconsin Winter Awareness Week Dec 3-4   Skywarn Recognition Day (ham radio event)

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