February 29, 2008 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Severe weather awareness week continues. Today we will focus on weather radio…and the emergency alert system.

Weather radio is the voice of the National Weather Service. It provides continuous weather information 24 hours a day…every day of the year. The nationwide network of weather radio stations provides the public with the fastest most reliable source of up-to-date weather information directly from the National Weather Service.

You need a special radio to receive weather radio broadcasts…a radio that is capable of receiving signals in the very high frequency public service band.

Broadcasts may vary…but generally include area forecasts…present weather conditions…short-term forecasts…climatic data…river and lake stage forecasts…and other specialized information. The broadcasts are updated continuously.

Weather radio is useful anytime…but it is most important when severe weather threatens. During periods of severe weather…routine programming is interrupted…and the focus shifted to the local severe weather threat. In an emergency…a warning alarm tone is broadcast that activates specially designed receivers to turn on automatically…or to produce a visual or audible alarm.

A primary source of weather information is the emergency alert system. EAS is a system of communications links that utilize data in a digital form. It is a reliable means of linking the National Weather Service…emergency management agencies…and the radio and television broadcast media together. EAS helps participating radio and television stations receive and relay weather warnings…and other emergency information in a timely manner.

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February 28, 2008 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Severe weather awareness week continues today with a look at flood and flash flood safety.

Floods and flash floods occur every year in the mid South. River flooding occurs seasonally when winter or Spring rains or torrential rains associated with tropical storms fill river basins with too much water too quickly. Flash floods occur suddenly…usually occurring within hours of excessive localized rainfall.

These flash floods can become raging torrents which rip through river beds urban streets or valleys sweeping everything before them.

When a Flash Flood Warning is issued for your County…or the moment you first realize that a flash flood is imminent…act quickly to save yourself. You may only have seconds.

A Flood Watch means it is possible that heavy rains will cause flooding in the specified area. Stay alert to the weather…and think about what you would do if water begins to rise or if you receive a warning. Watch for development.

Here are some flash flood safety rules.

Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips…low spots…valleys…stream banks…and flood plains.

Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream on foot where water is above your ankles.

If driving…know the depth of water in a dip before crossing. The Road bed may not be intact under the water. Don’t drive into a pool of water or where water is flowing. Water up to The Bumper will likely stall a car.

If the vehicle stalls…abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. Heavy rain events frequently occur at night!

Do not Camp or park your vehicle along streams or drainage areas particularly during threatening conditions.

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February 27, 2008 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Severe weather awareness week continues today with tornado awareness day. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground. If the circulation is not on the ground…then it is termed a funnel cloud. Tornadoes usually descend from thunderstorms.

Wind speeds in tornadoes are usually around 100 miles an hour…but can approach or exceed 300 miles an hour in the most violent of storms.

Your safety depends on being constantly alert to the possibility of tornadoes from the thunderstorms that approach you. This is especially true during tornado watches. A careful lookout should be kept during any period of severe weather activity. Plan in advance where you will go and what you will do if a tornado threatens you.

Remember…a Tornado Watch means that tornado development is possible…so watch the sky for developing thunderstorms and all The Hazards they bring. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio…commercial radio or television for weather statements or warnings.

The watch gives you time to think about what you should do if a tornado approaches and alerts you to the fact that atmospheric conditions might favor the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. A watch might cover several thousand square miles over parts of one or more states.

A Tornado Warning, usually issued for 1 or 2 counties at a time, means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Persons in the path of the storm need to immediately find shelter, preferably in a sturdy building, below ground if possible.

It is important to remember that tornadoes can sometimes develop rapidly…and there may not always be time for a warning to be issued. If you see or hear a tornado…or if you feel threatened …Move immediately to shelter. Seconds can save your life.

Tornado safety rules

1. In homes or small buildings, go to the basement or to an interior room, such as a closet or bathroom, on the lowest level. Get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or a bed.

2. In Mobile homes and vehicles, abandon them and go to a sturdy structure. If there is no such structure nearby, lie flat in a ditch, ravine, Gully, culvert or low spot with your arms and hands shielding your head.

3. In large buildings, such as schools, factories, hospitals, nursing homes and shopping centers, go to the predesignated shelter area. Interior hallways on the lowest floor are usually best. Stay away from rooms that are large in area because they have weakly supported roofs.

4. In high-rise buildings, go to an interior small room or hallway.

5. Stay away from windows. Don’t bother opening or closing them. It won’t make any difference to the structure and you’ll just waste time or put yourself at risk should glass break as you are near.

NOAA Weather Radio will carry information and safety tips all this week containing important safety rules that you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of severe weather.

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February 26, 2008 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Severe weather awareness week continues today with a look at lightning safety.

Here are some lightning safety rules.

Any lightning safety plan should incorporate the 30/30 rule. The 30/30 rule states people should seek shelter if the flash to bang delay /length of time in seconds between a lightning flash and its subsequent thunder/ is 30 seconds or less and that they remain under cover until 30 minutes after the final clap of thunder.

Move inside a well constructed house…a large building…or an all metal vehicle. Stay away from electrical appliances and do not use the telephone.

If you are in a boat…get off the water and into a substantial building…or at least into an enclosed and all-metal vehicle with the windows up. If you’re caught in an open metal boat…lie down in the boat with cushions between you and the metal sides and bottom.

If you are caught outdoors…get down to avoid being the highest point for a lightning discharge. If you’re caught in a flat open field or if you feel your hair standing on end…Crouch down and cover your head with your hands. That way…only your feet will touch the ground.

Move away from motorcycles…scooters…Golf carts…bicycles…tractors…and other metal farm equipment. Avoid wire fences…clothes lines…metal pipes…drains…Railroad tracks…and other metallic objects.

Avoid lone trees and the tallest trees. If caught in the Woods…pick a small Grove of trees as your shelter…and stand at least 5 feet from the trunk of the nearest tree to avoid flying bark if the tree is struck.

Avoid standing in a small isolated shed or other small ungrounded structure in other areas.

If in a group of people in an open area…spread out before you kneel down.

On Wednesday February 27th, the National Weather Service will conduct a tornado drill between 9 and 10 a.m. in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.

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February 25, 2008 by ParsonsWeather.com.

There are approximately two thousand thunderstorms in progress around the world at any given time. Most of these storms are beneficial and bring needed rain. Only a small fraction less than one percent are classified as severe. Severe thunderstorms are those thunderstorms that produce hail three quarter inch in diameter…or larger…and or strong wind gusts of 58 mph or greater. Hail that is three quarters of an inch in diameter is about the size of a penny.

A small fraction of these thunderstorms produce tornadoes. All thunderstorms are capable of producing deadly lightning. The heavy rains or the lightning activity in a thunderstorm do not have anything to do with a thunderstorm being classified as severe.

Some of the severe thunderstorms safety rules are as follows.

Find shelter immediately. Go to a sturdy building that will withstand high winds. Avoid electrical appliances and telephones. It would be a good idea to bring your car inside a garage and to secure loose objects.

Remember…a Severe Thunderstorm Warning means that a severe thunderstorm is occurring. The severe thunderstorm has been detected by the Doppler radar…or reported to the National Weather Service by our sky warn spotter network…or the local law enforcement agency in a particular County.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that conditions are right for severe thunderstorms to develop…but none has been observed.

Folks should keep an eye on the sky and listen to commercial broadcasts…or weather radio for any subsequent warnings.

When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued for your location….treat it the same as you would a Tornado Warning. Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds large hail and deadly lightning.

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