Keith Stellman - NWS Atlanta

Our philosophy and thresholds for issuing Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings are not changing with IBWs. Our philosophy and thresholds for issuing Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings are not changing with IBWs. Main messages today… Main messages today… o Modifications to Content and Format of Warnings o We are not changing our warning philosophy o We are not changing the number of warnings we issue as a result

Designed to improve communication of the most critical information through the use of: Designed to improve communication of the most critical information through the use of: o Specific statements (PDS / Tornado Emergency) o HAZARD, SOURCE and IMPACT information o Summary TAGS at the bottom of warnings Partners and users will notice minor changes to: Partners and users will notice minor changes to: o Tornado Warnings o Severe Thunderstorm Warnings o Severe Weather Statements Offices participating in IBW Experiment in Spring 2015 Experimental product that started in 2012 and in 2015, 67 of the 122 Weather Forecast Offices will participate in the experiment Experimental product that started in 2012 and in 2015, 67 of the 122 Weather Forecast Offices will participate in the experiment

We want to differentiate between the following: A. Softball sized hail and quarter sized hail B. 90 mph winds and 60 mph winds C. Strong/Violent tornadoes and weaker tornadoes Each of these comparisons get the same type of warning – this project will use social science approved wording to determine how serious the hazard is with storms

Implementation date will vary by office Implementation date will vary by office NWS Atlanta and Charleston will begin using IBWs by April 1, 2015 NWS Atlanta and Charleston will begin using IBWs by April 1, 2015 Nationwide implementation is expected in 2016 Nationwide implementation is expected in 2016

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK 212 PM CDT MON MAY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SOUTHEASTERN CANADIAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA... NORTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA... NORTHEASTERN GRADY COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA... NORTHWESTERN MCCLAIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA... WESTERN OKLAHOMA COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA... * UNTIL 300 PM CDT * AT 208 PM CDT... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BRIDGE CREEK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. HAZARD...60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED. IMPACT...EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES. HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... OKLAHOMA CITY...MIDWEST CITY...MOORE...DEL CITY...MUSTANG... NEWCASTLE...TUTTLE...STANLEY DRAPER LAKE...BRIDGE CREEK...TINKER AIR FORCE BASE...FOREST PARK...VALLEY BROOK AND LAKE ALUMA. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING. && LAT...LON TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 228DEG 37KT TORNADO…POSSIBLE HAIL IN WIND...60MPH $$ ** NEW ** Tags ** NEW ** Hazard, Source, Impact Information Each warning will contain: Hazard, Source and Impact Information Hazard, Source and Impact Information Tags Tags The following are optional in the SVR warning: Tornado…Possible Tag – if we think a tornado could develop but confidence isn’t high enough for a Tornado Warning Tornado…Possible Tag – if we think a tornado could develop but confidence isn’t high enough for a Tornado Warning Specific Statements Specific Statements PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Severe Thunderstorm Warning – 80+mph winds and/or hail baseball size or larger will include “This is a Very Dangerous Storm.” PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Severe Thunderstorm Warning – 80+mph winds and/or hail baseball size or larger will include “This is a Very Dangerous Storm.”

Every Tornado WARNING will contain either “radar indicated” or “observed” tag Several issued each year Very rare

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... NORTHERN TREUTLEN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA... WEST CENTRAL EMANUEL COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA... EAST CENTRAL LAURENS COUNTY IN CENTRAL GEORGIA... * UNTIL 115 PM EST * AT 1238 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES WEST OF SOPERTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. * OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SWAINSBORO...ADRIAN...NUNEZ...GILLIS SPRINGS...COVENA...ORLAND... ROCKLEDGE...ORIANNA...BLACKVILLE...NORRISTOWN JUNCTION AND NORRISTOWN. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...HAIL OR FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT OR TWEET US YOUR REPORT AT NWSATLANTA. && LAT...LON TIME...MOT...LOC 1738Z 252DEG 39KT $$ Old Tornado WarningIBW Routine Tornado Warning Tags HSI Information

Tags Observed Tag – confirmed by spotter, EM, etc or debris signature on radar

Tags Specific Statements Forecaster target range for considerable tag is EF2+ (based on radar signature and/or ground truth). Forecaster target range for considerable tag is EF2+ (based on radar signature and/or ground truth). We are not trying to pinpoint tornado intensity by the EF scale – just “ring the bell” a little louder for more significant tornado events. We are not trying to pinpoint tornado intensity by the EF scale – just “ring the bell” a little louder for more significant tornado events. YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES…BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE. HSI Information

Catastrophic = Tornado Emergency. Catastrophic = Tornado Emergency. Very rare! Very rare! YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES…BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE.

OKC /O.CON.KOUN.TO.W T0000Z T0000Z/ OKLAHOMA OK-CANADIAN OK- 646 PM CDT FRI MAY A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA AND SOUTHEASTERN CANADIAN COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT…...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR EASTERN EL RENO...YUKON…BETHANY…AND RICHLAND… AT 642 PM CDT... A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF YUKON...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THIS TORNADO WAS ON INTERSTATE 40 2 TO 3 MILES EAST OF EL RENO. ANOTHER SEVERE STORM WAS LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF EL RENO...AND MAY BECOME TORNADIC IN THE NEXT HOUR. HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO. SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO. IMPACT... YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES…BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... YUKON…BETHANY…MUSTANG…WARR ACRES AND RICHLAND. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS. && LAT...LON TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 233DEG 27KT TORNADO...OBSERVED TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC HAIL IN Similar format to warnings in terms of: Specific Statements Hazard, Source and Impact Information Tags Specific Statements HSI Information Specific Statements

Tornado/Hail/Wind Tags will be displayed in NWSChat Tornado/Hail/Wind Tags will be displayed in NWSChat Damage threat tags (i.e. considerable/catastrophic) will not be displayed Damage threat tags (i.e. considerable/catastrophic) will not be displayed

Impact Based Warnings Start April 1, 2015! Headline Link: Impact Based Warnings Starting April 1, 2015 IBW Handout National Website Customer Survey Questions? Contact WCM - Dave Nadler ext. 223