Severe Storm Spotting Preparation, Safety, and Communications

Severe Weather Spotting Preparation, Safety, and Communications Steve Hilberg, N9XDC Debbie Fligor, N9DN Amateur Radio Emergency Service of Champaign County

Attitude and Frame of Mind You are a storm SPOTTER, not a storm chaser! Your job is to provide factual, real-time information about weather conditions We all work together in the interest of public safety

Attitude and Frame of Mind Severe thunderstorms can be deadly To be an effective storm spotter you must also pay attention to your own safety! Training Awareness

Awareness Know What’s Going On

Awareness “Some people are weatherwise but most are otherwise.” Benjamin Franklin

Awareness Understand how the system operates Know the terminology –Key to effective communication

Awareness Daily Convective Outlooks are issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK

Four Levels of Risk t APPROACHING –Strong thunderstorms are possible but little or no severe weather is expected t SLIGHT –Well-organized severe thunderstorms are expected, but in small numbers and/or low coverage

Four Levels of Risk t MODERATE –A greater concentration of severe thunderstorms, and often greater magnitude t HIGH –A major severe weather outbreak is expected Usually “PDS” (Particularly Dangerous Situation) included in Public Severe Weather Outlooks (PWO) and watches

Convective Outlooks Day 1 issued five times a day –01:00, 08:00, 11:30, 15:00, 20:00 CDT Day 2 issued twice a day –02:30 and 12:30 CDT Day 3 issued once a day –02:30 CDT

New Experimental Outlook Day 4-8 Outlook

Mesoscale Convective Discussions (MCD) Issued one-half to several hours before storms are expected to develop or move into an area Information is intended for forecasters Provide additional information on what action may be taken (e.g. issuing a watch)

Mesoscale Convective Discussions (MCD) MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0403 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1134 AM CDT SUN APR AREAS AFFECTED...CNTRL THROUGH SW/S CNTRL MO CONCERNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL VALID Z Z A TORNADO WW WILL PROBABLY BE NEEDED BY AROUND 18Z...OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. MOISTENING/HEATING OF BOUNDARY LAYER IS CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASING POTENTIAL INSTABILITY IN WARM SECTOR...EAST OF DRY LINE/COLD FRONT TRAILING FROM SLOWLY DEEPENING SURFACE LOW WHICH IS NOW WEST/NORTHWEST OF ST. JOSEPH MO. LEADING EDGE OF STRONGER MID- LEVEL COOLING ALREADY APPEARS TO BE OVERSPREADING DEVELOPING INSTABILITY AXIS...AND INHIBITION IS WEAKENING. THIS MAY BECOME SUPPORTIVE OF NEW BOUNDARY LAYER-BASED CONVECTIVE INITIATION AS EARLY AS 18-20Z SOUTHEAST OF THE KANSAS CITY INTO THE SPRINGFIELD AREA. BROKEN SQUALL LINE SEEMS LIKELY TO QUICKLY EVOLVE...IN ENVIRONMENT WITH MIXED LAYER INCREASING IN EXCESS OF 2000 J/KG. 70 KT MID-LEVEL JET STREAK NOSING INTO THE OZARK PLATEAU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DEEP LAYER SHEAR SUFFICIENT FOR SUPERCELLS. THOUGH LOW-LEVEL HODOGRAPHS MAY NOT POSSESS STRONG CLOCKWISE CURVATURE...SHEAR BENEATH 30 TO 40 TO WESTERLY 850 FLOW WILL STILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF TORNADIC ACTIVITY...PARTICULARLY IN STRONGER/MORE ISOLATED CELLS WITHIN LINE..KERR.. 04/02/2006

Watch Means the conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes to develop Issued for a period of 4 to 6 hours Area covered may be as much as 20,000 to 40,00 square miles May be trimmed, canceled, replaced, or re- issued as required Formerly the “Box”

Watches

Warnings Issued by local NWS office Issued when severe weather detected by radar, observed by spotters, or observed by public safety officials Typically for periods of 15 to 60 minutes Area covered is usually one to three counties or parts of counties (polygons)

Preparing for the Season

Attend training Be sure your vehicle is good operating order Assemble necessary equipment - ready kit

Ready Kit Items to have with you for safe and effective spotting

Required 4County or site map 4Radio or other communications equipment If using H-T, be sure to have extra batteries and/or auxiliary power cable 4Clipboard, paper and pen 4Identification – ARES or ESDA ID, drivers license, vehicle placards

Strongly Suggested 4Report forms or a micro cassette recorder to keep logs with 4Wind gage, ruler, compass or GPS 4Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs

Recommended 4Binoculars or small telescope 4Rain coat that is bright colored or worn with orange vest

Optional 4Folding chair or lawn chair 4Snacks, non-alcoholic drinks 4Video or film camera, with extra tapes, batteries and film 4Fire extinguisher and first aid kit 4Spare fuses, paper towels, insect repellant

Vehicle Preparation

At the Beginning of Storm Season, and Occasionally Thereafter 4Make sure the lights all work: headlights, flashers, turn signal, break/backup 4Check your fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake, battery and windshield cleaner 4Inspect your radios, coax, power connectors, antenna and antenna connector

Every Time You Go Out 4Fill the gas tank 4Check your windshield wipers – it’s going to rain on you 4Check your tires – tread, pressure, and spare 4Put a fresh coat of Rain-X on the windshield if you have time

On the Job Your Safety is Important!

Spotter Safety Take a partner if possible Driver concentrates on the road Spotter concentrates on spotting and navigating Always let net control know where you are

Spotter Safety Move completely out of traffic Be visible - parking lights (not hazard flashers) or yellow caution light Be sure you have a good field of view (at least 180 o ) –Important for spotting and safety Are there power lines overhead? Survey Your Spotting Location

Spotter Safety Too much mud? Tall dry grass - a potential fire hazard near your exhaust Avoid low spots or ditches that may flood quickly in heavy rain Know your escape routes! Survey Your Spotting Location

Spotter Safety Rural intersections can have low visibility due to crops or weather Heavy rain and hail=poor visibility and may mean you are in “wrong” part of storm! Avoid water flowing over roads - six inches can float a moving car (hydroplaning) Lightning can strike miles away - stay in your vehicle Driving Safely

Communications

Communications Your job is to observe and communicate CREDIBILITY is key! Be objective in your reporting –Report what you observe or experience, despite what you may hear on the radio –Avoid subjective and personal descriptions –Observation should be communicated in something measurable or comparative –Distance, direction, and movement should be a part of every report where applicable

Communications Give all reports with respect to your location Estimate wind speeds or describe damage being caused “When in doubt, don’t shout.” –If not sure of what you are seeing, take extra time to observe before you report –Report only what you see

Communications Avoid using the words “tornado” and “funnel cloud” unless you actually observe one! –May cause unnecessary public panic –May confuse other spotters Avoid mentioning specific towns or locations unless you are sure event is occurring there

Communications Know WHAT to report A thunderstorm is classified as severe if one or more of the following are observed: tornado or funnel cloud winds 58 mph or greater hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter (penny)

Communications Tornado Funnel cloud Rotating wall cloud Flash flooding URGENT Priority

Communications Hail 3/4 inch or greater in diameter Winds speeds greater than 58 mph (or damaging winds) Persistent non-rotating wall cloud Rainfall 1 inch or more per hour HIGH Priority

Communications Hail 1/4 inch or larger Winds speeds greater than 40 mph Cloud features suggesting storm organization (if you are familiar with these) Lower Priority

Communications Use break tags if necessary to break into existing net traffic –PRIORITY – used to report important but non- life threatening info (such as damage) –EMERGENCY – used only for life or property threatening or damaging incident

Communications “I have light rain at my location” “I can see lightning off in the distance!” “It’s starting to brighten up here.” “The clouds are really dark to the west.” Examples of reports we DON’T want to hear...

Communications Log all of your reports –Note time, location, and what you observed If you have something to report but cannot for some reason, LOG IT!

Servere Weather Report Form

Communications Keep your radio traffic... BRIEF CONCISE ACCURATE THINK about what you are going to say before you say it!

Communications Use proper radio procedures –“Hey you, It’s Me” “Net control, this is N9XDC” Repeat message back so person you are communicating with knows you understand –“I copy you want me to relocate to the intersection of 1200N and 500E” –“I copy your report of 1 inch hail at your location”

Communications Network Operations & Procedures

Be sure to follow procedures for the particular net you participate in –This is critical to effective and efficient flow of information Most nets are directed nets, i.e. all communications are directed to and through a net control station (NCS)

Network Operations & Procedures Participating operators must check in with NCS by giving call sign and current location. –If you are not available, do NOT check in! If you check in to the net, be sure to check out when you must leave Remain at check-in location until dispatched or directed by NCS Recommended General Procedures

Network Operations & Procedures Notify NCS prior to any change in location, except in case of emergency or dangerous conditions –Get to safety. Report new location to NCS as soon as possible once situation is secure Report significant events only! Recommended General Procedures

April 2, 2006

6:57 pm CDT

April 2, :57 pm CDT

April 2, :52 pm CDT Base Velocity

April 2, :52 pm CDT Base Velocity kts mph

K9LMM KB9NJW Your Reports Are Important!

Thanks! Good luck with your spotting this season!