Terms You Should Know - Severe Weather Awareness

Monday, April 8th, 2024 -- 6:01 AM

(Part 1 of a 5 part Series)

Every year, severe weather events take people's lives and damage or destroy people's homes and businesses. As we start Severe Weather Awareness week in Wisconsin, there are some terms you need to know when severe weather may be in the area.

You should prepare early. The National Weather Service issues Hazardous Weather Outlooks that will alert you to potential severe weather days up to 5 days in advance. Just knowing the possibilty of severe weather could happen on a given day, will keep it from being a surprise and ruining your plans. If you have outdoor plans on a day when severe weather may be possible, you can prepare to make an alternate plans in case you need to take shelter.

On days when the atmospheric conditions warrant, The Storm Prepiction Center in Norman, Oklahoma will issue a severe weather watch. The "watch polygon" indicates where the highest potenial of severe weather may occur. These "polygons" can be issued up 6 hours ahead of any potential storm development to give you more time to prepare. If you live in or close to the issued "watch polygon" keep an eye to the sky, stay tuned to local tv and radio stations and have your cellphone charged up.

When a Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado or Flash Flood Watch is issued it means conditions are favorable for the developement of storms with torrential rain, large hail, lightning, or tornadoes. If there is an unusually high probabilty of severe weather in an area, a "Potential Dangerous Situation" Watch may be issued. 

Severe weather warnings are issued by local National Weather Service Offices. Locally, the National Weather Service office in LaCrosse handles warnings for Jackson, Clark, Taylor, Juneau and Monroe Counties. The National Weather Service Office in Green Bay handles warnings for Wood Portage and Marathon Counties. The National Weather Service Office in Minneapolis handles warnings for Eau Claire & Chippewa Counties. When a warning is issued it is normally for just one or two counties. It is importatnt to listen carefully when a warning is issued.  The weather bulletin will give you specific information on the location of a storm and what is currently happening with it. Terms like "considerable" or "emergency" may be used when there is an elevated risk of danger. 

When a Flash Flood Warning is issued, this means flash flooding is imminent or currently happening. When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued this means that a thunderstorm with winds in excess of 58 mph or hail greater than 1 inch in diameter is expected or has been reported. A Tornado Warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm storm is capable of producing a tornado as indicated by weather radar or a funnel cloud or tornado has been reported on the ground by trained spotters or law enforcement agencies. If a storm has a history of dangerous or deadly long track movement, a Potentially Dangerous Situation Warning may be issued.

Having a weather radio is a great way to keep informed on hazardous weather. These radios can be programmed for specific areas and will alert you in real time of watches and warnings in your area when seconds matter. Weather radios also will give you current local weather information 24 hours a day.

Your cellphone will alert you of a imminent hazard through a wireless emergency alert. These are mainly issued for tornado warnings but can also be issued for some flooding situations and for severe thunderstorms.

Knowledge is the key to staying safe during severe weather season. For more information on severe weather awareness week, check out any of the local National Weather Service office websites or go to Wisconsin Emergency Managements' website at wem.wi.gov.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.