Severe Weather Awareness Week

No matter how many times you have gone over severe weather safety, it's always a good idea for a refresher before severe weather season begins again in the spring. This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in both North and South Carolina.

A good place to start is always by distinguishing the difference between a watch and a warning. It can be confusing when one has been issued for your area, and there are often a lot of questions about what they mean.

A tornado or thunderstorm watch box will be issued when it looks like conditions are favorable for severe weather. This often happens after the first thunderstorms begin to develop in a region and is issued by The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. A watch basically means be aware of the weather- watch what is going on outside around you and listen for your NOAA weather radio or to your TV (especially News13!) for updates.

A severe thunderstorm warning is issued by the local office of the National Weather Service- ours is located in Wilmington, NC. Meteorologists at the Weather Service are responsible for keeping an eye on developing storms in their region. They use not only radar to issue these warnings, but can often use information from storm spotters and even the public to determine that severe thunderstorm or tornado criteria has been met. There are three things that can trigger a severe thunderstorm warning. First, strong, damaging winds of 58 mph or greater. Second, hail larger than 3/4 inch. Or Third, the presence of a tornado. However, if there is any indication that a tornado is occuring by visual reports or by doppler radar, a tornado warning is issued instead of a severe thunderstorm warning. If a tornado warning has been issued for your county, you must take immediate action and find somewhere safe from the storm.

That brings us to storm safety. If there is a severe thunderstorm warning (or really any thunderstorm) it's important to remember these tips:
1. Move into shelter. You can be struck by lightning up to 10 miles away from where it is raining. If you can hear thunder, you can be struck.
2. Avoid water. Get out of the pool, ocean, river, lake and even the bathtub.
3. Stay off of the telephone and avoid using electrical appliances.

If there is a tornado warning:
1. Move into the innermost room in your house, without windows- a bathroom, or a closet, or a basement if you have one.
2. If you are in a car, don't try to outrun the storm. Get out of the car and crouch down in a ditch or low-lying area. It's a common myth that you should seek shelter under an overpass. In fact, this is not a safe place to be. Winds can be channeled beneath the overpass and debris can be propelled right toward you.
3. In schools, avoid large rooms such as gyms or auditoriums. The size of the room makes them less structurally sound.
4. Mobile homes aren't substantial shelter. You must find a more secure place to ride out the storm as mobile homes can easily be removed from their foundations.

Public safety officals say that every home should be stocked with a NOAA weather radio, much like homes and buildings have smoke detectors. Often times, minutes can make a difference in getting to safety. Additionally, a weather radio will wake you up and alert you in the middle of the night of approaching storm systems. I called Best Buy today and they have models ranging from $15-150. Just make sure the one you choose has battery backup so that if the power goes out, you won't be left without warnings! And in the event of threatening weather, rely on the Stormtracker 13 Meteorologists!

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