jWeather - Severe Weather 101

Watch vs. Warning: The Taco Analogy

A WATCH Means "Be Prepared!"

Think of a WATCH as having all the ingredients to make tacos. The potential for delicious, stormy tacos is there, but nothing is cooking yet. Keep an eye on the sky and your weather app.

A WARNING Means "Take Action!"

A WARNING means the tacos are assembled and currently flying through the air towards you. The storm is happening now. Go to your safe place immediately. The taco is real.

Severe T-Storm Warnings: The Underrated Brawler

Everyone runs for cover for a tornado, but a "severe thunderstorm" often gets a shrug. Big mistake. These aren't your average rain showers.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means the storm is capable of producing winds of 58 mph or higher (that's hurricane-force!) and/or hail the size of quarters or larger. Think of it as a tornado's angry, chaotic cousin who just throws things instead of spinning. It can knock down trees, damage roofs, and turn your car into a golf ball. Take it seriously and move indoors to a sturdy room away from windows.

Tornado Warnings: How Do They Know?

Radar Indicated

Doppler radar sees strong rotation inside a thunderstorm that could produce a tornado. It's like the radar is yelling, "That cloud is spinning like a top, and it's not for fun!" Treat this with the same urgency as an observed tornado.

Observed

A trained storm spotter has seen a tornado, or radar has detected debris being lofted into the air (a "debris ball"). The flying taco has been confirmed. This is not a test. Seek shelter immediately.

Tornado Emergency: The Ultimate Alarm

If a regular Tornado Warning is a flying taco, a Tornado Emergency is the entire taco truck, airborne, with the chef still inside, heading for your house. This is the highest level of tornado alert possible.

It is issued in rare, life-threatening situations when there is a confirmed, large, and violent tornado that is likely to cause catastrophic damage and fatalities.

This is not a drill. It's a "get underground or in a reinforced shelter right now" situation.

Flash Flooding: Nature's Surprise Pool Party

You see a flooded road and think, "My car is a majestic land submarine, I can make it." You can't.

Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
1 foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups.

Turn Around, Don't Drown!®

Lightning: The Sky's Paparazzi

Lightning is not just a cool special effect. It's a seriously powerful and unpredictable force of nature.

A bolt of lightning is about 50,000°F. That's five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
The odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are about 1 in 15,300. Better than winning the lottery, but not in a good way.
Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from the center of a thunderstorm.

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

A lightning bolt striking over a dark landscape

Severe Weather 101: A Not-So-Calm Guide