How to Report Severe Weather Beware of Tornado Look-alikes There are several options available when it comes Scud clouds are perhaps the most common to reporting severe weather to the National Weather NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE feature mistaken for tornadoes. They are low, ragged cloud fragments that can sometimes be Service Office in Nashville, TN. Whether you are on located near the updraft region of the storm. the road, at home, or in your office, there is a quick However, they lack organized, persistent and easy way to get your report to us. rotation. Here are a couple examples of scud clouds.  Storm Spotter Line: 1-800-267-8144  Call local law enforcement/ 911 Service  Go to www.weather.gov/ohx and click on “Submit Storm Report” in the left-hand menu  Post it on our Facebook wall. Search for US National Weather Service Nashville, and then “like us”! Storm Spotter There are several other features, some associat- ed with an actual storm and others that are not, that can also be mistaken for a tornado. Quick Reference  Twitter: @NWSNashville #TNWX and remember to add #tSpotter

 You may also send any damage reports or severe weather photos to the following email address: Photo Courtesy of OHX Rainshaft - also lacks organized Upward directed shadow cast on [email protected] rotation about a vertical axis a higher cloud deck by a low cloud eclipsing the setting sun. A major contribution to the success of our severe Best Angle for Viewing a Tornado weather warning program is the receipt of storm reports from all of our customers and partners Position is extremely across middle Tennessee. important when viewing a possible tornadic thunderstorm. You should be to the 1-800- southeast of the storm 267- 8144 when viewing a Viewing tornado. Therefore, Angle the storm should be to your northwest. NATIONAL WEATHER

SERVICE The Eyes & Ears of the NWS NASHVILLE, TN

NASHVILLE, TN National Weather Service

500 Weather Station Rd. Old Hickory, TN 37138 Phone: 615-754-4633, Option 6 www.weather.gov/ohx Wall Clouds (Inflow) Shelf Cloud (Outflow) Reporting Severe Weather  A localized, persistent lowering of the cloud  More common than from the rainfree base wall clouds, especial- ly in the summer  Normally found on the When reporting severe weather, the National  Associated with cool Weather Service needs as much detail in the south/southwest outflow information as possible. Here is a quick list (inflow) side of the of the pertinent information to pass along to thunderstorm  May be turbulent, us: but lack persistent, Shelf Cloud  May exhibit rapid upward and downward organized rotation  LOCATION of the severe weather event motion, as well as rotation

- Reference to the nearest town, major cross streets, address - GPS coordinates if available

Outflow  TIME of the weather event and/or the RFD Inflow report - Not necessarily the current time, unless the event is ongoing

 DESCRIPTION of the weather event Inflow

- Tornado/funnel cloud RFD Inflow - Rotating wall cloud - Flash flooding Wall Cloud vs. Shelf Cloud Spotter Safety Tips - Damaging winds ( ≥ 60 mph) If a tornado is approaching and in your - Large hail (1 inch or larger) vehicle: - Persistent non-rotating wall cloud  GET TO SHELTER—the safest place is the - Heavy rainfall (1 inch per hour or basement. If a basement is not available, more) move to a small interior room away from

Increasing Urgency Increasing windows. - Small hail ( ≤ ¾ inch)  If no escape is possible, and you can’t - Strong winds ( < 60 mph) find a sturdy shelter, abandon your - Other cloud structures vehicle and lay flat in a dry ravine or

Just remember that wall clouds are associated ditch away from your vehicle. with inflow, while shelf clouds are associated The higher up on this list, the more urgent it with outflow. is to submit your report.