DOCSLIB.ORG

Story County Storm Spotters Guide

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Story County Storm Spotters Guide Funnel Clouds Vs. Wall Clouds Funnel Clouds, Wall Clouds & Scud Clouds Funnel Cloud • Funnel Clouds rotate, usually rapidly, extending downward from the cloud base • Look for debris/dirt being kicked up to ascertain if the Funnel Cloud has reached the ground and become a tornado • As opposed to scud clouds, funnel clouds typically have a smooth appearance • Funnel clouds are generally located near the up- Severe Weather draft, usually vertical, and several orders of magni- tude smaller than parent wall cloud. Spotter Safety • Tail Clouds are often horizontal and funnel-like Wall Cloud but do not rotate. Guide • Tail Clouds should not be confused with actual funnel clouds • Scud clouds will have a ragged non-funnel appear- ance • Scud clouds will move up and down from the cloud base • Most important distinction with all of the could types is ROTATION!!!! • If the cloud is not rotating there is no tornado!!! Scud Clouds Story County Emergency Management Lori Morrissey, Coordinator Saving Lives 900 6th St & Nevada, IA Protecting Property 50201 Phone: 515.382.7315 Fax: 515.382.3349 Lori Morrissey Coordinator E-mail: [email protected] 515.382.7315 www.storycounty.com/emergencymanagement www.storycounty.com/emergencymanagement Severe Storm Spotter Safety Guide General Spotter Safety Lightning Hazards Communication with Dispatch • Set up Command Post at the fire station • Pay attention to approaching areas of lightning Please be patient. There is a large increase in ra- dio & phone traffic during a severe weather • Stay in your vehicle if possible • Always storm spot in teams of two event. Here are a few tips for communicating • Stay away from wire fences; they carry lightning with Dispatch. • One spotter can watch the storm while the currents to you other watches the road and for other hazards • • Do not lean on vehicle and act as a path to the Do not use Tac Channels. These need to be free for emergencies arising from the storm • Try to watch the storm from the southwest ground looking north • Avoid single trees and being highest object • Do use your private channels for talking be- tween personnel • Make sure you have escape routes from your • If you hair stands up there is potential for a light- ning strike spotting location • Continue to monitor the main Fire/EMS • Get in your vehicle or squat on the ground on the channel for updates from Dispatch • Do not park under or around power lines balls of your feet What to report to Dispatch • Make sure you are well off the travel portion of the road with hazards/flashers on • Hail needs to be reported as nickel, dime, • Stay in your vehicle if possible golf ball or baseball. Do Not report marble Wind Speed Estimation Chart size hail. Marbles come in different sizes • If you do leave your vehicle do not get to far • 25-31 mph Large branches in motion away • High Winds & Building Damage • 32-38 mph Whole trees in motion Night Time Spotting • Downed power lines & trees. Estimate the • 39-54 mph Twigs break off diameter of the tree. Advise if power lines or If there is a need for night time spotting here are trees are blocking the road. • 55-72 mph Damage to chimneys & TV additional tips to ensure your safety. antennas, large branches broken & some • Damage to buildings • Note the wind direction & sudden changes trees uprooted • Funnel clouds, Wall Clouds, and Tornadoes. in direction • 73-112 mph Removes shingles, windows Advise direction of travel & speed. • Watch for ground based flashes produced by broken, trailer houses overturned, trees • Flash Flooding a tornado hitting power lines uprooted • Use lighting to note storm structure & possi- • 113+ mph Roofs torn off, weal buildings ble lowering cloud base & trailer houses destroyed, large trees up- rooted .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • From the Line in the Sand: Accounts of USAF Company Grade Officers In
    ~~may-='11 From The Line In The Sand Accounts of USAF Company Grade Officers Support of 1 " 1 " edited by gi Squadron 1 fficer School Air University Press 4/ Alabama 6" March 1994 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data From the line in the sand : accounts of USAF company grade officers in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm / edited by Michael P. Vriesenga. p. cm. Includes index. 1. Persian Gulf War, 1991-Aerial operations, American . 2. Persian Gulf War, 1991- Personai narratives . 3. United States . Air Force-History-Persian Gulf War, 1991 . I. Vriesenga, Michael P., 1957- DS79 .724.U6F735 1994 94-1322 959.7044'248-dc20 CIP ISBN 1-58566-012-4 First Printing March 1994 Second Printing September 1999 Third Printing March 2001 Disclaimer This publication was produced in the Department of Defense school environment in the interest of academic freedom and the advancement of national defense-related concepts . The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the United States government. This publication hasbeen reviewed by security andpolicy review authorities and is clearedforpublic release. For Sale by the Superintendent of Documents US Government Printing Office Washington, D.C . 20402 ii 9&1 gook L ar-dicat£a to com#an9 9zacL orflcF-T 1, #ait, /2ZE4Ent, and, E9.#ECLaL6, TatUlLE. -ZEa¢ra anJ9~ 0 .( THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Contents Essay Page DISCLAIMER .... ... ... .... .... .. ii FOREWORD ...... ..... .. .... .. xi ABOUT THE EDITOR . ..... .. .... xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . ..... .. .... xv INTRODUCTION .... ..... .. .. ... xvii SUPPORT OFFICERS 1 Madzuma, Michael D., and Buoniconti, Michael A.
    [Show full text]
  • Soaring Weather
    Chapter 16 SOARING WEATHER While horse racing may be the "Sport of Kings," of the craft depends on the weather and the skill soaring may be considered the "King of Sports." of the pilot. Forward thrust comes from gliding Soaring bears the relationship to flying that sailing downward relative to the air the same as thrust bears to power boating. Soaring has made notable is developed in a power-off glide by a conven­ contributions to meteorology. For example, soar­ tional aircraft. Therefore, to gain or maintain ing pilots have probed thunderstorms and moun­ altitude, the soaring pilot must rely on upward tain waves with findings that have made flying motion of the air. safer for all pilots. However, soaring is primarily To a sailplane pilot, "lift" means the rate of recreational. climb he can achieve in an up-current, while "sink" A sailplane must have auxiliary power to be­ denotes his rate of descent in a downdraft or in come airborne such as a winch, a ground tow, or neutral air. "Zero sink" means that upward cur­ a tow by a powered aircraft. Once the sailcraft is rents are just strong enough to enable him to hold airborne and the tow cable released, performance altitude but not to climb. Sailplanes are highly 171 r efficient machines; a sink rate of a mere 2 feet per second. There is no point in trying to soar until second provides an airspeed of about 40 knots, and weather conditions favor vertical speeds greater a sink rate of 6 feet per second gives an airspeed than the minimum sink rate of the aircraft.
    [Show full text]
  • Tornadoes & Funnel Clouds Fake Tornado
    NOAA’s National Weather Service Basic Concepts of Severe Storm Spotting 2009 – Rusty Kapela Milwaukee/Sullivan weather.gov/milwaukee Housekeeping Duties • How many new spotters? - if this is your first spotter class & you intend to be a spotter – please raise your hands. • A basic spotter class slide set & an advanced spotter slide set can be found on the Storm Spotter Page on the Milwaukee/Sullivan web site (handout). • Utilize search engines and You Tube to find storm videos and other material. Class Agenda • 1) Why we are here • 2) National Weather Service Structure & Role • 3) Role of Spotters • 4) Types of reports needed from spotters • 5) Thunderstorm structure • 6) Shelf clouds & rotating wall clouds • 7) You earn your “Learner’s Permit” Thunderstorm Structure Those two cloud features you were wondering about… Storm Movement Shelf Cloud Rotating Wall Cloud Rain, Hail, Downburst winds Tornadoes & Funnel Clouds Fake Tornado It’s not rotating & no damage! Let’s Get Started! Video Why are we here? Parsons Manufacturing 120-140 employees inside July 13, 2004 Roanoke, IL Storm shelters F4 Tornado – no injuries or deaths. They have trained spotters with 2-way radios Why Are We Here? National Weather Service’s role – Issue warnings & provide training Spotter’s role – Provide ground-truth reports and observations We need (more) spotters!! National Weather Service Structure & Role • Federal Government • Department of Commerce • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration • National Weather Service 122 Field Offices, 6 Regional, 13 River Forecast Centers, Headquarters, other specialty centers Mission – issue forecasts and warnings to minimize the loss of life & property National Weather Service Forecast Office - Milwaukee/Sullivan Watch/Warning responsibility for 20 counties in southeast and south- central Wisconsin.
    [Show full text]
  • 911 Communicator Questions to Ask Of
    911 Communicator Questions to ask of Severe Weather Spotters 1. Name, home address, and telephone number. 2. Is caller a trained severe weather spotter. 3. Time of call. 4. Time of severe weather event (may be different than call time). 5. Location of severe weather event, which may be different from location where spotter called from. (If spotter doesn’t say 1.2 miles southeast of Anytown, then request names of streets at nearest intersection). 6. Type of Weather Event – (most common to least common order) a. If it’s a wind report, ask if the reported speed is measured or estimated. b. If it’s a wind damage report, ask caller to estimate how many trees are damaged, uprooted, etc., or extent and severity of structural damage. c. If it’s a hail event, ask if the reported size is measured or estimated. (penny, nickel, quarter, golf ball, soft ball, etc.) d. If it’s a flood report, ask caller to estimate depth of water on roads or on lawns, ask if the water is stationary or moving, and extent or severity of damage. e. If it’s a “rotating wall-cloud” report, i. Persistent rotation (usually on backside of storm) = true rotating wall-cloud. ii. No rotation = scary-looking cloud (scud), or a non-rotating wall-cloud. f. If it’s a funnel-cloud report, ask caller if the funnel-shaped cloud is actually rotating. If the caller is too far away from the funnel-cloud they may not be able to see rotation. i. No rotation = just a scary-looking cloud (scud).
    [Show full text]
  • More Observations of Small Funnel Clouds and Other Tubular Clouds
    3714 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW VOLUME 133 PICTURE OF THE MONTH More Observations of Small Funnel Clouds and Other Tubular Clouds HOWARD B. BLUESTEIN School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma (Manuscript received 14 March 2005, in final form 20 May 2005) ABSTRACT In this brief contribution, photographic documentation is provided of a variety of small, tubular-shaped clouds and of a small funnel cloud pendant from a convective cloud that appears to have been modified by flow over high-altitude mountains in northeast Colorado. These funnel clouds are contrasted with others that have been documented, including those pendant from high-based cumulus clouds in the plains of the United States. It is suggested that the mountain funnel cloud is unique in that flow over high terrain is probably responsible for its existence; other types of small funnel clouds are seen both over elevated, mountainous terrain and over flat terrain at lower elevations. 1. Introduction which the benign funnel clouds occur so that if they are observed, severe weather warnings are not issued. Fur- Bluestein (1994) and others (e.g., Doswell 1985, p. thermore, the small funnel clouds are of interest in their 107; McCaul and Blanchard 1990) have documented, in own right because their dynamics are not well under- the plains of the United States, small funnel clouds pen- stood, and they have not been discussed in the litera- dant from convective clouds whose updrafts appear to ture to the much greater extent that the dynamics of be rooted above the boundary layer. Above many of tornadoes have (e.g., Davies-Jones 1986).
    [Show full text]
  • The Lagrange Torando During Vortex2. Part Ii: Photogrammetry Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Dual-Doppler Radar Data
    6.3 THE LAGRANGE TORANDO DURING VORTEX2. PART II: PHOTOGRAMMETRY ANALYSIS OF THE TORNADO COMBINED WITH DUAL-DOPPLER RADAR DATA Nolan T. Atkins*, Roger M. Wakimoto#, Anthony McGee*, Rachel Ducharme*, and Joshua Wurman+ *Lyndon State College #National Center for Atmospheric Research +Center for Severe Weather Research Lyndonville, VT 05851 Boulder, CO 80305 Boulder, CO 80305 1. INTRODUCTION studies, however, that have related the velocity and reflectivity features observed in the radar data to Over the years, mobile ground-based and air- the visual characteristics of the condensation fun- borne Doppler radars have collected high-resolu- nel, debris cloud, and attendant surface damage tion data within the hook region of supercell (e.g., Bluestein et al. 1993, 1197, 204, 2007a&b; thunderstorms (e.g., Bluestein et al. 1993, 1997, Wakimoto et al. 2003; Rasmussen and Straka 2004, 2007a&b; Wurman and Gill 2000; Alexander 2007). and Wurman 2005; Wurman et al. 2007b&c). This paper is the second in a series that pre- These studies have revealed details of the low- sents analyses of a tornado that formed near level winds in and around tornadoes along with LaGrange, WY on 5 June 2009 during the Verifica- radar reflectivity features such as weak echo holes tion on the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Exper- and multiple high-reflectivity rings. There are few iment (VORTEX 2). VORTEX 2 (Wurman et al. 5 June, 2009 KCYS 88D 2002 UTC 2102 UTC 2202 UTC dBZ - 0.5° 100 Chugwater 100 50 75 Chugwater 75 330° 25 Goshen Co. 25 km 300° 50 Goshen Co. 25 60° KCYS 30° 30° 50 80 270° 10 25 40 55 dBZ 70 -45 -30 -15 0 15 30 45 ms-1 Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • June 18, 2017 Landspout Tornadoes
    June 18, 2017 Landspout Tornadoes During the evening hours of Sunday, June 18, thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a cold front over Reagan and Upton Counties.As a result of intense heating and an incredible amount of instability along this boundary, three EF0 landspout* (see definitionat bottom of report) tornadoes touched down in Reagan and southeast Upton Counties between 7 and 8 pm CDT. These tornadoes occurred in open country and no damage was reported. Tornado #1 – EF0: Southwest Reagan County to Southeast Upton County (~7:05-7:13 pm CDT) The first thunderstorm developed around 6:00 pm near Big Lake, TX and slowly moved west along and near US Hwy 67. Law enforcement officersand folks in the area viewed and took images of a tornado that developed 1-2 miles south of US Hwy 67 roughly 14 miles east of Big Lake and continued westward through open fields insouth east portions of Upton County. The tornado was narrow, perhaps 50-75 yards in width and no damage was reported with this tornado. Photo by Maybell Carrasco Photo by Greg Romero Tornado #2 – EF0: Central Reagan Photo by Shanna Gibson County (~8:00 pm CDT) Another thunderstorm moving west, entered eastern Reagan County around 7:30 pm. As this storm approached Big Lake, a second tornado was spotted around 8 pm roughly 6-7 miles northeast of Big Lake, 2-3 miles east of SH 137. This tornado was very short-lived and went undetected on radar. It occurred in open country and no damage was reported. Tornado #3 – EF0: Northeast Reagan County – approximately 20-25 miles north of Big Lake.
    [Show full text]
  • The Unnamed Atlantic Tropical Storms of 1970
    944 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW Vol. 99, No. 12 UDC 551.515.23:661.507.35!2:551.607.362.2(261) “1970.08-.lo” THE UNNAMED ATLANTIC TROPICAL STORMS OF 1970 DAVID B. SPIEGLER Allied Research Associates, Inc., Concord, Mass. ABSTRACT A detailed analysis of conventional and aircraft reconnaissance data and satellite pictures for two unnamed Atlantic Ocean cyclones during 1970 indicates that the stqrms were of tropical nature and were probably of at least minimal hurricane intensity for part of their life history. Prior to becoming a hurricane, one of the storms exhibited characteristics not typical of any of the recognized classical cyclone types [i.e., tropical, extratropical, and subtropical (Kona)]. The implications of this are discussed and the concept of semitropical cyclones as a separate cyclone category is advanced. 6. INTRODUCTION ing recognition of hybrid-type storms provides additional support for the recommendation. During the 1970 tropical cyclone season, tn7o storms occurred that were not given names at the time. The 2. UNNAMED STORM NO. I-AUG. Q3-$8, 6970 National Hurricane Center (NHC) monitored their prog- ress and issued bulletins throughout their life history but A mell-organized tropical disturbance noted on satellite they mere not officially recognized as tropical cyclones of pictures during August 8, south of the Cape Verde Islands tropical storm or hurricane intensity. In their annual post- in the far eastern tropical Atlantic, intensified to ti strong season summary of the hurricane season, NHC discusses depression as it moved westmarcl. On Thursday, August 13, these storms in some detail (Simpson and Pelissier 1971) some further intensification of the system appeared to be but thej- are not presently included in the official list of taking place while the depression was about 250 mi 1970 tropical storms.
    [Show full text]
  • Skip Talbot Photography by Jennifer Brindley
    STORM SPOTTING Skip Talbot SECRETS Photography by Jennifer Brindley Ubl and others Topics • Supercell Visualization • Radar Presentation • Structure Identification • Storm Properties • Walk Through Disclaimers • Attend spotter training • Your safety is more important than spotting, photos, video, or tornado reports Supercell Visualization Lemon and Doswell 1979 Supercell Visualization Supercell Visualization Photo: Chris Gullikson Supercell Visualization Photo: Chris Gullikson Anvil Anvil Backshear Mammatus Cumulonimbus Flanking Line Cloud Base Striations Precipitation Wall Cloud Precipitation-free Base Supercell Visualization Radar Presentation Classic Hook Echo Radar Presentation Android / iOS Android Windows GrLevel3 / GrLevel2 Radar Presentation Classic Hook Echo Radar Presentation Radar Presentation Radar Presentation Radar Presentation Storm Spotting Zoo • Bear’s Cage • Whale’s Mouth • Beaver Tail • Horseshoe • Ghost Train Base (Updraft Base) (Rain Free Base or RFB) Base (Updraft Base) (Rain Free Base or RFB) Base (Updraft Base) (Rain Free Base or RFB) Base (Updraft Base) (Rain Free Base or RFB) Base (Updraft Base) (Rain Free Base or RFB) Base (Updraft Base) (Rain Free Base or RFB) Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe - Cyclical supercell with multiple tornadoes HorseshoeHorseshoe HorseshoeHorseshoe Horseshoe Horseshoe – Anticyclonic Funnel Horseshoe Horseshoe – Anticyclonic Funnel Horseshoe - No Wall Cloud Horseshoe - No Wall Cloud
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4 Atmospheric Moisture, Condensation, and Clouds
    9/13/2012 Chapter 4 Atmospheric Moisture, Condensation, and Clouds. The sun’s electromagnetic spectrum and some of the descriptive names of each region. The numbers underneath the curve approximate the percent of energy the sun radiates in various regions. 0.4 μm = 400 nm 0.7 μm = 700 nm The daily variation in air temperature is controlled by incoming energy (primarily from the sun) and outgoing energy from the earth’s surface. Where incoming energy exceeds outgoing energy (orange shade), the air temperature rises. Where outgoing energy exceeds incoming energy (gray The hotter sun not only radiates more energy than that of the cooler earth (the area shade), the air under the curve), but it also radiates the majority of its energy at much shorter temperature falls. wavelengths. (The area under the curves is equal to the total energy emitted, and the scales for the two curves differ by a factor of 100,000.) 1 9/13/2012 The average annual incoming solar radiation (yellow line) absorbed by the earth and the atmosphere along with the average annual infrared radiation (red line) emitted by the earth and the atmosphere. Water can exist in 3 phases, depending Evaporation, Condensation, upon pressure and temperature. & Saturation • Evaporation is the change of liquid into a gas and requires heat. • Condensation is the change of a gas into a liquid and releases heat. • Condensation nuclei • Sublimation: solid to gaseous state without becoming a liquid. • Saturation is an equilibrium condition http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/scripter/geog100/l http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Che in which for each molecule that ect/05‐atmos‐water‐wx/ch5‐part‐2‐water‐ mistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Phas phases.htm e_Transitions/Phase_Diagrams_1 evaporates, one condenses.
    [Show full text]
  • SKYWARN Weather Spotter Training Presentation
    SKYWARN Spotter Training Chris Kimble National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Gray, Maine www.weather.gov/gray Overview National Weather Service Definitions and Forecasting Tools Weather Spotters…Why they’re important? Thunderstorms Tornadoes Flash Flooding Storm Safety NWS Mission “To protect the lives and property of the citizens of the United States…” Watches and Warnings Outreach and Training NWS County Warning Areas Basic Definitions WATCH – conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop. Valid 4-6 hours. Contains several counties. WARNING – severe weather has been visually observed or detected on radar. Valid usually 1 hour or less, issued on a storm-by-storm basis. STATEMENT – provides follow-up information to a warning which is in effect. Basic Definitions TORNADO – a violently rotating column of air, attached to a thunderstorm, and in contact with the ground. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM – a thunderstorm which produces hail 1 inch diameter, and/or wind gusts 58 mph (50 knots) or stronger. FLASH FLOOD – a rapid rise in water, usually during or after a period of heavy rain. Tools for Detecting Storms Observations Copyright S. Hanes Computer models Satellite Radar Lightning Detection Network Observations We take many measurements of the atmosphere: Weather Balloons Releases twice a day all over the world at the same time – 900 stations worldwide Measures temperature, humidity, pressure as it goes up Flight lasts about 2 hrs and can reach as high as 115,000 ft Data is input into computer models Computer
    [Show full text]
  • Central Region Technical Attachment 95-08 Examination of an Apparent
    CRH SSD APRIL 1995 CENTRAL REGION TECHNICAL ATTACHMENT 95-08 EXAMINATION OF AN APPARENT LANDSPOUT IN THE EASTERN BLACK HILLS OF WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA David L. Hintz1 and Matthew J. Bunkers National Weather Service Office Rapid City, South Dakota 1. Abstract On June 29, 1994, an apparent landspout occurred in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This landspout exhibited most of the features characteristic of traditional landspouts documented in eastern Colorado. The landspout lasted 3 to 8 minutes, had a width of less than 20 m and a path of 1 to 3 km, produced estimated wind speeds of Fl intensity (33 to 50 m s1), and emanated from a towering cumulus (TCU) cloud located along a quasi-stationary convergencq/cyclonic shear zone. No radar echo was observed with this event; however, a supercell thunderstorm was located 80-100 km to the east. National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the “very localized” damage area and ruled out the possibility of the landspout being related to microburst, gustnado, or dust devil activity, as winds away from the landspout were less than 3 m s1. The landspout apparently “detached” from the parent TCU and damaged a farm which resulted in $1,000 dollars in expenses. 2. Introduction During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s researchers documented a phe­ nomenon with subtle differences from traditional tornadoes and waterspouts, herein referred to as the landspout (Seargent 1994; Brady and Szoke 1988, 1989; Bluestein 1985). The term “landspout” was actually coined by Bluestein (I985)(in the formal literature) when he observed this type of vortex along an Oklahoma squall line.
    [Show full text]