“Your Weather Source” OR DRIZZLE: This occurs when rain or drizzle freezes on surfaces (such as the ground, trees, power lines, motor vehicles, streets, highways, etc.) that have a temperature of 32°F or below. Small accumulations of can cause driving A note from ABC12 Chief Meteorologist and walking difficulties. Meanwhile, heavy accumula- J.R. Kirtek tions of ice can pull down trees and utility lines. In this situation, it would be called an ―.‖ : Knowledge is King! J.R. Kirtek Issued when freezing rain or freezing drizzle causes sig- nificant inconveniences, but does not meet warning cri- Chief Meteorologist teria (normally an ice accumulation of 1/4 inch or The only way to make good decisions greater) and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to during times of stress is to learn as much life-threatening situations. as you can about the threats you may face. And weather, most certainly, can be a threat. From 2005 through 2007, severe weather caused more than $200 million in damage across our state.

Occasionally, small tornadoes can ―spin up‖ with little, or no, advance warning. John McMurray The that spawn them, Meteorologist however, are usually forecast hours in advance. Keep in mind that ALL thun- derstorms could be a potential threat. By keeping abreast of the daily forecast, staying aware of your surroundings when thunderstorms develop, and by having an action plan in the event weather becomes threatening, lives can be protected and property losses can be minimized.

We, at the ABC12 First Alert Weather Leslie Toldo Center, and all of us here at ABC12 hope Meteorologist ABC12 Weather Resources you find this brochure useful in helping you create an action plan for severe weather. ABC12 First Alert Channel—ABC12 is the only Remember, ABC12 is ‖Your Safest mid -Michigan station Place in Bad Weather.‖ To offer viewers local weather 24 hours everyday. Find this on Comcast Digital Cable (Channel 247) and now Charter J.R. Kirtek Communications (Channel 431).

Kevin Goff ABC12 First Alert Center Phone Line - Get the day’s Meteorologist forecast and the extended forecast right over the phone. Call (810) 232-3333 or (989) 790-7329.

15

Winter Weather Definitions

WINTER : Issued when a is producing very heavy . For Lower Michigan, a is issued when winter is producing snow greater than or equal to 6 inches in 12 hours; or greater than or equal to 8 inches in 24 hours. In cases of mixed precipitation or blowing, these snowfall amounts may be less. : Issued by the when there is a potential of very heavy snow. In Lower Michigan, a Winter Storm Watch is issued for the potential of a win- ter storm producing snow greater than or equal to 6 inches in 12 hours; or greater than or equal to 8 inches in CONTENTS: 24 hours. In cases of mixed precipitation or blowing, NOAA ...... 2 these snowfall amounts may be less. Severe Weather Definitions ...... 3 Safety...... 4-5 Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale...... 6-7 WINTER STORM ADVISORY: Lightning Safety ...... 8-9 Issued when a low pressure system produces a combina- How Far Away Is That ? ...... 10 tion of winter precipitation (snow, freezing rain, sleet, What Exactly Is ABC12 First Alert Live Radar? 11 etc.) that present a hazard, but does not meet warning Flooding/ Safety ...... 12 criteria. In Michigan, the criteria for its issuance is a Heat & Wind Chill Indexes ...... 13 snow event that is forecasted to produce snow (average Winter Weather Definitions ...... 14-15 of forecast range) greater than 3 inches, but less than Flint Bishop International Airport Travel Chart . 16 warning criteria (6 inches in Lower Michigan and 8 inches in Upper Michigan) in 12 hours.

BLIZZARD: A winter storm which produces the following conditions for at least 3 hours: 1) sustained winds of frequent gusts to 35 mile per hour or greater 2) considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile.

BLIZZARD WARNING: Issued when blizzard conditions are life threatening. In Michigan, the criteria is a sustained wind or frequent wind gusts to 35 mph or more and considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility frequently to less than 1/4 mile for a duration of 3 hours or longer.

14 1

NOAA Weather Radio Heat Index

The fastest and most reliable means of receiving criti- cal weather information is through use of a NOAA The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it really feels Weather Radio with an automatic "tone alert" feature. when the relative humidity (RH) is added to the actual You will receive the warning directly from the National air temperature. This index was devised for shady, light Weather Service in just a couple of minutes from its wind conditions. Exposure to full sunshine can increase issuance. These radios can be purchased in most stores that carry small electronics. Immediately following the issuance of a by the NWS, the "tone alert" is instantly sounded, followed by warning infor- mation. This is especially useful when severe weather is expected during the nighttime hours when people are sleeping, and when windows are closed, preventing sirens from being heard. In addition to the tone-alert, the new generation of weather radios receive a digital burst of information. This information is used to tell your radio to warn you only when weather is to affect your specific county. The National Weather Service refers to this digital informa- tion as "Specific Area Message Encoding" (SAME). The radio's "tone alert" feature and SAME are used for the issuance of all weather warnings as well as se- vere thunderstorm, , hurricane, and tornado watches. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts 24 hours a Wind Chill Index day, seven days a week with the latest weather informa- tion from daily forecasts to special weather statements

about sudden shifts in the weather patterns or the devel- opment of potentially hazardous weather. The Wind Chill Index is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effect of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried

ABC12 viewing area ALCONA

IOSCO ROSCOMMON OGEMAW

ARENAC

OSCEOLA CLARE GLADWIN

HURON

BAY MECOSTA ISABELLA MIDLAND

TUSCOLA SANILAC

MONTCALM GRATIOT SAGINAW

LAPEER GENESEE SHIAWASSEE CLINTON

LIVINGSTON INGHAM

Frostbite Times: 30 Minutes 10 Minutes 5 Minutes 2 13

Flooding Severe Weather Definitions

Although Michigan isn’t impacted by flooding as much WATCH: as other states, the majority of flood-related deaths are Conditions are favorable for the development of severe caused by people attempting to drive through moving thunderstorms or tornadoes in and close to the watch water. area. Watches are usually issued hours before weather threatens. When a WATCH is issued, it is time to pre- Most cars will float (and be swept away) in 18-24 pare for severe weather. It is also time to occasionally inches of moving water. Trucks and SUVs are not much watch the sky for rapidly changing conditions. better with only 6-12 more inches of clearance. Creeks and rivers can rise very rapidly and the road bottom can TORNADO WARNING: also wash away making the water much deeper than it Issued when a tornado is strongly suggested, as indi- appears. cated by radar, or is actually sighted by storm spotters. It is time to act – to seek shelter from the damaging Once cars are swept downstream they will often roll to storm. one side or perhaps flip over entirely. The driver has a few precious seconds to escape the vehicle. In fact, SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING: many drivers panic as soon as the vehicle submerges and Issued when a thunderstorm produces hail 3/4 of an inch are found later with their seat belt intact. or larger in diameter and/or winds which equal or ex- ceed 58 mph. Severe thunderstorms have killed more Flood Safety people in Michigan than tornadoes have.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH: Indicates that flash flooding is possible in and close to Know your area's flood risk. People who live in the watch area. Those in the affected area are urged to flood-prone areas should stay alert for changing weather be ready to take quick action if a flash is conditions and rising lake and river levels. During rains issued or flooding is observed. that have lasted for several hours, be attentive to the chance of flooding. : Know where high ground is and move there quickly Signifies a dangerous situation where rapid flooding of if you see or hear rapidly rising water. small rivers, streams, creeks, or urban areas are immi- Do not attempt to cross through fast-flowing water nent or already occurring. Very heavy rain that falls in a short time period can lead to flash flooding, depending that is more than shin-deep. on local terrain, ground cover, degree of urbanization, Do not try to drive through flooded areas -- remem- degree of man-made changes to river banks, and initial ber, most flood-related deaths occur in automobiles. ground or river conditions. If your vehicle stalls, abandon it and seek higher ground immediately. Be especially cautious at night, when the danger may be hidden. High water conditions can create navigational haz- ards on area lakes or rivers. When operating a watercraft, operate at a safe speed that does not create a wake which will cause additional damage to property and environmentally sensitive areas. 12 3 What Exactly First Alert Tornado Safety Live Radar?

It is important to remember that when a WATCH is First Alert Live Radar is a combination of ABC12’s issued, conditions are favorable for the development of very own weather surveillance radar and a set of storm severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. This is the time to tracking tools and other computer programs that help the PREPARE and to keep an eye on the sky for rapidly First Alert Storm Team track storms right down to changing weather conditions. Watches are usually is- street-level over all of mid-Michigan. sued well before damaging storms form. If you use this time wisely, you will not be caught by surprise by dam- The radar itself is located 4 miles northeast of aging weather. When a severe weather warning is is- Chesaning in Saginaw County. It is a Radtec RDR250- sued, or when tornado sirens sound, it is time to ACT. GC being run with Sigmet IRIS software. At the time of its installation, ABC12 was the only television station in the country operating this research-grade radar. The In a home with a basement: IRIS software package allows for simultaneous display Avoid windows. of precipitation and Doppler velocity. It also has storm Get in basement under something sturdy. tracking capabilities and rainfall estimation algorithms Know where heavy objects are above and don’t go that keep ABC12’s meteorologists on top of the storm. underneath them. And, all of this isn’t even used on the air!

Our on-air display comes from running our live radar data into another computer from Weather Services Inter- Home without basement: national (WSI). This system, called Trueview Interac- Avoid windows. tive, has a built-in geographic database that will auto- Go to lowest floor possible and put as many walls matically calculate how long it will take storms to hit as possible between you and the outside (under a cities all over the area. It can track individual storms stairwell, in a small closet, bathroom, or interior and squall lines. Using its ―interactive‖ capabilities, hallway is best). ABC12’s meteorologists can track storms right on cam- Crouch as low as possible and protect your head era, rather than having to be off-camera operating a key- from falling debris. board and mouse.

Our system has other capabilities, including: display of Mobile home: all the National Weather Service NEXRAD Doppler Get Out! Mobile homes can be severely damaged radar sites, display of rainfall and snowfall estimates, by even straight line winds. display of rainfall and snowfall forecast amounts, and Go to the nearest sturdy, permanent structure. other past, present and forecast displays of other weather If necessary, lie flat on low ground or depression parameters such as wind direction and speed, tempera- away from trees and automobiles while protecting ture, and sky conditions. Any of these parameters can your head. be displayed for any time in any city in the area for a 48- hour timeframe. This part of our exclusive weather dis- play is what we call ―Pinpoint Predictor.‖ Office building / hospital: Go to enclosed, windowless area in center While it is all very technical, what it boils down to is of building. that ABC12 has assembled the most technologically Crouch down and protect your head. advanced tools for the largest staff of meteorologists to Avoid elevators. keep ABC12 ―Your Safest Place in Bad Weather.‖

4 11 How Far Away Is That If you‟re outdoors: Get inside, if possible. Thunderstorm? If you have no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building. Protect your head and neck by using your arms. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges or over- You can make a rough estimate of how far a storm is passes. This can cause traffic hazards, and expo- away from you by looking for lightning and listening for sure to high-velocity winds and flying debris. thunder. Because a lightning stroke creates a clap of thunder, and because light travels much faster than sound, lightning flashes can be seen long before the re- sulting thunder is heard. When you see a lightning If you‟re in a vehicle: stroke, count the number of seconds it takes for you to Never try to outrun a tornado in a car. A tornado hear its thunder. Divide this number by 5, and you have can toss cars and trucks around like toys. If you see (approximately) the number of miles the storm is away a funnel cloud or hear a tornado warning issued, get from you! For example: You see lightning. Fifteen out of your vehicle and find safe shelter. If the tor- seconds later you hear thunder. 15 divided by 5 is three. nado is visible far away, and the traffic is light, you You are about 3 miles from the storm! may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. It is important to remember, however, that whenever Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a you can hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck by nearby building. lightning – whether it is raining or not. If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the car. Choose a location such that your vehicle won’t be rolled over on top of you. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges or over- passes. This can cause traffic hazards and exposure to high-velocity winds and flying debris.

10 5 7. Get out of the water. This includes getting off Fujita “F” Tornado small boats on the water. Intensity Scale 8. If you're outdoors, seek shelter from light- ning! Buildings are best for shelter. If you can't find shelter, avoid the tallest object in the area. If no build- The Fujita („F‟) Scale, developed by Uni- ings are available, you can find protection in a ditch or versity of Chicago researcher Dr. Theodore other depression. Also, avoid proximity. Keep at least Fujita in 1971, is used by meteorologists to 15 feet between you and another person. Crouch down. estimate the speed of winds AFTER a tor- Put feet together. Place hands over ears to minimize nado by studying the damage to structures hearing damage from thunder.

caused by the tornado. 9. Trees are not good cover! Tall trees attract light- ning. If only isolated trees are nearby, your best protec- F0 – Tornado tion is to crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from isolated trees as the trees are high. Winds: Less than 73mph

Light Damage: Some chimneys damaged, twigs and branches broken off trees, 10. When you feel the electrical charge -- if your shallow-rooted trees pushed over, signboards hair stands on end or your skin tingles -- lightning may damages, some windows broken be about to strike you. Drop to the ground immedi- ately!

11. Injured persons do not carry an electrical charge F1 - Moderate Tornado and can be handled safely. Apply First Aid procedures Wind: 73-112 mph to a lightning victim if you are qualified to do so. Call Moderate Damage: Surface of roofs 911 or send for help immediately. peeled off, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, outbuildings demolished, moving autos pushed off the roads, trees snapped or broken, beginning of hurricane speed winds

F2 - Significant Tornado Wind: 113-157 mph Considerable Damage: Roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, frame houses with weak foundations lifted and moved, large trees snapped or uprooted, light-object missiles generated

9 6 F3 - Severe Tornado Lightning Safety Wind: 158-206 mph Severe Damage: Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses, trains overturned, most trees uprooted, heavy cars lifted off the ground and A single stroke of lightning carries more than thrown, weak pavement blown off the roads 100,000,000 volts of electricity -- enough power to light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months. A bolt of lightning can be more than 40,000 degrees Fahrenheit – hotter than the surface of the sun! F4 - Devastating Tornado Wind: 207-260 mph 1. Stay or go indoors! Suspend activities for 30 min- Devastating Damage: Well-constructed houses utes after the last observed lightning or thunder. leveled, structures with weak foundations blown off the distance, cars thrown and disintegrated, 2. Stay away from anything that could conduct trees uprooted and carried some distance away electricity. This includes fireplaces, radiators, stoves and plumbing. F5 - Incredible Tornado 3. Don't use any plug-in electrical appliances like Wind: 261-318 mph hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, or electric razors. If Incredible Damage: Strong frame houses lifted lightning strikes your house, they can conduct the charge off foundations and carried considerable distance to you. to disintegrate, automobile-sized missiles fly

through the air in excess of 300 feet, trees 4. Don't use the telephone during the storm. debarked, incredible phenomena will occur Lightning may strike telephone lines outside.

5. Stay in your automobile if you are traveling. Automobiles give you excellent lightning protection. Michigan‟s Last Major

6. Don't use metal objects outside, like fishing rods and golf clubs. Golfers wearing cleated shoes are really good lightning rods. July 2, 1997 Clio F3

June 21, 1996 Frankenmuth F3

April 2, 1977 Eaton County & Kalamazoo County F4

April 3, 1959 Montcalm County F5

*June 8, 1953 Beecher F5

*Last tornado in US history to kill more than 100 people

8 7