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    BE PREPARED FOR
    HAZARDOUS WEATHER

    WATCH = Be alert!

     WARNING = Take action !

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

  • HAIL - ball of ice that falls from a cumulonimbus cloud/thunderstorm
    • Penny = 3/4 inch
    • Nickel / Mothball = 0.88 inch
    • Quarter = 1 inch
    • Half Dollar = 1.25 inches
    • Walnut / Ping Pong = 1.50 inches
    • Golf Ball = 1.75 inches
    • Tennis Ball = 2.5 inches
    • Baseball = 2.75 inches
    • Grapefruit = 4 inches
  • SEVERE THUNDERSTORM - a thunderstorm which produces
    • hail 3/4 of an inch or greater
    • winds greater than 58 mph
    • damage to trees, telephone/utility poles or any structure
    • tornado
  • SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when severe weather is imminent or occurring. A warning is issued for a county or part of a county and is usually in effect for about an hour.
  • SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH - issued by the Storm Prediction Center when severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area (box). The watch is issued for a large area and is usually in effect for several hours.

TORNADOES

  • FUJITA TORNADO SCALE:
    • F0     40  to  72 mph    light damage
    • F1     73  to 112 mph   moderate damage
    • F2    113 to 157 mph   considerable damage
    • F3    158 to 206 mph   severe damage
    • F4    207 to 260 mph   devastating damage
    • F5    261 to 318 mph   incredible damage
  • FUNNEL-CLOUD - a funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from the base of a thunderstorm which is rapidly rotating and does NOT come into contact with the ground or objects on the ground.
  • TORNADO - a funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from the base of a severe thunderstorm which is rapidly rotating and comes into contact with the ground or any objects on the ground.
  • TORNADO WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when a tornado is imminent or occurring. A warning is issued for a county or part of a county and is usually in effect for about an hour.
  • TORNADO WATCH - issued by the Storm Prediction Center when severe thunderstorms may produce tornadoes and near the watch area (box). The watch is issued for a large area and is usually in effect for several hours.
  • WATERSPOUT - a tornado that occurs over the waters.

TROPICAL WEATHER  

  • HURRICANE - maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.
  • HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when a hurricane or tropical storm watch or warning is issued for the local area. It contains highly detailed information about present and/or anticipated storm affects such as: watches and/or warnings in effect, storm information, precaution/preparedness information, storm surge and tidal impacts, wind impacts, rainfall and flooding impacts, the tornado threat and update information.
  • HURRICANE SEASON - June through November for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea & Gulf of Mexico. Peak threat to United States is from the middle of August through late October.
  • HURRICANE WARNING issued by the National Hurricane Center when hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area within 24 hours or less. Complete all storm preparations and evacuate if directed to by local officials.
  • HURRICANE WATCH - issued by the National Hurricane Center when hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area generally within 36 hours. This is the time to take action to protect life and property.
  • INLAND HIGH WIND WARNING FOR HURRICANE (or TROPICAL STORM) FORCE WINDS - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office, usually in conjunction with a Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Warning issued by the National Hurricane, when hurricane (tropical storm) force winds are expected for inland/non-coastal counties.
  • INLAND HIGH WIND WATCH FOR HURRICANE (or TROPICAL STORM) FORCE WINDS - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office, usually in conjunction with a Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Watch issued by the National Hurricane, when hurricane (tropical storm) force winds are possible for inland/non-coastal counties.
  • SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE:
    • Category 1    74 to 95 mph
    • Category 2    96 to 110 mph
    • Category 3    111 to 130 mph
    • Category 4    131 to 155 mph
    • Category 5    greater than 156 mph
  • TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY - issued by the National Hurricane Center. The advisory contains a list of all current watches and warnings on a tropical cyclone. The cyclone position is given in terms of latitude and longitude coordinates and distance from a selected land point or island, as well as the current motion. The advisory includes the maximum sustained winds in miles per hour and the estimated or measured minimum central pressure in millibars and inches. Public advisories are normally issued every six hours. They may be issued every two or three hours when coastal watches or warnings are in effect. Special public advisories may be issued at any time due to significant changes in warnings or in the cyclone. They are broadcast over local NOAA Weather Radio when the tropical storm or hurricane is located west of longitude 50 degrees West.
  • TROPICAL DEPRESSION - an organized area of low pressure where sustained surface winds are 38 mph or less.
  • TROPICAL STORM - a strong area of low pressure associated with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph. It is at this point a tropical cyclone gets a name.
  • TROPICAL STORM WARNING - issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within 24 hours or less.
  • TROPICAL STORM WATCH - issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area generally within 36 hours.
  • TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK - issued four times a day during the hurricane season by the National Hurricane Center. The outlook is a discussion of significant areas of disturbed weather and their potential for development out to 48 hours.
  • TROPICAL WEATHER SUMMARY - issued by the National Hurricane Center. The summary is issued on the first of every month during the hurricane season. It describes the previous month's tropical cyclone activity and gives details on the cyclones as known at that time. The last Tropical Weather Summary of the season gives an brief account of the whole season.

HEAT

  • EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when it is possible for the heat index to exceed 115 degrees for any length of time during the day or the heat index will be equal to or exceed 105 degrees for more than 3 hours in a day for at least 2 consecutive days.
  • EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when the heat index is expected to exceed 115 degrees for any length of time during the day or the heat index will be equal to or exceed 105 degrees for more than 3 hours in a day for at least 2 consecutive days.
  • HEAT ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when the heat index is expected to exceed 105 degrees (100 degrees for New York City) but be less 115 degrees than for less than 3 hours in a day and/or when nighttime lows are forecast to remain above 80 degrees for 2 consecutive days.
  • HEAT INDEX - what the temperature feels like to the human body based on both the air temperature and humidity.
  • HUMIDITY - the measured amount of moisture in the air.
  • OZONE HEALTH ADVISORY - issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation when ozone levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than 0.08 ppm when averaged over an 8 hour period. The "ozone / advisory season" typically runs from May 15 until September 15. Ozone forecasts are updated Monday through Friday by 11 am and are not updated on the weekends. Ozone Health Advisory are broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio.

MARINE  

  • GALE WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for sustained winds or frequent gusts of 34 to 47 knots, not associated with a tropical system.
  • HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for sustained winds or frequent gusts of 64 knots or greater, not associated with a tropical system.
  • SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for sustained winds or frequent gusts of 25 to 33 knots and/or seas 5 feet or higher.
  • SPECIAL MARINE WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office to convey information regarding hazardous convective activity or other short-term weather events occurring over the water or which may impact those on the water that are not covered by the current forecast.
  • STORM WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for sustained winds or frequent gusts 48 to 63 knot, not associated with a tropical system.

FLOODING    

  • TYPES OF FLOODING - coastal, dam failures, ice jams, rivers, small streams, and urban.
  • COASTAL FLOODING - the inundation of land areas along the ocean coast caused by sea waters over and above normal tidal action that may be originate from the ocean front, back bays, sounds, or other bodies of ocean water.
  • COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when minor to locally moderate tidal flooding or storm induced flooding is excepted along coastal areas or to give updated information when a coastal flood watch or warning is in effect.
  • COASTAL FLOOD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when moderate or worse tidal flooding or storm induced flooding is occurring, imminent or highly likely along coastal areas within approximately the next 12 hours.
  • COASTAL FLOOD WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when conditions are favorable for moderate or worse tidal flooding or storm induced flooding along coastal areas within approximately 12 to 36 hours.
  • FLASH FLOOD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when flooding will create an immediate threat to life and/or property. Generally occurring in a time period of less than 6 hours.
  • FLOOD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when flooding will occur in a time period generally greater than 6 hours.
  • FLOOD WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when the potential for flooding exists.

WIND  

  • HIGH WIND WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for one hour or longer or for winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration are expected.
  • HIGH WIND WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for one hour or longer or for winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration are possible.
  • WIND - the movement of air from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. The greater the difference in pressure the stronger the winds. Wind direction is defined by the direction it is coming from.
  • WIND ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when sustained wind speeds of 31 to 39 mph lasting for one hour or longer or for winds of 46 to 57 mph for any duration are expected.

WINTER WEATHER  

  • BLIZZARD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when snow and strong winds will combine to produce blinding snow (visibility near zero / whiteouts), deep snow drifts, and life-threatening wind chill.
  • WIND CHILL ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when potentially dangerous wind chill readings of 15 to 24 degrees below zero are expected.
  • WIND CHILL WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when life-threatening wind chill readings of  25 degrees below zero or lower are expected.
  • WIND CHILL WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when life-threatening wind chill readings of  25 degrees below zero or lower are possible.
  • WINTER STORM WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when severe winter conditions (heavy snow = 6+ inches and/or significant ice accumulations = 1/2 inch or more) have begun or are about to begin in your area. 
  • WINTER STORM WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when severe winter conditions (heavy snow = 6+ inches and/or significant ice accumulations = 1/2 inch or more) are possible within the next day or two.
  • WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when winter conditions (snow, sleet and/or freezing rain/ice) are expected to cause significant inconvenience and may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, these situations should not become life-threatening. The greatest hazard is often to motorists.

OTHER DEFINITIONS

  • DENSE FOG ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for the occurrence of widespread fog which reduces visibility to 1/4 mile or less.
  • FREEZE WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when temperatures of 32 degrees or below are expected over an extensive area for a significant period of time (several hours) during the growing season.
  • FROST ADVISORY issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when widespread frost is expected during the growing season.
  • PROBABILITY OF PRECIPITATION - POP:
    • Slight Chance or Isolated = 10% 20%
    • Chance or Scattered = 30% 40% 50%
    • Likely or Numerous = 60% 70%
    • Occasional or Periods = 80% 90% 100%

OTHER PREPAREDNESS

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