Weather Terms To Know from Schmeg.com

   

WEATHER TERMS TO KNOW

WATCH - The conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur. Persons in or close to the watch area should remain alert to threatening weather conditions.

WARNING - Severe weather has been sighted and/or indicated. Persons in the warned area should take cover immediately and remain in a safe place until the warning expires or is cancelled by the local authorities.

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A TORNADO WATCH means that conditions are right for a tornado to develop. You should listen to NOAA Weather Radio, or to commercial radio and television stations for the latest weather information. Keep informed! Keep an eye out for threatening conditions and be prepared to go to a safe place.A

TORNADO WARNING means that a tornado has been detected by radar of seen by someone. If the tornado warning is for your area, then you should go to a safe shelter immediately.

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM - A thunderstorm producing winds of 58 miles per hour or greater and/or 3/4 inch or larger hail. Thunderstorms are also classified as severe if they produce tornadoes.

FUNNEL CLOUD - A cloud, shaped like a funnel, extending from the base of a thunderstorm, but not making contact with the ground. Funnel clouds are associated with rotating columns of air. When a funnel cloud makes contact with ground, it is re-classified as a tornado.

TORNADO - A violently rotating column of air contact with the ground. Tornadoes are most often found in the Southwest quadrant of the thunderstorm, especially supercells.

WALL CLOUD - A local and often abrupt lowering of a rain-free cloud base, usually situated in the Southwest portion of a storm below an intense updraft. Wall clouds are often associated with very strong or severe thunderstorms. Rotating wall clouds usually develop before tornadoes or funnel cloud form, from a few minutes up to possibly an hour. Wall clouds are often flat, low hanging and dark. Sometimes, other low-hanging accessory clouds are mistakenly identified as wall clouds.

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Remember . . . Tornadoes form quickly! You may only have a very few seconds to find adequate shelter. When a tornado threatens, your immediate action can save your life! Even taking precautions to move to your designated safe palce during a Severe Thunderstorm Warning may save vital seconds.