What to do if you are in the path of a tornado

In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.
In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.
In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper:Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.
In a mobile home:Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. If your community has a tornado shelter, go there fast. If there is a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head. If possible, use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you.
At school:Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.
In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Otherwise, park the car as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the traffic lanes. [It is safer to get the car out of mud later if necessary than to cause a crash.] Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If in the open country, run to low ground away from any cars (which may roll over on you). Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.
In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.
In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.
In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.

Info from the Storm Prediction Center

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NWS - Warnings, Watches, Advisories, and Statements defined

What the NWS Warnings, Watches, Advisories, and Statements mean to you.

1. WARNINGS - The hazard (tornado, flash flood, etc) is imminent. The probability of occurrence is extremely high. Warnings are issued based on eyewitness reports or clear signatures from remote sensing devices such as radar and satellite. Lead-time for thunderstorm type events is generally 30 minutes or less. Lead-time for hurricanes, river floods, and winter storms can be 6 to 18 hours.

2. WATCHES - Meteorologists have determined that conditions appear right for the development of the hazard. Probability of occurrence is greater than 60% in the watch area. Watches generally cover larger areas than warnings. In the case of thunderstorms, less than 30% of the watch area may experience the hazard. However, with larger storms such as hurricanes and winter storms, the entire watch area may be affected. Severe thunderstorm and tornado watches are usually issued 1 to 2 hours before the event begins. With flash floods, it can be 3 to 12 hours. For hurricane, river flood, and winter storm watches, lead-times are usually 12 to 36 hours.

3. ADVISORIES - An advisory is issued for weather that is expected to be a disruption to the normal routine and an inconvenience, but it is not expected to be life-threatening. Advisories are issued for 1 to 3 inches of snow, dense fog, minor street flooding, etc. The time frame is similar to that of a warning.

4. STATEMENTS - statements are issued to update current weather situations or highlight significant changes to come. Statements are also used to explain why watches, advisories, or warnings have been issued. Three special types of statements are ...

a) "Outlooks" or "Potential " Statements - During the warm season, the NWS Forecast Office issues "Thunderstorm Potential Statements" each morning discussing where and if storms will develop that afternoon and how intense they may be. When a winter storm may develop in the next 2 to 4 days, "Winter Storm Potential Statements" are issued. Outlooks may also be issued for possible heavy rain and flood events. The National Hurricane Center issues "Tropical Outlooks" for the potential for tropical storm and hurricane development. The National Severe Storms Forecast Center issues special statements when there is the potential for a severe thunderstorm or tornado outbreak.

b) Short-Term Forecasts - These statements discuss the short-range forecasts for the next 1 to 6 hours. During active weather, these statements may be issued hourly.

c) Public Information Statements - These statements provide information of special interest such as a summary of recent records set, snowfall, weather safety information, special activities (weather related) that may be occurring, etc.


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#tSpotter Reporting Information

We have partnered with the National Weather Service (Nashville) to immediately relay severe & winter weather reports you tweet to the NWS. We call this tSpotter.

If you see:

        TORNADO
        FUNNEL CLOUD
        FLOODING
        HAIL >= 1/2 INCH
        WINDS > 50 MPH (MEASURED)
        STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
        TREES OR POWER LINES DOWN
        and
        SNOW/FLURRIES

Let us know ASAP by tweeting your report with hashtag #tSpotter.  Tweets with photos and specific locations (geotagged) are best. Your reports assist the NWS in issuing severe weather warnings and advisories. The NWS only has radar, which can not see what is happening on the ground. Your report is a public service which improves the warning process, furthering the NWS mission of protecting life and property.

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Severe Weather Awareness Week - Weather Radio

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

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NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert System , NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages).
Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce. NWR includes 1000 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz):

162.400

162.425

162.450

162.475

162.500

162.525

162.550

Information provided by The National Weather Service

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Severe Weather Awareness Week - Tornadoes

In 2011 32 Tennesseans lost their lives due to tornadoes. Most of the fatalities occurred in the eastern part of the state during the terrible outbreak on April 27th.

Nationwide 1690 tornadoes were reported in 2011 which was the second highest total ever.  48 states had confirmed tornadoes last year which ties a record for the most states affected in one year.  550 Americans lost their lives due to tornadoes making 2011 the fourth deadliest year for tornadoes.  There were 6 ef5 tornadoes in 2011.  The ef5 total is second only to 1974 when there were 7 ef5 tornadoes.  The estimated dollar loss from tornado damage in 2011 was $10 billion...The most ever in a single year.

Your safety depends on being constantly alert to the possibility of tornadoes from the thunderstorms that approach you. This is especially true during tornado watches. A careful lookout should be kept during any period of severe weather activity. Plan in advance where you will go and what you will do if a tornado threatens you.

Remember...A tornado watch means that tornado development is possible...So watch the sky for developing thunderstorms and all the hazards they bring. Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio...commercial radio or television for weather statements or warnings.

The watch gives you time to think about what you should do if a tornado approaches and alerts you to the fact that atmospheric conditions might favor the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. A watch might cover several thousand square miles over parts of one or more states.

A tornado warning, usually issued for 1 or 2 counties at a time, means that a tornado has been sighted...Or that one is likely based on radar. Persons in the path of the storm need to immediately find shelter, preferably in a sturdy building, below ground if possible.

Tornado safety rules

In homes or small buildings, go to the basement or to an interior room, such as a closet or bathroom, on the lowest level. Get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or a bed. 

In mobile homes and vehicles, abandon them and go to a sturdy structure. If there is no such structure nearby, lie flat in a ditch, ravine, gully, culvert or low spot with your arms and hands shielding your head.

In large buildings, such as schools, factories, hospitals, nursing homes and shopping centers, go to the pre-designated shelter area. Interior hallways on the lowest floor are usually best. Stay away from rooms that are large in area because they have weakly supported roofs.  In high-rise buildings, go to an interior small room or hallway.

Stay away from windows. Don't bother opening or closing them. It won't make any difference to the structure and you'll just waste time or put yourself at risk should glass break as you are near.

NOAA weather radio will carry information and safety tips all this week containing important safety rules that you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of severe weather.

Information provided by the National Weather Service.
 

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Severe Weather Awareness Week - Severe Thuderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning   This is issued when either a severe thunderstorm is indicated by the radar or a spotter reports a thunderstorm producing hail one inch or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour; therefore, people in the affected area should seek safe shelter immediately. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning. Lightning frequency is not a criteria for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning. They are usually issued for a duration of one hour. They can be issued without a Severe Thunderstorm Watch being already in effect. Like a Tornado Warning, the Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued by your National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO). Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will include where the storm was located, what towns will be affected by the severe thunderstorm, and the primary threat associated with the severe thunderstorm warning. If the severe thunderstorm will affect the nearshore or coastal waters, it will be issued as the combined product--Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Special Marine Warning. If the severe thunderstorm is also causing torrential rains, this warning may also be combined with a Flash Flood Warning. If there is an ampersand (&) symbol at the bottom of the warning, it indicates that the warning was issued as a result of a severe weather report. After it has been issued, the affected NWFO will follow it up periodically with Severe Weather Statements. These statements will contain updated information on the severe thunderstorm and they will also let the public know when the warning is no longer in effect.

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Severe Weather Awareness Week - Skywarn Spotter Importance

SkyWarn needs you

SKYWARN® is the National Weather Service (NWS) prgram to recruit and train storm spotters, who serve as the ears and eyes that can share the “ground truth” with forecasters. Despite sophisticated technology in use by NWS, forecasters still rely on storm spotters. Anyone can become a volunteer SKYWARN® spotter, if they value the satisfaction of knowing that their reports result in better warnings which save lives. NWS also has e-spotter — a web based program — that lets spotters send reports online in real time at: http://espotter.weather.gov/ Your local NWS office has schedules for training.

This information was taken from the Tennessee Severe Weather Information Book provided by The National Weather Service and The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

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Severe Weather Awareness Week - Lightning

Nationwide in 2011, 26 people were killed by light­ning. Fortunately, none of those killed were in the Vol­unteer State. Since 1959, nearly 4,000 people in the United States, including 140 in Tennessee, have died. As a result, Tennessee is in the Top 5 of states in terms of lightning fatalities.

In an average year, 25 million lightning strikes are recorded across the United States alone.  Lightning is an incredibly powerful electrical discharge, containing up to 100 million volts of electrical charge and capable of reaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cloud-to-ground light­ning is the result of incred­ible differences in electrical charge between thunder­storms and the earth’s sur­face.

The sound of thunder travels around one mile ev­ery five seconds and is of­ten audible up to 10 miles. If you can see lightning and hear thunder at your loca­tion, you are in danger of being struck by lightning and your life is in immediate danger.

Rules for Safety

Stay away from windows.
Avoid telephones and electrical appliances (wires connecting to these devices run outside of the home and act as lightning rods).
Don’t wash dishes or take a shower. The pipes will conduct electricity.
Unplug computers and other sensitive electrical devices. Surge suppressors may not protect these items if lightning hits close to home.
Lightning can strike twice, and often will. 

This information was taken from the Tennessee Severe Weather Information Book provided by The National Weather Service and The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

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First real winter precipitation in Wilson County

We experienced our first real glimpse of Winter precipitation in Wilson County today.  It was short lived due to the temperatures being quite warm for a couple of days prior and the temperature during the snow event being at or just above freezing.

The National Weather Service said that this snow event was one of the hardest to predict in recent memory.  The computer models were no where near being in agreement for the outcome of the winter weather.

It snowed for a few hours and at times the flakes were as large as quarters coming down at a very heavy pace.  Had the temperature been about 5 degrees colder we would have had a pretty major snow event.  As the snow tapered off to flurries the temperature started to rise and by about 4:00 this afternoon it was nearly 40 degrees and the snow was nothing more than a memory.

The way this Winter has progressed in the middle Tennessee area this could have possibly been our best chance for a significant snow accumulation.

Stay tuned to WilsonSevereWX on Twitter for your real-time severe weather information in Wilson County, Tennessee.

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