Download Severe Thunderstorm Warning

A Meteorology Class
Reading Radar and Warnings
Ms. Mozer
Objectives, Major Concepts: Weather & Climate
SCSh4. Students use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating scientific
equipment and materials.
a.b. Use technology to produce tables and graphs.
Standards:
Students will investigate energy transfer to types of clouds formed, precipitation,
and air masses.
a. Explain the relationship between air masses and the areas over which they form.
b. Differentiate the four types of fronts, their structure, and the clouds and
precipitation associated with each front.
c. Relate weather events to the energy transfer within the Earth's atmosphere.
d. Examine the role of energy transfer in the development of global weather
patterns.
SM3. Students will explore the science of weather forecasting.
a. Analyze a surface weather map.
b. Predict weather for a specific location using knowledge of air mass, frontal, and
cyclone movement.
c. Investigate and describe the formation of severe weather including severe
thunderstorms, hurricane, tornadoes and their role in energy transfer.
d. Describe the role of technological advancements on weather forecasting and
relate
that to the improvement of weather watch/warning issuance.
Students will analyze the relationship of weather and society.
a. Analyze the implications of severe weather events (droughts, floods,
thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter weather, hurricanes, etc.) on local, national, and
global economies.
Your job today:
Interpret data from
radar images & maps
Understand the differences:
WATCHES & WARNINGS
Think of yourself as a long distance driver
You drive in lots of different weather conditions
You are concerned that…
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=932887574
What can RADAR tell you about the
WEATHER?
http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/tech.php?id=2345896&lid=1
radar tower
radar computers
To learn more about the use of RADAR:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wdoppler.htm
Typically displayed on a black
or dark background,
radar data is depicted
on the radar
monitor using 4 primary colors.
Green - light rain
Yellow – moderate
rain/shower
Orange –
heavy rain/thunderstorm
RedVery heavy rain/strong-severe
Thunderstorm
The blue shown here is virga:
precipitation that has evaporated
before reaching the surface/ground
• WORKSHEET
1. Review your instructions for interpreting radar data
and the identification of storms on the radar image,
and answer the questions below:
a. Orange echoes on a radar image indicate ___________________.
b. Information on a radar image is best used for ________________.
Do you know when to use the
radar and how it can help you to
stay safe?
Watches
& Warnings
Knowing the difference
between these two
weather advisories &
how to read the radar
can mean the
difference between
safe and destruction…
A “watch” is not a “warning”
• Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in your area.
Remain alert for approaching storms.
• Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or
indicated by weather radar. If a tornado warning is
issued for your area and the sky becomes threatening,
move to your pre-designated place of safety.
• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Severe thunderstorms
are possible in your area.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe thunderstorms
are occurring.
Remember, tornadoes occasionally develop in areas in
which a severe thunderstorm watch or warning is in
effect. Remain alert to signs of an approaching tornado
and seek shelter if threatening conditions exist.
Watches and Warnings
What it means graphically …
At 1pm, cold air
moves into northern
Georgia.
A cold front is the
leading edge
of the cold air…
At 1pm, cold air
moves into northern
Georgia.
A cold front is drawn
here to show
the leading edge
of the cold air
Later today the
afternoon temperatures
reach into the 80’s
…and the front continues to
Move south…
Because thunderstorms
are expected along the front,
a Severe Thunderstorm
“ Watch” is issued early
in the day, for much
of central GA for the
afternoon time period.
Now it’s
time to begin checking
the radar…
When the radar,
or an eye witness detects
a strong to severe
Thunderstorm, a WARNING
Is for an immediate
action.
Severe Thunderstorm
Warning for “WORTH”
county. Storm is
moving Northeast at 30mph
Residents in…
If and when thunderstorms
are indicated on the
radar as strong and/or
sever, look for warnings to
be issued for the county (s)
effected…
Now do you know the difference between a
“warning” and a “watch”? Let See…
Pretend you must to drive to an area you have
never been to before & the weather there is new to
you. Can you tell the difference between a weather
warning and a watch? Test yourself on these next
three weather advisories.
A “watch” is not a “warning”
# 2.
Recognize the differences?
#3.
Use your worksheet to respond
to the following three examples.
#1
Location:
#2
Location:
#3
Location
Watch or Warning?
#1
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINSSANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES
OF...CEDAR CREST...RUIDOSO AND SANDIA PARK
1123 AM MST MON NOV 15 2004 ...
WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6
PM MST THIS EVENING...
SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE CAPITAN AND
NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS...AS WELL AS
THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. ANOTHER 1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW ARE
POSSIBLE BY LATE IN THE DAY...MAINLY ABOVE 8000
FEET. AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS...A MIX OF
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED.
#2
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1219 PM
CST MON NOV 15 2004 .
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER BAJA
CALIFORNIA CONTINUED TO EJECT UPPER DISTURBANCES INTO
SOUTH TEXAS. THE LOW WAS NEARLY STATIONARY BUT WILL
BEGIN MOVING SLOWLY EAST TONIGHT AND TUESDAY.
INCREASING GULF MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL RESULT IN
THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING THROUGH
TOMORROW AFTERNOON AS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
TRAIN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS THE WATCH AREA.
#3
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIDLAND HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
ECTOR COUNTY IN WEST TEXAS * UNTIL 615 PM CST * AT 1215 PM
CST...
A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE REPORTED STREET
FLOODING IN ODESSA ALONG DIXIE HIGHWAY FROM MODERATE
RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 30 MPH.
AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL THIS AFTERNOON
WILL INCREASE THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING OVER THE
REST OF ECTOR COUNTY. FLASH FLOODING OF STREETS AND
UNDERPASSES...LOW WATER CROSSINGS... AND DRAWS IS LIKELY.
DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR
VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.
THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
How was the drive?
Did you recognize the differences?
For this next activity you can take your time and
practice your new weather skills. this will help you be
a better long distance driver.
Look over the next four items,
then use your worksheet to complete item
#4 on the worksheet.
County Map
for Florida
Street Map
•
Worksheet, # 4
You are located in the town of Palm Bay next to the city of Melbourne.
You will take I-95 North to the city of Daytona Beach.
Going West you will take I-4 to your destination, the city of Tampa.
Answer the following questions; but only refer to your route
(happening where you are at, and place you are going to be driving/ travel through).
a. What counties (if any) will most likely be dry?
b. What counties (if any) will most likely experience light rain, only?
c. What counties (if any) will most likely experience thunderstorms.
•
Worksheet, # 5
Discussion Board Topic
What safety tip would you tell someone driving in heavy rain for the first time?