Reportable Weather Conditions (Criteria)

SulCom Summer Weather Program

Revised 11 March 2009

The following conditions are all reportable in SulCom’s summer weather program using the methods indicated.

 

The conditions in RED text (numbered 1 through 7) normally trigger or verify a warning (also called “Severe Conditions.”)  The conditions in BROWN text (numbered 8 through 13), although important, are considered residual (also called “Non-Severe Conditions.”)

Conditions numbered 1 - 7 are to be reported immediately using voice channels.
Conditions numbered 8 - 13 should be reported using digital modes unless directed otherwise.

IMPORTANT NOTES!

The meteorologists may require reports for conditions that are not usually considered severe, or may not even be on this list.  This need will be conveyed as required.

 

The conditions and thresholds provided below are defaults for all events unless directed otherwise during the course of the event.

Severe Conditions - to be reported immediately using voice channels (in order of importance:)

1.         Tornado or Waterspout

 

2.         Funnel Clouds

 

3.         Wall Clouds (indicate if it is rotating)

 

4.         Heavy Damage

                        -- Loss of roofing material, large tree branches broken, some large trees uprooted

                        -- Mobile homes flipped to side or flipped over, bent light poles

                        -- Large roof sections removed, collapsed light poles

                        -- Home walls collapsed, partial destruction of masonry walls and strip malls

                        -- destruction of homes/shopping malls, steel buildings deformed

5.         High Winds - 58mph or higher, (indicate if measured or estimated, but measured is preferred)

Straight-line Wind Gust Estimates

58-74 mph

Severe. Large limbs break; shallow rooted trees pushed over.  Semi-trucks overturned.  More significant damage to

 (50-64 kts)

old / weak structures.  Shingles, awnings removed from houses; damage to chimneys and antennas; mobile homes,

 

carports incur minor structural damage; large billboard signs may be toppled.

75-89 mph

Hurricane force.  Widespread tree damage (trees either broken or uprooted).  Mobile homes may incur more

(65-77 kts)

significant structural damage; be pushed off foundations or overturned.  Roofs may be partially peeled off industrial/

 

commercial/warehouse buildings.  Some minor roof damage to homes.  Weak or open structures (e.g. farm buildings,

 

airplane hangars) may be severely damaged. 

90+ mph

Significant severe.  Groves of trees flattened.  Mobile homes severely damaged; moderate roof damage to homes. 

(78+ kts)

Roofs partially peeled off homes and buildings.  Barns and sheds completely demolished.

 

6.         Large Hail – ¾ inch or greater (1 INCH OR GREATER EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2009) (indicate if measured or estimated, but measured is always preferred)

 

7.         Flooding / Flash Flooding

                        -- Major Structural Damage / Evacuations

                        -- River Banks Broken, Water Out of Bank

                        -- Roads , Bridges, or Railroads Washed Out

 

Click here for the Difference Between Floods and Flash Floods

Non-Severe Conditions - to be reported via digital modes (Winlink/RMS, e-mail, eSpotter) unless directed otherwise (in order of importance:)

Note:  Field teams that collect many reports of similar Non-Severe conditions should contact Sullivan Weather on-air for instructions.

8.         Small Hail – less than ¾ inch (1/2 INCH TO 7/8 INCH EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2009) (indicate if measured or estimated, but measured is always preferred)

 

9.         Minor damage to

                              -- Buildings (number, size, and extent)

                              -- Trees (health of tree, size, number of limbs)

                              -- Roads (type)

                              -- Power Lines (due directly to weather conditions)

 

10.       Minor, inconvenient urban / small stream flooding

                              -- non-life-threatening / non-damaging water over curb

                              -- some water out of banks

                              -- some water on the roads

 

11.       Visibility - less than 1/2 mile (indicate if due to precipitation or blowing dirt)

 

12.       Rainfall amounts equal to or exceeding the rate of 1" per hour measured over at least 15 minutes (i.e. a rate greater than 1/4" per 15 minutes)

-- If possible, indicate start time and end time of measurement (i. e., “measured between 11:05am and 11:25am”)

 

13.       Straight Line Winds 40 to 57 mph (indicate if measured or estimated)

 

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