Reportable Weather Conditions (Criteria)
SulCom Summer Weather Program
Effective
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. |
|
(78+ kts) |
Roofs partially peeled off
homes and buildings. Barns and sheds
completely demolished. |
6. Large
Hail – ¾ inch or greater (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, 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 (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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