Understanding Severe Weather Watches and Warnings

Understanding Severe Weather Watches and Warnings: Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week
The National Weather Service sees the potential for severe weather and a stream of weather information flows from the National Weather Service forecast offices to you.

Each National Weather Service forecast office* has a web site, a facebook page and a twitter feed where you can find graphical weather stories which highlight upcoming weather hazards. The Hazardous Weather Outlook, a text product, it is also available which highlights weather hazards sometimes seven days in advance.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma also forecasts the chance for severe weather across the country several days in advance. These outlooks will tell you if there is a chance for severe weather and if you are in a slight risk, moderate risk or high risk area for severe weather.

If severe weather becomes likely within six hours a watch will be issued alerting you to the increased risk for severe weather. If you are in or close to the watch area you should plan where to go for shelter if severe weather occurs. If high wind is a threat tying down or bringing loose objects indoors would be a wise move. If large hail is a threat protecting your vehicle would be a good idea.

Then forecasters at the local National Weather Service office will monitor satellite and radar data and collaborate with severe weather spotters. Forecasters will issue warnings to alert you of the imminent severe weather threat. The warnings are sent out in many different ways in order to reach the most people possible.

A warning is an urgent message telling you that severe weather or flooding is imminent or is occurring. Warnings are usually issued for an area smaller than a county.

A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher or for hail one inch in diameter or larger.

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is imminent or occurring.

A flash flood warning is issued for rapidly developing life threatening flooding.

Before and during severe weather you can receive watches, warnings and advisories on NOAA all hazards weather radio.

Most weather radio receivers have a built in tone alert which is activated by the national weather service when watches and warnings are issued. You will also see warnings on the internet, your smartphone with wireless emergency alert (WEA) messages or hear them on your local radio or television stations.

Do not be caught off guard. Know how to receive watch and warning information and know what to do when severe weather threatens. Specific safety information will be available each day of this Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week.

This guest blog written by Tom Magnuson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Pueblo, Colorado.
Posted by COEmergency Colorado at 4/14/2014 08:00:00 AM

*For our area, our local National Weather Service office is the Denver/Boulder office:
Website: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWea ... oulder.gov
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NWSBoulder

Other Useful links/info:
Public Information Officer Contact:
Micki Trost, 303-472-4087 (cell)
https://www.facebook.com/COEmergency
https://twitter.com/coemergency
http://www.dhsem.state.co.us/ - Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management for the State of Colorado
https://www.readycolorado.com/

Jefferson County:
Jeffco Sheriff Website: http://jeffco.us/sheriff/
Jeffco Sheriff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffersonCountySheriff
Jeffco Sheriff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffcosheriffco
Jeffco Sheriff Blog: http://jeffcosheriff.blogspot.com/
Sign up for Jeffco Sheriff email alerts

CodeRED Emergency Notifications

The CodeRED system calls numbers from two databases. One is the county’s 911 database, with all listed and unlisted land lines. If you have a land line, it is automatically included in this database.

The second is a new database of mobile phone and VoIP numbers — established in 2009 — whose owners have opted in to receive the calls. If you don’t have a traditional land line phone, or would like to receive a cell phone call in addition to the call on your land line phone, consider registering for this free service.

Register with CodeRED Emergency Notification System

Smart 911

Smart911 is a free service with which users create a safety profile by entering vital data they want made available about themselves, their family, their residence and even their pets.

Data given can include photos, and information regarding medical conditions, allergies, disabilities and/or special needs, home addresses of cell phone callers and floor plans to name a few.

Smart911 delivers this information automatically to dispatchers, who then enable responders to be more successful with access to critical health and logistical information before arriving at the scene of an emergency.

It's free, private and secure.

Create your safety profile by visiting the Smart 911 website

Listen to Live Scanner Feeds Online: http://www.broadcastify.com/
Jefferson County: http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/270/?rl=rr
Park County: http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/287/?rl=rr