Category Archives: Weather Dangers

How can you report tornadoes?

Posted on June 6, 2022 by WeatherGuys Editor

The National Weather Service is always looking for trained volunteers to provide severe weather reports, including reports of tornadoes.

Its spotter training sessions are free and last between 90 minutes and two hours. Trained volunteers receive certificates and are added to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, database of weather spotters. They also receive a Spotter ID. A virtual training option is also available. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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How common are extreme winds in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains?

Posted on January 3, 2022 by WeatherGuys Editor

This winter has already delivered some notable disasters, and it is important to carefully consider the anatomy of such high impact weather events in order to, as accurately as possible, understand to what degree an event is attributable to the … Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Weather Dangers

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Do car tires protect you from lightning strikes?

Posted on July 7, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

Lightning is a huge electrical discharge, or spark, that results from vigorous motions that occur in thunderstorms. While you can be safe in a car in a lightning storm, it is not because of the tires. Rubber tires do act … Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Phenomena, Weather Dangers

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What is a red flag warning?

Posted on April 5, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

The National Weather Service issues, and cancels, fire weather watches (FWW), and red flag warnings (RFW) in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.

The weather service will not issue official warnings until certain threshold values, called red flag criteria, are forecast to occur. Red flag criteria differ from state to state. They usually include relative humidity values of 20% or less, winds of 20 mph or higher, and dry fuel conditions. Red Flag Warnings are usually only issued during the spring and fall fire weather seasons. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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How is tornado intensity determined?

Posted on March 29, 2021 by WeatherGuys Editor

A deadly tornado outbreak took place Wednesday through Friday in the southern United States.

Tornadoes are classified based on the damage the tornado does, which enables us to estimate the wind speed of its rotating winds.
All tornadoes are assigned a single number from the Enhanced Fujita scale, abbreviated EF, according to the most intense damage caused by the storm. Continue reading →

Category: Meteorology, Severe Weather, Weather Dangers

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