Severe Warnings to Change for B/CS

Severe Warnings to Change for B/CS

Topic Author: Rodney Harris

Posted: 5:58 PM Jun 11, 2009

Replies Posted: 9 comments

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The National Weather Service will change the criteria it uses to issue Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for the Brazos Valley. This change will happen next year.

Click here to read my previous blog on this topic.

There are two things we look far to determine whether or not a storm is severe:

- Wind gusts of at least 58 mph.
- Penny-size hail (3/4 of an inch in diameter)

Starting in 2010, severe thunderstorm warnings will not be issued unless hail of at least half-dollar size (one inch in diameter) is detected. The wind criteria will remain the same.

Even though the hail criteria will increase, remember all it takes is one of the two for a warning to be issued (gusty winds or large hail).

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are issued only if forecasters believe a storm will put life or property at risk. According to the National Weather Service, widespread damage isn't likely to happen until the hail reaches half-dollar size.

This change -- which is already being incorporated across the central U.S. -- will likely reduce the number of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued.

In my previous blog on this, earlier this year, a lot of you gave your opinions on this change.

Do you take the necessary precautions when a severe thunderstorm warning is issued?

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by James Location: Sam Houston State University on Aug 25, 2009 at 08:19 PM

My grandparents live in Caldwell and I am from the Ft. Hood Area currently attending SHSU so I am in the Brazos Valley often. When I am, I don't mind the warnings because if the storm is coming my way, I want to know what the storm has in store for me and if there are any other storms coming my way.

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by Renee Location: College Station on Aug 23, 2009 at 09:26 PM

I usually go stand outside...

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by Mongo Location: College Station on Jul 20, 2009 at 07:51 PM

Winds, rain but no hail between Brentwood and southwest Parkway on Anderson St.

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by Rebecca Location: College Station on Jul 2, 2009 at 07:26 AM

All I do is groan when we get the warnings because it usually means the weatherman has broken into a tv show I was watching - and usually during the best part of it. Notice they never break into the commercials to tell you about a storm warning? Plus, they break in several times and tell you the same thing over and over and over. As if I am too stupid to notice the lightening or hear the thunder unless some guy on tv is pointing it out? Most of the time the storms aren't even in our area, so that makes it even more irritating. This will be a good change. A very very very good change.

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by r.n Location: caldwell on Jun 30, 2009 at 06:56 PM

do not change it if it is not broke

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by spanky Location: anderson on Jun 30, 2009 at 11:39 AM

Nope, dont bother. the media has yelled wolf for too many years. look at all the hype the weather guys along the coast do if there MIGHT be a storm. They are the reason so many people sat through Ike

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by Don Location: East Burleson County on Jun 15, 2009 at 07:22 PM

You bet I take them seriously. I'm also a NOAA Skywatch guy - and - a horse breeder (Registered Arabians - oh - and registered Longhorns. With any sign of bad weather I go to KBTX TV & website and NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. Real hazard is with satellite TV and web heavy rain kills access. I have HD rabbit ears for KBTX HD but you guys don't get up at 2 am to give me info. This really happened about 6 - 8 weeks ago with NOAA warning radio going off constantly with tornado watches/warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings. I lost sattelite TV & internet, turned on KBTX with rabbit ears and just regular programming and no info on severe weather - let alone tornado watches and warnings.

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by Storm Watcher Location: Iola on Jun 12, 2009 at 02:05 AM

Yes, I do take them seriously. I don't begin an update or download if there's a severe warning. Also, when there's a severe warning I power down the computer and turn off the a/c when I hear the thunder. So yes, I do take them seriously. When I hear thunder, I immediately turn on the TV to see if there's a "severe" thunderstorm "warning". If there isn't a warning, I carry on normally. Horse breeders also take them seriously!

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by bettie Location: hearne on Jun 11, 2009 at 10:09 PM

yes i do take severe weather warnings seriously and i think it would bewise for all to do so ,think smart save lifes

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