Lightning Safety
Lightning Realizing the Danger ABOVE ALL Lightning is UNPREDICTABLE!!! Can Strike 15+ Miles Away from Thunderstorm X
Lightning Realizing the Danger Lightning Deaths So Far This Year
Lightning Realizing the Danger Lightning Can Strike 15+ Miles Away from Thunderstorm Lightning Safety RULE #1 When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors Lightning Safety RULE # 2 Use Your Brain, Don t Wait for Rain Rain Begins
Lightning Realizing the Danger When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors Seek Safe Shelter Enclosed, Grounded Bldg. Tents, Picnic Pavilions, and Porches are NOT Good Shelters X X X X
Lightning Realizing the Danger Use Your Brain, Don t Wait for Rain If Outdoors Soccer, LL Baseball, Football, Golf, etc. Non Convertible Automobile Windows Closed! X
More Lightning Safety Rules RULE of 5: Count # of seconds between Flash & Bang. Divide that Number by 5! ALWAYS Remember BEFORE # of seconds between Flash and Bang is 30, Seek Shelter! Stay inside until 30 minutes since last thunder heard
Severe Thunderstorms Definition Produce one or more of the following: Hail 1 Inch in Diameter (quarter size) Sustained Winds or Gusts 58 mph (50 knots) Produces Wind Damage Trees Down, Power Lines Down, Structural Damage, etc. Produces a Tornado
Tornado Safety Rules BASIC RULE of Thumb Go Low, Stay Low Seek Safe Shelter Sturdy Bldg. Basement or Crawl Space *** Lowest floor bathroom, closet or hallway Crouch down Use cushions, blankets, coats, etc. as protection from debris
What About This Situation? St. Johns Hospital Joplin, MO May 22,2011
Multi Story Tornado Safety BASIC RULE of Thumb Go Low, Stay Low For Multi story Buildings? Evacuate Top Floor to at Least 1 Floor Lower Move other occupants to Interior bathrooms, closets or hallways Get Away From Windows and Exterior Walls
The Cherrystone Tornado 7/24/2014
The Personal Side of This Event
Meteorological Background Multi Faceted Event Hail, Tornado, Straight Line Wind Damage Early Morning Event 730am to 930am Severe Weather Not Initially Anticipated Warning issued 8:20 am 8 minutes lead time Occurred BEHIND a weak Cold Front Atmosphere Relatively Stable (except over Chesapeake Bay) Wind Fields not Conducive to Tornado Development
5 am and 8 am Surface Maps
Surface Weather Maps 85 am 7/24/14
Radar and Lightning Animation 745 am to 900am
Lightning Animation
Total Lightning
Radar in the Vertical 812 802 831 am am 821 am
Wind Field Compared to Suffolk Tornado Suffolk Tornado Cherrystone Tornado
Tornado Path Area Affected by Large Hail Area Affected by Large Hail
Damage Pictures Tornado
Damage Pictures Downburst
Damage Pictures Hail
People Received the Warning But How?
NWS Activation of WEA Saves Lives Cape Charles, VA (July 1, 2014) Tornado hit Cherrystone campground. 1,300 people present. Gov. Terry McAuliffe said it's a blessing more people didn't die in the storm given the short notice that campers had to seek shelter. AP, VA Gov. McAuliffe says it's a blessing more didn't die in Eastern Shore tornado (July 25, 2014) said Joe Colony We got an emergency message on a cellphone and within 30 seconds, the thing hit and it blew down 40, 50 trees in the park AP, VA Gov. McAuliffe to Tour Tornado Damage (July 25, 2014)
Wireless Emergency Began in 2012 Alert You Where You Are Based on Cell Tower Coverage Available on most 2012 and later cell/smart phones More Info: ctia.org/wea Alerts (WEA)
Excessive Heat Safety Heat Index is used to define excessive heat Heat Advisory threshold afternoon Heat Index 105 to 110 for 2+ hours Heat Warning threshold afternoon Heat Index 110 for 2+ hours
Excessive Heat Safety Avoid Midday and Afternoon Work/Play Wear Light Colored, Loose Fitting Clothing Drink plenty of Non Alcoholic/Non Caffeine beverages, especially WATER Use air conditioned areas as much as possible REST, if feeling fatigued, nauseated or dizzy
Let s Review Some Situational Awareness Resources
NWS Wakefield Briefing Page http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/akq/empage.php Radar & Other Forecast Links Hazard/Topic Specific Tabs NWS Wakefield Products Interactive Observation Table
NWS Wakefield Briefing Page
NWS Wakefield Briefing Page
Storm Specific Pages http://weather.gov/akq/stormname
The End!! Are There Any Additional Questions? william.sammler@noaa.gov