Your Safest Place In Bad Weather

Your Safest Place In Bad Weather

J.R. Kirtek Chief Meteorologist John McMurray Meteorologist Leslie Toldo Meteorologist A note from ABC12 Chief Meteorologist J.R. Kirtek Knowledge is King! The only way to make good decisions during times of stress is to learn as much as you can about the threats you may face. And weather, most certainly, can be a threat. From 2005 through 2007, severe weather caused more than $200 million in damage across our state. Occasionally, small tornadoes can spin up with little, or no, advance warning. The thunderstorms that spawn them, however, are usually forecast hours in advance. Keep in mind that ALL thunderstorms could be a potential threat. By keeping abreast of the daily forecast, staying aware of your surroundings when thunderstorms develop, and by having an action plan in the event weather becomes threatening, lives can be protected and property losses can be minimized. We, at the ABC12 First Alert Weather Center, and all of us here at ABC12 hope you find this brochure useful in helping you create an action plan for severe weather. Remember, ABC12 is Your Safest Place in Bad Weather. J.R. Kirtek FREEZING RAIN OR DRIZZLE: This occurs when rain or drizzle freezes on surfaces (such as the ground, trees, power lines, motor vehicles, streets, highways, etc.) that have a temperature of 32 F or below. Small accumulations of ice can cause driving and walking difficulties. Meanwhile, heavy accumulations of ice can pull down trees and utility lines. In this situation, it would be called an Ice Storm. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY: Issued when freezing rain or freezing drizzle causes significant inconveniences, but does not meet warning criteria (normally an ice accumulation of 1/4 inch or greater) and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to life-threatening situations. ABC12 Weather Resources ABC12 First Alert Channel ABC12 is the only mid -Michigan station To offer viewers local weather 24 hours everyday. Find this on Comcast Digital Cable (Channel 247) and now Charter Communications (Channel 431). Kevin Goff Meteorologist ABC12 First Alert Center Phone Line - Get the day s forecast and the extended forecast right over the phone. Call (810) 232-3333 or (989) 790-7329. 15

Winter Weather Definitions WINTER STORM WARNING: Issued when a winter storm is producing very heavy snow. For Lower Michigan, a Winter Storm Warning is issued when winter is producing snow greater than or equal to 6 inches in 12 hours; or greater than or equal to 8 inches in 24 hours. In cases of mixed precipitation or blowing, these snowfall amounts may be less. WINTER STORM WATCH: Issued by the National Weather Service when there is a potential of very heavy snow. In Lower Michigan, a Winter Storm Watch is issued for the potential of a winter storm producing snow greater than or equal to 6 inches in 12 hours; or greater than or equal to 8 inches in 24 hours. In cases of mixed precipitation or blowing, these snowfall amounts may be less. WINTER STORM ADVISORY: Issued when a low pressure system produces a combination of winter precipitation (snow, freezing rain, sleet, etc.) that present a hazard, but does not meet warning criteria. In Michigan, the criteria for its issuance is a snow event that is forecasted to produce snow (average of forecast range) greater than 3 inches, but less than warning criteria (6 inches in Lower Michigan and 8 inches in Upper Michigan) in 12 hours. CONTENTS: NOAA Weather Radio....................... Severe Weather Definitions................... Tornado Safety............................. Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale................ Lightning Safety........................... How Far Away Is That Thunderstorm?........ What Exactly Is ABC12 First Alert Live Radar? Flooding/Flood Safety....................... Heat & Wind Chill Indexes................... Winter Weather Definitions.................. Flint Bishop International Airport Travel Chart. 2 3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10 11 12 13 14-15 16 BLIZZARD: A winter storm which produces the following conditions for at least 3 hours: 1) sustained winds of frequent gusts to 35 mile per hour or greater 2) considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile. BLIZZARD WARNING: Issued when blizzard conditions are life threatening. In Michigan, the criteria is a sustained wind or frequent wind gusts to 35 mph or more and considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility frequently to less than 1/4 mile for a duration of 3 hours or longer. 14 1

NOAA Weather Radio Heat Index The fastest and most reliable means of receiving critical weather information is through use of a NOAA Weather Radio with an automatic "tone alert" feature. You will receive the warning directly from the National Weather Service in just a couple of minutes from its issuance. These radios can be purchased in most stores that carry small electronics. Immediately following the issuance of a tornado warning by the NWS, the "tone alert" is instantly sounded, followed by warning information. This is especially useful when severe weather is expected during the nighttime hours when people are sleeping, and when windows are closed, preventing sirens from being heard. In addition to the tone-alert, the new generation of weather radios receive a digital burst of information. This information is used to tell your radio to warn you only when weather is to affect your specific county. The National Weather Service refers to this digital information as "Specific Area Message Encoding" (SAME). The radio's "tone alert" feature and SAME are used for the issuance of all weather warnings as well as severe thunderstorm, flash flood, hurricane, and tornado watches. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the latest weather information from daily forecasts to special weather statements about sudden shifts in the weather patterns or the development of potentially hazardous weather. The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it really feels when the relative humidity (RH) is added to the actual air temperature. This index was devised for shady, light wind conditions. Exposure to full sunshine can increase Wind Chill Index The Wind Chill Index is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effect of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried ABC12 viewing area ALCONA ROSCOMMON OGEMAW IOSCO ARENAC OSCEOLA CLARE GLADWIN HURON MECOSTA ISABELLA MIDLAND BAY TUSCOLA SANILAC MONTCALM GRATIOT SAGINAW CLINTON SHIAWASSEE GENESEE LAPEER INGHAM LIVINGSTON 2 Frostbite Times: 30 Minutes 10 Minutes 5 Minutes 13

Flooding Severe Weather Definitions 12 Although Michigan isn t impacted by flooding as much as other states, the majority of flood-related deaths are caused by people attempting to drive through moving water. Most cars will float (and be swept away) in 18-24 inches of moving water. Trucks and SUVs are not much better with only 6-12 more inches of clearance. Creeks and rivers can rise very rapidly and the road bottom can also wash away making the water much deeper than it appears. Once cars are swept downstream they will often roll to one side or perhaps flip over entirely. The driver has a few precious seconds to escape the vehicle. In fact, many drivers panic as soon as the vehicle submerges and are found later with their seat belt intact. Flood Safety Know your area's flood risk. People who live in flood-prone areas should stay alert for changing weather conditions and rising lake and river levels. During rains that have lasted for several hours, be attentive to the chance of flooding. Know where high ground is and move there quickly if you see or hear rapidly rising water. Do not attempt to cross through fast-flowing water that is more than shin-deep. Do not try to drive through flooded areas -- remember, most flood-related deaths occur in automobiles. If your vehicle stalls, abandon it and seek higher ground immediately. Be especially cautious at night, when the danger may be hidden. High water conditions can create navigational hazards on area lakes or rivers. When operating a watercraft, operate at a safe speed that does not create a wake which will cause additional damage to property and environmentally sensitive areas. WATCH: Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes in and close to the watch area. Watches are usually issued hours before weather threatens. When a WATCH is issued, it is time to prepare for severe weather. It is also time to occasionally watch the sky for rapidly changing conditions. TORNADO WARNING: Issued when a tornado is strongly suggested, as indicated by radar, or is actually sighted by storm spotters. It is time to act to seek shelter from the damaging storm. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING: Issued when a thunderstorm produces hail 3/4 of an inch or larger in diameter and/or winds which equal or exceed 58 mph. Severe thunderstorms have killed more people in Michigan than tornadoes have. FLASH FLOOD WATCH: Indicates that flash flooding is possible in and close to the watch area. Those in the affected area are urged to be ready to take quick action if a flash flood warning is issued or flooding is observed. FLASH FLOOD WARNING: Signifies a dangerous situation where rapid flooding of small rivers, streams, creeks, or urban areas are imminent or already occurring. Very heavy rain that falls in a short time period can lead to flash flooding, depending on local terrain, ground cover, degree of urbanization, degree of man-made changes to river banks, and initial ground or river conditions. 3

Tornado Safety What Exactly First Alert Live Radar? It is important to remember that when a WATCH is issued, conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. This is the time to PREPARE and to keep an eye on the sky for rapidly changing weather conditions. Watches are usually issued well before damaging storms form. If you use this time wisely, you will not be caught by surprise by damaging weather. When a severe weather warning is issued, or when tornado sirens sound, it is time to ACT. In a home with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in basement under something sturdy. Know where heavy objects are above and don t go underneath them. Home without basement: Avoid windows. Go to lowest floor possible and put as many walls as possible between you and the outside (under a stairwell, in a small closet, bathroom, or interior hallway is best). Crouch as low as possible and protect your head from falling debris. Mobile home: Get Out! Mobile homes can be severely damaged by even straight line winds. Go to the nearest sturdy, permanent structure. If necessary, lie flat on low ground or depression away from trees and automobiles while protecting your head. Office building / hospital: Go to enclosed, windowless area in center of building. Crouch down and protect your head. Avoid elevators. First Alert Live Radar is a combination of ABC12 s very own weather surveillance radar and a set of storm tracking tools and other computer programs that help the First Alert Storm Team track storms right down to street-level over all of mid-michigan. The radar itself is located 4 miles northeast of Chesaning in Saginaw County. It is a Radtec RDR250- GC being run with Sigmet IRIS software. At the time of its installation, ABC12 was the only television station in the country operating this research-grade radar. The IRIS software package allows for simultaneous display of precipitation and Doppler velocity. It also has storm tracking capabilities and rainfall estimation algorithms that keep ABC12 s meteorologists on top of the storm. And, all of this isn t even used on the air! Our on-air display comes from running our live radar data into another computer from Weather Services International (WSI). This system, called Trueview Interactive, has a built-in geographic database that will automatically calculate how long it will take storms to hit cities all over the area. It can track individual storms and squall lines. Using its interactive capabilities, ABC12 s meteorologists can track storms right on camera, rather than having to be off-camera operating a keyboard and mouse. Our system has other capabilities, including: display of all the National Weather Service NEXRAD Doppler radar sites, display of rainfall and snowfall estimates, display of rainfall and snowfall forecast amounts, and other past, present and forecast displays of other weather parameters such as wind direction and speed, temperature, and sky conditions. Any of these parameters can be displayed for any time in any city in the area for a 48- hour timeframe. This part of our exclusive weather display is what we call Pinpoint Predictor. While it is all very technical, what it boils down to is that ABC12 has assembled the most technologically advanced tools for the largest staff of meteorologists to keep ABC12 Your Safest Place in Bad Weather. 4 11

How Far Away Is That Thunderstorm? You can make a rough estimate of how far a storm is away from you by looking for lightning and listening for thunder. Because a lightning stroke creates a clap of thunder, and because light travels much faster than sound, lightning flashes can be seen long before the resulting thunder is heard. When you see a lightning stroke, count the number of seconds it takes for you to hear its thunder. Divide this number by 5, and you have (approximately) the number of miles the storm is away from you! For example: You see lightning. Fifteen seconds later you hear thunder. 15 divided by 5 is three. You are about 3 miles from the storm! It is important to remember, however, that whenever you can hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck by lightning whether it is raining or not. If you re outdoors: Get inside, if possible. If you have no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building. Protect your head and neck by using your arms. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges or overpasses. This can cause traffic hazards, and exposure to high-velocity winds and flying debris. If you re in a vehicle: Never try to outrun a tornado in a car. A tornado can toss cars and trucks around like toys. If you see a funnel cloud or hear a tornado warning issued, get out of your vehicle and find safe shelter. If the tornado is visible far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the car. Choose a location such that your vehicle won t be rolled over on top of you. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges or overpasses. This can cause traffic hazards and exposure to high-velocity winds and flying debris. 10 5

The Fujita ( F ) Scale, developed by University of Chicago researcher Dr. Theodore Fujita in 1971, is used by meteorologists to estimate the speed of winds AFTER a tornado by studying the damage to structures caused by the tornado. F0 Gale Tornado Winds: Less than 73mph Light Damage: Some chimneys damaged, twigs and branches broken off trees, shallow-rooted trees pushed over, signboards damages, some windows broken F1 - Moderate Tornado Wind: 73-112 mph Moderate Damage: Surface of roofs peeled off, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, outbuildings demolished, moving autos pushed off the roads, trees snapped or broken, beginning of hurricane speed winds 6