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Severe Thunderstorms - Tornadoes - Flooding - Tropical Weather
Heat - Wind - Winter Weather - Fog & Frost/Freeze - Miscellaneous

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

  • SEVERE THUNDERSTORM - a thunderstorm which produces
    • hail 1 inch or greater
    • winds greater than 58 mph
    • damage to trees, telephone/utility poles or any structure
    • tornado
  • HAIL - ball of ice that falls from a cumulonimbus cloud/thunderstorm.
  • SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH - issued by the Storm Prediction Center when severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area (box). The watch is issued for a large area and is usually in effect for several hours.
  • SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when severe weather is imminent or occurring and is usually in effect for about an hour. Storm-Based Warnings
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TORNADOES

  • TORNADO - a funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from the base of a severe thunderstorm which is rapidly rotating and comes into contact with the ground or any objects on the ground.
  • ENHANCED-FUJITA TORNADO SCALE:
    • EF0     65  to  85 mph
    • EF1     86 to 110 mph
    • EF2    111 to 135 mph
    • EF3    136 to 156 mph
    • EF4    166 to 200 mph
    • EF5    over 200 mph
  • FUNNEL-CLOUD - a funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from the base of a thunderstorm which is rapidly rotating and does NOT come into contact with the ground or objects on the ground.
  • TORNADO WATCH - issued by the Storm Prediction Center when severe thunderstorms may produce tornadoes and near the watch area (box). The watch is issued for a large area and is usually in effect for several hours.
  • TORNADO WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when a tornado is imminent or occurring and is usually in effect for 45 minutes or less. Storm-Based Warnings
  • WATERSPOUT - a tornado that occurs over the waters.
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FLOODING    

  • TYPES OF FLOODING - coastal, dam failures, ice jams, rivers, small streams, and urban.
  • FLOOD WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when the potential for flooding exists.
  • FLASH FLOOD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when flooding will create an immediate threat to life and/or property. Generally occurring in a time period of less than 6 hours. Storm-Based Warnings
  • FLOOD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when flooding will occur in a time period generally greater than 6 hours.
  • MINOR FLOODING - minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat or inconvenience.
  • MODERATE FLOODING - some inundation of structures and roads near streams/rivers. Some evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher ground elevations necessary.
  • MAJOR FLOODING - extensive inundation of structures and roads. Significant evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations.
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TROPICAL WEATHER  

User's Guide to Hurricane Products

  • HURRICANE SEASON - June through November for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea & Gulf of Mexico. Peak threat to United States is from the middle of August through late October.
  • HURRICANE - maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.
  • TROPICAL STORM - a strong area of low pressure associated with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph. It is at this point a tropical cyclone gets a name.
  • TROPICAL DEPRESSION - an organized area of low pressure where sustained surface winds are 38 mph or less.
  • HURRICANE WATCH - issued by the National Hurricane Center when hurricane conditions are possible in coastal areas generally within 48 hours.
  • HURRICANE WARNING issued by the National Hurricane Center when hurricane conditions are expected in coastal areas within 36 hours or less.
  • TROPICAL STORM WATCH - issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions are possible in coastal areas generally within 48 hours.
  • TROPICAL STORM WARNING - issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions are expected in coastal areas within 36 hours or less.
  • INLAND HIGH WIND WATCH FOR HURRICANE (or TROPICAL STORM) FORCE WINDS - issued by coastal NWS Forecast Office, usually in conjunction with a Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Watch issued by the National Hurricane, when hurricane (tropical storm) force winds are possible for inland/non-coastal counties.
  • INLAND HIGH WIND WARNING FOR HURRICANE (or TROPICAL STORM) FORCE WINDS - issued by coastal NWS Forecast Office, usually in conjunction with a Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Warning issued by the National Hurricane, when hurricane (tropical storm) force winds are expected for inland/non-coastal counties.
  • SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE:
    • Category 1    74 to 95 mph
    • Category 2    96 to 110 mph
    • Category 3    111 to 130 mph
    • Category 4    131 to 155 mph
    • Category 5    greater than 155 mph
  • TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST ADVISORY - contains a list of all current watches and warnings on a tropical or subtropical cyclone, as well as the current latitude and longitude coordinates, intensity, and system motion. The advisory contains forecasts of the cyclone positions, intensities, and wind fields for 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours from the current synoptic time. The advisory is issued by the National Hurricane Center. How to read this product.
  • TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY - contains a list of all current watches and warnings on a tropical cyclone. It also includes the cyclone position, current motion, maximum sustained winds and the estimated or measured minimum central pressure. The advisory is issued by the National Hurricane Center. How to read this product.
  • TROPICAL CYCLONE DISCUSSION - is issued by the National Hurricane Center and describes the reasoning behind the forecaster's analysis and forecast of a tropical cyclone. It will typically discuss the observations justifying the analyzed intensity of the cyclone, a description of the environmental factors expected to influence the cyclone's future track and intensity, and a description of the numerical guidance models. It may also describe the forecaster's degree of confidence in the official forecast, discuss possible alternate scenarios, and highlight unusual hazards. The product also includes a table of forecast positions and intensities out to 120 hours. NHC's is requesting comments on their Tropical Cyclone Discussions.
  • TROPICAL WEATHER SUMMARY - issued by the National Hurricane Center. The summary is issued on the first of every month during the hurricane season. It describes the previous month's tropical cyclone activity and gives details on the cyclones as known at that time. The last Tropical Weather Summary of the season gives an brief account of the whole season.
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HEAT

  • HEAT INDEX - what the temperature feels like to the human body based on both the air temperature and humidity.
  • HUMIDITY - the measured amount of moisture in the air.
  • EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when it is possible for the heat index to be at or above 105 degrees for two or more hours.
  • EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when the heat index is expected to be at or above 105 degrees for two or more hours.
  • HEAT ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when the heat index is expected to range between 100 to 104 degrees for two or more hours.
  • AIR QUALITY ALERTs - are issued by individual states and your local NWS Forecast Office relays the information via an AQA product. Click here for local Air Quality Information.
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WIND  

  • WIND - the movement of air from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. The greater the difference in pressure the stronger the winds. Wind direction is defined by the direction it is coming from.
  • HIGH WIND WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for one hour or longer or for winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration or widespread damage are possible.
  • HIGH WIND WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for one hour or longer or for winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration or widespread damage are expected.
  • WIND ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when sustained wind speeds of 31 to 39 mph lasting for one hour or longer or for winds of 46 to 57 mph for any duration are expected.
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WINTER WEATHER  

  • BLIZZARD WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when snow and strong winds will combine to produce blinding snow (visibility near zero / whiteouts) and deep snow drifts.
  • WINTER STORM WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when severe winter conditions (heavy snow and/or significant ice accumulations) are possible within the next day or two.
  • WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when winter conditions (snow, sleet and/or freezing rain/ice) are expected to cause significant inconvenience and may be hazardous. Snow Advisory: 4-6 inches. Freezing Rain, Drizzle or Sleet Advisory: any accretion of ice on roads but less than a 1/2 inch.
  • LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when lake induced snows of 7+ inches are possible within the next day or two.
  • LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when lake induced snows of 7+ inches are expected. 
  • LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when lake induced snows of 4+ inches are expected.
  • WIND CHILL WATCH - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when life-threatening wind chill readings are possible.
  • WIND CHILL WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when life-threatening wind chill readings are expected.
    • 25 degrees below zero or lower: Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Litchfield & Ulster counties.
    • 30 degrees below zero or lower: Albany, Bennington, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, Schenectady, Washington, Warren & Windham counties.
  • WIND CHILL ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when potentially dangerous wind chill readings are expected.
    • 15 to 24 degrees below zero: Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Litchfield & Ulster counties.
    • 20 to 29 degrees below zero: Albany, Bennington, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, Schenectady, Washington, Warren & Windham counties.
  • WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION - a mixture of snow, sleet and/or freezing rain.
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FOG & FROST/FREEZE

  • DENSE FOG ADVISORY - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for the occurrence of widespread fog which reduces visibility to 1/4 mile or less.
  • FROST ADVISORY issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when widespread frost is expected during the growing season.
  • FREEZE WARNING - issued by your local NWS Forecast Office when temperatures of 32 degrees or below are expected over an extensive area for a significant period of time (several hours) during the growing season.
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More Preparedness Information

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