NOUS42 KCHS 210935
PNSCHS
SCZ040-042>045-047>051-201745-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EST WED MAR 5 2008

...SOUTH CAROLINA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH 
SATURDAY...

THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST THUNDERSTORM WIND
DAMAGE. THESE WINDS CAN REACH OVER 100 MPH IN EXTREME CASES AND
CAN PRODUCE DAMAGE EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF A STRONG TORNADO. ONE 
TYPE OF STRAIGHT LINE WIND CALLED A DOWNBURST CAN BE EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS TO AVIATION. A DOWNBURST IS NORMALLY A SMALL AREA OF
RAPIDLY DESCENDING AIR BENEATH A THUNDERSTORM. 

ANOTHER DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS LARGE HAIL.
STRONG RISING CURRENTS OF AIR WITHIN A STORM CALLED UPDRAFTS CARRY
WATER DROPLETS TO A HEIGHT WHERE FREEZING OCCURS. ICE PARTICLES GROW
IN SIZE FINALLY BECOMING TOO HEAVY TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE UPDRAFT...
AND THEN FALL TO THE GROUND. LARGE HAILSTONES CAN FALL AT SPEEDS
FASTER THAN 100 MPH.

LARGE HAIL CAUSES OVER A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE EACH YEAR
TO PROPERTY AND CROPS. HAIL THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS OR LARGER HAIL 
OFTEN OCCURS JUST BEFORE A TORNADO DEVELOPS.

$$