NOUS42 KILM 051904
PNSILM

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT MON MAR 05 2012

       
...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA MARCH 
04 TO MARCH 10...
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEFINES A THUNDERSTORM AS SEVERE WHEN 
IT PRODUCES A TORNADO, WIND GUST OF 58 MPH OR GREATER, AND/OR HAIL 
THAT IS ONE INCH IN DIAMETER (QUARTER SIZED) OR LARGER. PRIOR TO 
2010 THE DEFINITION OF SEVERE HAIL WAS THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN 
DIAMETER. THE DECISION TO RAISE THIS VALUE TO ONE INCH WAS MADE IN 
ORDER TO GREATLY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF WARNINGS ISSUED. RECENT 
STUDIES HAVE ALSO SHOWN THAT HAIL SMALLER THAN QUARTER SIZE DOES 
GENERALLY NOT POSE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF 
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND IN THE CAROLINAS RESULTING IN OVER 100 
MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALSO BEEN RESPONSIBLE 
FOR A NUMBER OF INJURIES AND EVEN DEATHS IN THE STATE RESULTING FROM 
LIGHTNING, HIGH WIND AND TORNADOES. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SEASON 
IN THE CAROLINAS TYPICALLY STARTS IN MARCH AND DOES NOT END UNTIL 
LATE IN THE FALL. SOME OF THE MOST DAMAGING STORMS OCCUR FROM MARCH 
THROUGH EARLY JULY. 

IN 2011 WARNINGS ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO 
PROVIDE AN AVERAGE OF 18 MINUTES LEAD TIME FOR SEVERE WIND AND HAIL, 
WITH DETECTION RATE OF EIGHTY PERCENT. FOR TORNADO WARNINGS THE 
AVERAGE LEAD TIME WAS ALMOST 15 MINUTES WITH A 75 PERCENT DETECTION 
RATE. THE RECEIPT OF ACCURATE AND TIMELY WARNINGS IS A VITAL PART OF 
ANY SEVERE WEATHER PLAN THAT RAISES AWARENESS WHEN A SIGNIFICANT 
THREAT IS PRESENT. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE DOES NOT ISSUE WARNINGS FOR LIGHTNING AND GIVEN THE DEADLY 
NATURE OF LIGHTNING YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE LIGHTNING 
DANGER ANYTIME A THUNDERSTORM IS NEARBY. A GOOD RULE OF THUMB TO 
LIVE BY IS WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS. 

...SAFETY...
YOUR BEST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...IS TO STAY 
INFORMED.  LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO, TELEVISION OR LOCAL RADIO 
FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS AND 
SEVERE WEATHER. MOST NOAA WEATHER RADIOS HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN ON 
WHENEVER A WARNING IS ISSUED ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT. MANY CAN ALSO BE 
PROGRAMMED TO DO SO FOR ONLY THE COUNTY OR COUNTIES CHOSEN BY THE 
USER. WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED...TAKE ACTION AND PROTECT YOUR FAMILY 
AND PROPERTY. BEING SAFE IS A LOT BETTER THAN BEING SORRY. MORE 
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL BE COVERED ON 
FRIDAY.

$$