Severe Weather Awareness Week-Severe Thunderstorms | Weather

As we get ready to head into the spring severe weather season, this week has been declared Severe Weather Awareness week across Alabama and Tennessee.  I think most of us have been a lot more sensitive when hearing about the threat of severe weather since the devastating tornadoes of April 27th last year.  Now is a good time to review your safety plan.  We'll spend this week talking about the different forms of severe weather we see around here and what are the best ways to keep you and your family safe.

Today's topic covers the threats posed by Severe Thunderstorms.  Thunderstorms are a quite frequent occurence around there, but there are 3 specific things that make an ordinary thunderstorm become one that is severe:

• Anytime a thunderstorm produces a tornado
• Straight-line wind gusts of 58mph or higher
• Hail the size of quarters or larger (1"+ in diameter)

Damaging wind poses a significant threat to life and property and occurs 10-20 times more frequently than tornadoes do.  Wind gusts of 80-100 mph can do just as much damage as weak tornadoes, and usually impact a much larger area than a tornado would.

Large hail can do significant damage as well to cars, homes and crops.  Hail in our area typically only gets as large as golf balls, but on occasion can be the size of baseballs.  

When seeking shelter from severe thunderstorms, get inside a sturdy building, making sure to stay away from windows.  

You can read more about severe thunderstorms and Severe Weather Awareness Week from the National Weather Service in Huntsville here.

Jeff Castle

WAFF 48 Storm Team