SKYWARN

A GUIDE FOR REPORTING SEVERE WEATHER

Please call the National Weather Service or check into a SKYWARN net whenever you observe the following:
 

• Tornadoes or funnel clouds (be very wary of look-alikes; watch for rotation)

   

• Wall clouds, especially if they are rotating   (look for a lowering 'spinning' section of the cloud base)

   

• Hail (Be specific with regard to size; DO NOT report MARBLE sized hail)   Please report by penny, nickel, quarter, half dollar

   

• Winds (40 mph or greater; specify whether estimated or recorded)
           -- large branches downed (specify diameter of branch)
           -- Trees/power lines downed
           -- Structural damage to buildings (roof,     windows, etc) --Power failure or outage lasting more than 5 minutes                                                     

• Rainfall
           -- 1 inch or greater in an hour (NOT a 1"/hr. rate for 10 minutes)
           -- 2 inches or greater storm total
• Flooding
           -- Streams/Rivers -- also, when nearing bankfull
           -- Coastal
           -- Street (when more than the usual poor drainage puddles)

   

• Winter Weather
           -- Precipitation type change (rain to sleet/freezing rain/snow, when the
               change has "taken hold")
           -- Thunder, when accompanied by snow
           -- 1/4" radial ice accretion (from twig outward; not circumference)

   

• New Snowfall
           -- First 2 inches; every 2-3 inches thereafter
           -- 1 inch per hour or greater
           -- If less than 2 inches total, give final total only
           -- Give final total (don't leave us hanging with a partial report)
           -- Report any snow/sleet/freezing rain if not in NWS forecast!

 Identify yourself with your callsign,your name and location.

 BRIEFLY describe WHAT was observed; and WHEN & WHERE it was observed.

 If you cannot reach us and you consider your report to be life-threatening, call your local police or fire department, explain who you are, and ask that they relay the report to the NWS in Taunton, MA.