For Immediate Release:This afternoon the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities held a news conference addressing a moderate to high risk of severe weather expected on Thursday 6/7/2007.
Senior Forecaster, Mike McClure, outlined the developing threat. An unseasonably strong low pressure system will track across the upper midwest, producing one or several squall lines. The primary threat will be extreme damaging straight-line winds to 80 mph. There is also a risk
of hail up to the size of quarters and isolated tornadoes. Storms are expected to develop and intensify very rapidly in the mid to late afternoon then move east quickly.
The rapid speed of development and movement is of particular concern in this situation. In addition, storms of his nature increase the threat of widespread significant impact. This event is similar in many ways to the severe weather event of June 18, 1998. Clouds may play a role in limiting the extent of the severe weather threat. If the clouds are dense and widespread enough tomorrow, it may limit instability enough to reduce the threat.
Donna Dubberke, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, encouraged people to have an effective severe weather plan. With the rapid development expected, it is especially important to prepare now and not be caught off-guard tomorrow. Wherever you will be, have a plan. Tonight, practice that plan. Then tomorrow, monitor the weather - use a NOAA Weather Radio, television, or any other means to stay informed. Then when you see threatening weather or a warning is issued, take immediate action! In a nutshell, Plan-Practice-Monitor-Act.
Severe thunderstorm winds can have as much or greater community impact than a tornado. Please take these storms seriously.
5 comments:
Okay, so whether this happens tomorrow night or Friday morning, its not going to happen during the 9-5 workday tomorrow, right?
I mean, e.g., I don't have to lock my dogs in the basement when I leave for work tomorrow,assuming I'll be home for dinner, right?
Will you two post as soon as you pin point this storm a little more... I am also concerned about my pet and what should be done with him while I am gone throughout the day...
Also if this comes through at night will it be less severe?
Thanks for all your hard work!!
A few storms may form west of I-39 during the late afternoon hours with the main severe weather threat in the Rockford area coming right around 10pm (as it looks right now). Candy and I will have an update with more graphics immediately following our 5pm weather broadcast. -ERIC
I wanted to say something about having a plan and practicing it, especially for those with pets.
Pets can be part of your severe storm plan too. Often pets behave differently from how they usually behave when there are seriously threatening events occurring around them.
Think of how you will round up Fido and Fluffy if there is severe weather and practice that too.
Don't count on "calling" Fido or Fluffy down to the basement and expect them to come when you call! Even if they will do that during non-threatening weather, they might very well be racing frantically from one room to another or hiding behind the couch or someplace where you can't find them if the weather is really threatening. Animals can sense things like threatening weather and behave unpredictably.
But the more you practice your severe weather plan the more familiar your pets will become with the actions you (and they) will take when its time to act.
Especially if your pet is already skittish in stormy weather, consider a plan to make sure the pet is confined to a safe spot before any severe weather arrives.
Remember Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. The reason she got conked on the head is because she was looking for Toto when she already should have been taking shelter.
Good point wi weather buff! While we still have overwhelming chances that severe weather WONT happen, we have to prepare now. Preparing for a tornado or 90+mph winds when the warning comes out is too late.
Good post! -ERIC
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