The Color Conundrum: The Many Variations of One Watch or Warning

Lynnette GrantValparaiso University@LynnetteGrantWx

What is this?• NWS utilizes over

100 different colors for alerts.Tornado Warning

Tornado Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Tornado Warning• Issued by a local NWS WFO when a severe

thunderstorm is capable of producing a tornado, or a tornado has been reported.

344 WWUS53 KLOT 092347 SVSLOT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL647 PM CDT THU APR 9 2015

ILC103-141-100000- /O.CON.KLOT.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-150410T0000Z/ OGLE IL-LEE IL- 647 PM CDT THU APR 9 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN OGLE AND NORTHEASTERN LEE COUNTIES...

AT 646 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER ASHTON...OR 7 MILES WEST OF ROCHELLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.

SOURCE...LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO.

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... ROCHELLE AND HILLCREST AROUND 700 PM CDT. OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE STEWARD. INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES... I-39 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 92 AND 102. I-88 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 65 AND 81. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE AND DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

Tornado Warning

Tornado Watch• Issued by the Storm Prediction

Center in Norman, OK when conditions are favorable for tornadic storms.

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Warning• Issued by a local NWS WFO when a strong

thunderstorm is capable of producing winds over 58 MPH, hail in 1.00” in diameter, and/or a tornado.

630 WWUS53 KLOT 182129 SVSLOT

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 429 PM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015 INC127-182145- /O.CON.KLOT.SV.W.0115.000000T0000Z-150718T2145Z/ PORTER IN- 429 PM CDT SAT JUL 18 2015

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR PORTER COUNTY...

AT 428 PM CDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BURNS HARBOR TO LA CROSSE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD...60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING AND TREES.

THESE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...TOWN OF PINES...BEVERLY SHORES AROUND 445 PM CDT. OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE DUNE ACRES. THIS INCLUDES... VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY...INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK...AND PORTER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING INTERSTATES... INDIANA I-80 NEAR MILE MARKER 16. INDIANA I-90 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 22 AND 37. INDIANA I-94 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 17 AND 32.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Watch• Issued by the Storm Prediction

Center in Norman, Oklahoma when conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

What can we do about this?• Conform to the same??– Not so fast

• Discuss possible outcomes.• Clarify risks we as broadcasters communicate.

“Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.” – Paul J. Meyer