NWS Information Page: http://www.weather.gov/impacts/#.UyoKefldXmc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95HDAxRroA8&list=UUacncsbh_AhMe-CUmEMzmTg

The new Impact Based Warnings will start on March 25th,2014.I suggest everyone to watch this video to see the changes in the warnings text.

http://www.weather.gov/images/impacts/examples/locations.png

I like the new formats when they first came out in 2012. NWS Northern Indiana was one of the test offices and they are probably one of the better offices in that region. Last year all Central Region offices switched to the format and this year 5 in the SRH area - including Norman - are being added. I added a link to the article post at the top that provides some more information on it.

I am 100% for warnings from as many sources as possible and by as many methods as possible.

If the "impact based" warnings to be issued by the NWS Norman Forecast Office this spring are worded like they are in the video posted above, I can't find much if any fault with them. If, on the other hand, they are worded like this "Tornado Emergency" issued for Wichita, Kansas last year, than I am absolutely against it.

"WICHITA KANSAS - TORNADO EMERGENCY

IMPACT…THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. YOU COULD BE KILLED
IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO SHELTER. COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION OF ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IS LIKELY. MANY WELL
BUILT HOMES AND BUSINESSES WILL BE COMPLETELY SWEPT FROM
THEIR FOUNDATIONS. DEBRIS WILL BLOCK MOST ROADWAYS. MASS
DEVASTATION IS HIGHLY LIKELY MAKING THE AREA
UNRECOGNIZABLE TO SURVIVORS."

Last May 31st, we saw an example of what can happen when even "weather savvy" publics pass the breaking point and panic. I did it and I full well knew better. I heard a story recounted by a meteorologist who is no stranger to severe spring weather, who full well knew better and did it. Knowing, intellectually that jumping in the car and driving, somewhere, anywhere in a tornado warning is a very stupid idea and following that advice when you have simply had enough are two different things.

The first tornado warning issued for central Oklahoma this season is going to be a tough one for many, myself included. With the TV Mets and their chasers flailing their arms about and screaming at the top of their lungs, I, for one, don't need the National Weather Service adding to the problem with terrifying language like this.

Impact Based Warnings (http://www.weather.gov/impacts/)
Here are the 3 examples for the Tornado Warning for the new Impact Based Warnings
Radar Indicated or Observed
http://www.weather.gov/images/impacts/examples/torbase.PNG

Considerable

http://www.weather.gov/images/impacts/examples/torconsiderable.PNG

Catastrophic
http://www.weather.gov/images/impacts/examples/torcatastrophic.PNG


Severe Thunderstorm Warning Tornado Possible

http://www.weather.gov/images/impacts/examples/IBW_TSV1.png

Since I kept it handy, here's what NWS said about Hurricane Ike in '08:


NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE STORM SURGE…AND POSSIBLY ENTIRE COASTAL COMMUNITIES…WILL BE INUNDATED DURING THE PERIOD OF PEAK STORM TIDE. PERSONS NOT HEEDING EVACUATION ORDERS IN SINGLE FAMILY ONE OR TWO STORY HOMES FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH. MANY RESIDENCES OF AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION DIRECTLY ON THE COAST WILL BE DESTROYED. WIDESPREAD AND DEVASTATING PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE IS LIKELY ELSEWHERE. VEHICLES LEFT BEHIND WILL LIKELY BE SWEPT AWAY. NUMEROUS ROADS WILL BE SWAMPED…SOME MAY BE WASHED AWAY BY THE WATER. ENTIRE FLOOD PRONE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE CUTOFF. WATER LEVELS MAY EXCEED 9 FEET FOR MORE THAN A MILE INLAND. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN MULTI-STORY FACILITIES RISK BEING CUTOFF. CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSENED BY BATTERING WAVES CLOSER TO THE COAST. SUCH WAVES WILL EXACERBATE PROPERTY DAMAGE…WITH MASSIVE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES…INCLUDING THOSE OF BLOCK CONSTRUCTION. DAMAGE FROM BEACH EROSION COULD TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR.


Now that's impact.

I really appreciate the link so that I could see this before the season starts. My initial reaction (before I listened to the video) was a concern that they'd start throwing in more things that would just make the watches/warnings more dense and thus less useful for many. I actually like the additions for the most part although using PDS in two different contexts, to me, is moronic. Just begging for confusion.

If I have a concern about it, it would be that in the interest of being helpful, they might inadvertently lull someone into a false sense of security if they see a base watch or warning but miss that it was upgraded. There is much to be said for people actively relying on their own judgment, assuming they couple that with actual knowledge and have a brain. I just worry that in telling people what they need to do, many people will be more passive instead of actively monitoring the situation. This won't impact someone who is weather savvy but a lot of people who are less so might survive by sheer paranoia. If they are told by an expect that things are fine for now, a lot of them think no further. Nearly all bad situations start out with a watch.

I am sure I am not the only one with the vain hope that SOMEDAY they will get rid of the all caps. I absolutely hate that - makes it so hard to read.

To be fair, that Ike warning pretty much came to fruition. Crystal Beach will never be the same.

not to get too off-topic, but i saw on channel 5 yesterday that the record number of days between tornado warnings issued from the norman nws is 293 days, and we're at 292 now (may 31 last year was the last one).

After May last year, things just got really quiet. For the state we only had 2 tornadoes in July and 1 in August and that was it.