#Severe Weather Safety

[sunrayretriever]

im gonna be serious here for a moment and say that there is a real problem with the safety of mobile homes/trailer homes in severe weather and it needs to be talked about more i think

yes, they offer affordable housing for tons of people (i am one of them!) but they offer pretty much no protection in tornados above an EF0.

permanent homes are destroyed from the top down. mobile homes fail from the bottom, from their supports, causing them to be VERY EASILY swept away and mangled into twisted metal, piping and insulation.

despite only 6% of the US living in mobile homes, MORE THAN 50% OF DEATHS IN TORNADOS OCCUR THERE. (63.2% as of august 23rd, 2023)

in my situation, we have one storm shelter in our park. we have over 250 trailers and granted, not every single one is occupied, but there could be 2-4 people in one residence. you expect EVERY SINGLE ONE of them to go to ONE storm shelter? my mom and grandma depend on oxygen, and they've told me many times that if we have to go to the shelter they would rather me and my dad go than to haul their heavy oxygen tanks in the car and help them rush to it. they told me to leave them there. it is a death sentence. not to mention there are many people here who do not KNOW there's a tornado coming until the sirens go off. they could realize it too late, get caught in their car rushing to the shelter.

and yes. a violent tornado could hit literally any state in america. tornados can hit Canada, Germany, China.. a PRETTY good chunk of the earth can. i won't list every country but it's worth looking into.

anyways. yeah. idk why im suddenly so livid and passionate about this topic but i don't think my feelings are unjustified.

and while you do not HAVE to reblog this, it would be really cool if it reached a large audience. severe weather deaths are rare, injuries are uncommon, but they are not zero. and they are preventable.

[littlethingwithfeathers]

Tornado Safety!

When tornado season starts up each year, I usually do a little PSA about how to prepare for bad storms. Since it seems like tornadoes are getting more and more likely outside of Tornado Alley (thank you climate change…), I thought I’d do a little more thorough and less Deep South centered write up to help people new to tornadoes prepare for bad weather.

Please note I’m not a severe weather specialist, nor am I any kind of emergency or crisis assistance professional. This is just wisdom gleaned from three decades living in a place where this stuff was just… normal. You learned about tornado safety in school, and you knew how severe weather worked by watching the news. It’s just part of the culture around here (Here being northern Alabama). But if you’re new to it, or it’s new to you, here’s my primer.

Tornado 101: Tornado season happens in the mid-to-southeastern USA (nicknamed Tornado Alley) twice each year. Broadly speaking, tornado season is from late February to August each year, with another blip in the autumn that’s less severe. (obviously tornadoes are becoming more common outside of this area and “season” is varying more and more. Again… Climate change.) Most tornadoes occur in the late afternoon/early evening, usually after the sun has warmed up the ground and caused the atmosphere to become unstable due to the rapidly changing air temperature. The reason spring is so volatile is because that is the widest temperature change on a day to day basis, plus it rains often which adds to humidity which adds to the instability. This is not to say tornadoes can’t happen any other time of year. It’s just less likely. If you’re interested in a deeper primer, check out the National Severe Storms Laboratory page on the subject HERE! Cool… so you live in Tornado Alley or another place that gets tornadoes (They’ve been seen as far north as Chicago and as far west as California)! What should you do so you don’t get blown away?

Well first of all, don’t freak out. Don’t ever freak out. It’s fine. There’s some prep you should do both in terms of equipment and knowledge, but there’s no need to go full Doomsday Prepper on this. There’s just some basic stuff you should have and know, just like someone in northern Wisconsin should know how to drive on snow and have an engine block heater. Annual Tornado Safety Checkup: Here’s a list of things you should do to prepare ahead of time for a possible tornado or bad storm (tornadoes are bad, but there’s things that cause just as much disruption or damage like straight line winds and hail). And once you get your gear together, you should check that stuff every year. I usually go through mine in March, and then again when the weather starts to turn cold in fall (there’s a lot of overlap of this stuff and winter storm gear in my area so I can double up). Know where your safe place is. This is where you will take cover during a tornado. If you live in a house, locate an interior room on the lowest floor of your home (including your basement). This should be the room with the most walls between you and the outside and no windows if possible. Usually this a bathroom or interior hallway. If you live in an apartment that’s not on the ground floor, or in a trailer or dormitory, find out where the nearest shelter is and make a plan of how to get there. For dorms or apartments sometimes they have an onsite shelter. At work, ask your manager/boss/coworker who’s been there awhile what happens during a tornado. If you work in a non-public facing place like an office, it might take some time to get an answer (and if there’s not an answer, that’s a red flag. You should push to figure that out.) but if you work in some place that the public goes regularly (school, mall, entertainment venue), it might be posted somewhere in the building like the bathroom or a main hallway. For public spaces, when in doubt, go to the bathroom or an interior stairwell/hallway on the first floor. Remember, you want as many walls between you and outside as possible and as few things between you and the ground as possible. Get a weather radio and get extra batteries. This will be a programmable radio that will alert you to severe weather in your area. Walmart and similar stores usually have them. Sometimes news stations will give them away for free, but they aren’t expensive. Seriously… go get one. They’re absolutely vital. And make sure to get one that can run on batteries if the power goes out. I have a pretty sweet one that also has a built in flashlight and functions as a regular radio. You’ll need to program that sucker so it knows what location to give alerts for, but there’s plenty of online tutorials for that or it will come with instructions. And you may be tempted to think that you don’t need one because of internet or cell service. Don’t. It’s a trap. A major rule of severe weather safety is don’t rely on only one piece of hardware/source for information. So don’t just rely on your phone. Don’t rely on the TV. Don’t rely on the internet. Those things can and will go out. But even if the power goes out, the radio stations will fire up the generators and keep broadcasting. During the terrible tornado outbreak here in April of 2011, the power was out for over a week and we -only- had radio. They kept broadcasting though!

Oh, and make sure you swap out the batteries and test that puppy every year. Familiarize yourself with a map of your area. Map reading skills and personal awareness of your location are basic tornado safety skills. Learn what county you’re in. Learn where you are in said county and what counties border you. Learn basic landmarks in your more immediate area, especially to the west as most storms move west to east. These landmarks should be things like major highways/roads, municipal buildings like schools, hospitals, and public buildings, and other major locations of note (parks, major shopping centers, and large well-known churches). And not only will you want to know this stuff visually, but you’ll need to be able to hear it via radio and know where you are and where the storm is. This takes practice, so start working on it now. Find a local weather person you like on a local news channel and start watching their broadcasts. Sometimes you can even find them on YouTube! For example, this is how a weatherperson will explain where a storm is over the radio and which direction it’s headed: This storm is currently outside Warksburg in Warking County and is headed west across Warkwark Road along Interstate 0. If you live near the Warkmart on Warkington St. or in the neighborhood around Our Lady of the Perpetual Warking Church, take shelter immediately. If you live in Warkford Plaza or in the area of the Warkball stadium on Warkford Street, take cover as well since this will be on you in about 10 minutes. I’m always surprised at how many people can’t find themselves on a basic county map. Growing up in Alabama in the 90s, they drilled this stuff into everyone both in the school system and as a public safety project… we even had stickers with county maps for the back of your remote so you could make notes about where you were for when you were watching the radar. Map skills are basic safety in tornado country. Especially if the TV is out and all you have is the radio to listen to for updates. You need to know that stuff when the weather-people are talking about trajectories of storms, so you can know if you need to go hide in your bathroom or if you can go stand on your porch. (kidding. Don’t do that except I’m totally one of those people…) Learn to sling the tornado lingo. Know what a hook echo is and how to spot one on a radar? How about a wall cloud? Know what a super cell is and why it’s dangerous? There’s a whole lexicon of terms about tornadoes and learning them will help you more effectively watch your local weather coverage during severe storms. You should also learn what the different alert levels are and what they mean… but the short version is that a Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes (this often gets announced at least a few hours before storms move into the area), and a Warning means that a tornado/funnel has been spotted or has appeared on radar (This will be announced as soon as the rotation is spotted on radar or there’s a physical report on the ground. Likely lasts less than half an hour). Watch means just hang tight, get eyes on your safety gear, and keep an eye on the weather. Warning means there is (or is very likely) a tornado on the ground so if you’re in the path, go hide. A great source for this and other vocabulary is here!

Get a first aid kit. This is basic life safety, really, but it’s also important for tornado safety. If you can, get one of those kits that has some of the outdoorsy survival stuff like rain ponchos, alcohol wipes, emergency shears, and splinter removal. You will also want sunscreen in there (in case the power goes out for a long time and you need to walk somewhere like the grocery store so you don’t waste gas). Check it every year to see what needs replacing. Also make sure it has some basic OTC meds like pain relievers. Buy good flashlights. And don’t forget the batteries. They also make super cool hand-crank flashlights, and my personal favorite are these flashlights that have a charging cradle. You plug them in and they double as a nightlight… and when the power goes out they turn on so you can see to find them. And before you ask, no your cellphone does not count as a flashlight, save to use it to get to your real flashlight. You’ll want to save the charge on your phone for later. Remember that the assumption here is that the power might be out for awhile… possibly more than a day. You will need a real flashlight. More than one preferably. I have one in my kitchen, garage, and my bedside table. Make sure when you get them that you take them out of the plastic prisons so you’re not fumbling with scissors in the dark. Also, it’s not the worst idea to get an electric lantern or two. They can live in your car until you really need them. Test your generators and service them if needed. This is pretty self explanatory. Stockpile prescription meds. If you’re on meds that will be a Bad Time ™ if you go off them, make sure you keep a bit of a stockpile. If you’re on a controlled substance or just generally have issues with this, contact your doctor or pharmacist for assistance/information. This is just good life safety again, but you do not want to get stuck behind washed out roads with no power AND no meds. *** Okay… so you have your stuff. You know your plan and you can find your house on a map. And you hear there’s severe weather coming in a few days. Now what? Well, there’s no reason to go crazy. Odds are good everything will be fine. So to keep myself from going overboard, all my prep goes through two gates: What will I kick myself for not doing if the worst happens? What will I kick myself for doing and not needing it? That tends to keep the desire to over-prepare at bay. Check your annual checks again. Ensure they’re all working and you have back up batteries for your radio, flashlight, etc. Also, make sure all these things are where you can find them in the dark. Bear in mind as you’re prepping that you might be without power and/or internet for awhile… as in days. Get the following items and make sure you can find them in the dark: -Pocket knife/multi-tool. -Rain jacket, -Sturdy, closed toe, shoes and good socks (water proof/resistent if you have them. You might need to pick your way out of your house through debris so pretend you’re going to a construction site). -A bike or construction helmet (put it in your safe place). -Sturdy clothes… like some good jeans, longsleeve shirt etc. Again, pretend you’re going to a construction site. -A good backpack/duffle/small suitcase (no need to pack a bag every time it thunders but just be able to lay a hand on what you’d need if you have to pack in the dark). -An umbrella. -A little cash. (No need to go crazy, but if power, cell service, and internet go down, we’re back to the stone ages… so get enough to grab some groceries and maybe a tank of gas). -Pet carriers if you have animals, and food for them. (In case you need to evacuate) -Candles and ignition sources. (don’t have this be your only light source, but they’re not a bad idea for prolonged outages)

Get gas. Gas up any cars you have the day before severe weather is due to hit. If you have a generator, get gas for it. No need to go hoarding, but you will want a full tank of gas just in case. Best case scenario, nothing happens and future you has one less thing to worry about in the morning on your way to work. Worst case scenario… Future you has one less thing to worry about in a crisis. (We learned this lesson in the 2011 outbreak in Alabama… The power was out for over a week and we had less than half a tank in both our cars and were not sure we could make it to a place with power that also had gas so we were stuck.)

Check your prescription medication stock. Make sure you’d be good for at least a week if the power goes out or you get stuck behind fallen trees or a washed out road. Do laundry. I’m serious. Make sure you have clean clothes and plenty of towels just in case the power goes out and you can’t do laundry for awhile. (also a lesson personally learned in 2011) Charge all your devices. Cellphones, tablets, laptops, power banks and external batteries for your cellphones, and such. Anything like that. Find all your cables and have them in easy reach. Again… future you will thank you for this regardless of if you get blown to Oz. Make sure you have weather apps and alert systems installed on your phone and check for updates. If it’s supposed to storm overnight, turn the ringer on your phone on. Don’t just trust the sirens to warn you. (we learned that lesson a couple of years ago… a software glitch lead to the sirens not going off). Make sure you can lay hands on things you don’t need power to do. If the power goes out for a really long time it can make you a little stir-crazy, so stash some playing cards, a crochet project, a book or anything like that with your emergency supplies. Your bored future self will thank you. I read a lot of books in the week we were without power in 2011 and I taught my husband to play Egyptian Rat Screw. 

If you have a propane grill, make sure you have a fresh/extra tank on hand. If you lose power for a long time, you might want to have a cookout to work through anything perishable in your freezer. Make sure you have food on hand that doesn’t require cooking. Granola/protein bars, canned goods, peanut butter, that sort of thing. Also, keep drinking water on hand, just in case. Just a case in the pantry will do. And don’t just feed yourself! Make sure you have food and supplies for any pets you might have. Again… don’t stockpile or go crazy. Just make sure if the power goes out for a couple of days, you’re covered on food… stuff you’d eat anyway. Make sure you can find weather info quickly and from multiple sources. Tune your radio, weather radio, and TV to your local weather station of choice. Bookmark a good local weather source in your web browser and on your phone. *** So you’re all prepped. But now your weather radio is going ballistic! THERE’S A TORNADO WATCH! WAT DO???

Stay calm. Seriously, it’s probably fine and you aren’t going to change the trajectory of the storm by stressing about it. If where you are is not safe (such as a mobile home or you’re out driving) go to the tornado shelter. Do this before the sirens go off or the take cover order is given. You don’t want to be caught driving. Take a change of clothes, your first aid kit, a flashlight, your phone charger, your phone, ID and money, and something to do that won’t drain your cellphone battery. Stay glued to your local weather news. Use everything that’s working… TV, website, and radio. Watch the trajectory and heed any advice from the local weather-people and the National Weather Service. You’re watching for things close to you now. Often the weather people tracking the storms will draw a cone out from areas of concern (not just tornadoes but things like hail as well) and those cones will mark neighborhoods, major landmarks etc. and give ETAs for all those places. This is where all your map reading skills will come in handy. They said to take cover! The sirens are going off! So that means you need to go to your safe spot we mentioned before. Stay calm and get moving. Turn up the TV/computer so you can hear the weather from your safe spot. Bring your pets and family. Bring your flashlight. Bring your first aid kit. Bring your phone and charger. Bring your weather radio. Grab all your pillows or a fluffy duvet to hide under. Put on your helmet if you have one. (This is to help prevent injury from falling debris or broken glass.) And bring something to do. You might be here for a hot minute. Stay in your safe spot until the all clear is given. Be patient. These storms move fast usually, but tornadoes can spin up on the front and backside of a line of storms. Sit tight and wait for the all clear. WHAT IF I’M DRIVING!? If you’re driving and a tornado warning is given for the area, or God forbid you SEE a funnel cloud, stay calm. If there’s a house or building nearby, go bang on the door and beg them to let you inside. I’m serious. If there’s no buildings, go lay flat in a ditch. I’m still serious. Get as low to the ground as you can and cover your head and face with your jacket. You absolutely do not want to be in a car when there’s tornadoes about. They will toss you around like a tin can. Edited to add: Do NOT get under an overpass. This was common wisdom (even I was told this and originally had it in the post) but according to the National Weather Service and FEMA this is not the case. It seems like a good idea because it's a sturdy shelter, but it acts like a wind tunnel. Thank you to @medic-kix for the catch.

*** Aaaannnd that’s that! I’m sure I missed something so feel free to tack on if you’ve got any further advice. Everyone be safe and stay weather aware!

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

"Am I safe sheltering at home during a tornado?"

"If you're giving people advice about how to stay safe in a tornado, here is a great, science-based article by Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain on how to survive. Hint: someone does NOT have to be below ground to survive. But they do have to get out of mobile homes." -- Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain, NSSL and Dr. Harold Brooks, NSSL

[tornadoquest]

Is Severe Weather In Your Forecast? #severeweather #tornado #flooding

For those folks in the southern and central plains and adjacent areas, it’s no secret that we’re heading into several days of severe weather with all hazards, including tornadoes, expected. Here’s some very important and helpful severe weather, tornado, lightning, and flood safety information from the National Weather Service. Also, remember to plan well ahead if you’re traveling, working, etc.…

[cloudselkie]

BUT! Tornadoes CAN happen anywhere, they're just most prevalent here in Tornado Alley. It's always worth it to know your tornado plan!

I've been reading facts on Wikipedia again, and i'm overcome with the need to terrify non-Americans with the most underrated Terrifying American Thing: TORNADOES

Due to a quirk of mountain and ocean placement, the east-central United States has a higher number of tornadoes (particularly exceptionally strong tornadoes) than any other place on Earth.

And they're so fucking scary oh my God

[starbirdsonthebat]

TUMBLR TORNADO SAFETY PSA:

IF YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A TORNADO,

DO NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDERNEATH A HIGHWAY OVERPASS

IT IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS

[fuckmeyer]

hot tip: EXCLUSIVE behind-the-scenes content available to those who livechat my fic to me

[hypelens]

Winter Storm Blair: A Comprehensive Overview of the Severe Weather Threatening the U.S.

As the nation braces for Winter Storm Blair, millions of Americans are preparing for widespread snowfall, ice accumulation, and dangerously cold temperatures. The storm, which has been intensifying over the past few days, is forecasted to impact large swaths of the Plains, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic regions. The National Weather Service has issued multiple winter storm warnings and advisories, emphasizing the potential for hazardous travel conditions, power outages, and life-threatening cold.

The Path and Impact of Winter Storm Blair

Winter Storm Blair is developing along a strong low-pressure system moving across the central United States. Meteorologists predict significant snowfalls in key regions, with ice and sleet adding to the challenges.

Regions at Greatest Risk

Central Plains: Heavy snowfall is expected, with totals ranging from 6 to 12 inches. Cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, and Omaha are directly in the storm’s path.

Midwest: Areas including Chicago, Indianapolis, and Detroit are bracing for a mix of snow and freezing rain, creating hazardous driving conditions.

Mid-Atlantic: Residents in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia could see a combination of snow and ice, with accumulations potentially disrupting daily activities.

Snow and Ice Totals

According to The Weather Channel, the heaviest snow will fall along a corridor stretching from eastern Kansas to northern Indiana. Ice accumulation, particularly in the southern Midwest, could result in downed power lines and tree damage.

Key Concerns for Residents

The impact of Winter Storm Blair extends beyond snow and ice, with several other hazards looming.

Travel Disruptions

Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly as snow and ice accumulate on major highways and local roads. Authorities have urged travelers to reconsider non-essential journeys and to carry emergency kits in their vehicles if travel is unavoidable.

Power Outages

Ice accumulation poses a significant risk to power infrastructure. Utilities in the affected regions are preparing for outages and encouraging customers to report issues promptly.

Extreme Cold

Blair’s aftermath will bring Arctic air, with temperatures plummeting well below freezing in many areas. Wind chill values may drop into dangerously low ranges, prompting warnings about frostbite and hypothermia.

How to Prepare for Winter Storm Blair

Authorities and weather experts recommend several measures to prepare for the storm:

Stay Informed: Monitor updates from reliable sources, such as the National Weather Service and local news outlets.

Stock Up on Supplies: Ensure your home is equipped with essentials, including food, water, flashlights, batteries, and blankets.

Protect Your Home: Insulate pipes, check heating systems, and secure outdoor items that could be damaged by strong winds or heavy snow.

Plan for Power Outages: Have a backup power source or alternative heating solutions ready, particularly if you live in areas prone to outages.

Check on Vulnerable Neighbors: Ensure that elderly or disabled neighbors have the resources they need to stay safe and warm.

What Makes Winter Storm Blair Unique?

Meteorologists have highlighted the storm’s broad geographic reach and the complexity of its impacts. Unlike storms that primarily deliver snow, Blair combines heavy snow with significant ice risks and extreme cold. This trifecta of hazards underscores the importance of preparation and caution.

Weather Alerts and What They Mean

The National Weather Service has issued various alerts to keep the public informed:

Winter Storm Warnings: Indicate severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow or ice, that will likely impact the area.

Winter Weather Advisories: Highlight less severe but still impactful weather conditions that may cause inconveniences.

Ice Storm Warnings: Signal dangerous ice accumulations that could disrupt power and transportation.

Understanding these alerts helps individuals make informed decisions about their safety.

Looking Ahead

As Winter Storm Blair continues to develop, meteorologists are closely monitoring its trajectory and intensity. Additional updates will be issued as the storm progresses, ensuring that residents have the latest information to stay safe.

Conclusion

Winter Storm Blair serves as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparation. With its wide-reaching impacts and potential for severe disruptions, Blair is a storm that demands attention and action. Stay safe, stay warm, and stay informed as this winter weather event unfolds.

[and-claudias-world]

Severe Weather Go Bag Packing List

Hi friends!! I wanted to make this post to hopefully help others prepare for severe weather events.

If you live in the United States you may know that Tornado Season is coming up soon (it technically begins in April) but as seen in recent weeks, severe storms and tornadoes can happen outside of Tornado Season. This post is going to be about packing a go bag for severe weather.

A go bag is a bag (usually a backpack) that you pack BEFORE (read that again) a storm is predicted to hit your area. It has a few necessities you made need in the event that you are displaced for a couple of days. If your shelter is in side of your home you can go ahead and put it in your shelter once it’s packed so you don’t have to worry about grabbing it. If your shelter is outside of your home (like an underground storm cellar or you have to drive to your local storm shelter) you can either put the bag out in your shelter, by your front/back door or in the car to make it easier. I will also make a separate post about what to wear during a severe weather event and will like it HERE.

So first what bag should you get?

I personally just have a waterproof backpack I got from Amazon for like $15. I do not recommend using your school bag, but if that is the only option then as soon as you can empty it to prepare for the Storm. As I said you want this to be packed before the storm hits.

What to pack:

Small flashlight (if power goes out you’ll need light, or if power lines are down and it’s night time this will help as well, you don’t want to be waiting phone battery) Walmart has a good one that’s less than $2 near the camping equipment

Any important physical documents you have that are NOT saved digitally. You don’t want a ton of paper in your go bag but if you have certain documents that you NEED and do not have saved, try having a folder for them and put that in the bag. (I personally have a small one for my dog’s papers work as he is in the process of becoming an ESA and I can’t lose these papers)

Battery pack and wall charger. Chances are power will go out but if it doesn’t and you need to charge you phone it’s nice to have the option to plug into the wall. So try to have a battery back, cord and block for charging your phone. CHARGE THE BANK BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES!!!

I personally drop my laptop into my bag as well just so I don’t loose it. It has all my info on it so I’d like to keep it safe.

A change of clothes. You may be displaced so having a change of clothes is always nice to have, at the very least drop a pair or two of underwear in your bag so you can at least change those if you are unable to get home. And when it comes to the type of clothes you bring, BRING PANTS!! It may be middle of summer but if you’re having to walk/dig through debris you do NOT want to be in shorts.

Water bottle. Either a plastic or refillable one. Make sure it has water in it before the storm.

Food, I personally just drop a few snacks that are filling (like granola bars) in my bag.

Comfort item. I personally have Storm anxiety. It’s normal. Hell I’m going into Meteorology and have storm anxiety. It’s okay to put a comfort item in your go bag. I have my teddy bear from when I was little in mine.

A beach towel. Don’t grab the thickest one you have. Just a thin one that doesn’t take up too much room will do just fine. In the event that you have to run out in the rain to get to your shelter, it’s nice to have one to dry you (or your dog off)

Medications. Any medication that you need (or anyone in your care) may need. You don’t want to be without it if something happens to your home.

I may add to this as I will be packing my bag tomorrow for some up coming storms. I hope this helps anyone who may see it 🖤

[thelastspeecher]

ah, yes, the Midwest

where multiple inches of snowfall, 70 degree weather, and hail the size of ping-pong balls can all happen within seven days

[sunrayretriever]

hi friends theres severe weather expected today!!

these are for people in states such as TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND ALABAMA.

its a relatively small location but here's the tornado probabilities today!! the yellow hatched area means there's a 10% chance or greater of STRONGER tornadoes, meaning EF2 or greater!

along with tornadoes, theres an even higher chance for damaging wind gusts for the same areas! ALABAMA, i have heard that the GRADIENT winds (winds not associated with storms) are going to be up to 40-50mph, so be aware of that, please!

please stay tuned in to your local weather station or news outlet for further information!!

[kathyoholloway44]

Access storm damage restoration Canton services designed to repair and rebuild properties affected by severe weather. These solutions address common issues like broken roofing, water damage, and structural instability to ensure properties are restored efficiently and safely.

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

#WhatNOAADoes - Thanks to #NWS Peachtree City GA for hosting a new #Skywarn severe weather volunteer storm spotter training course to be held Friday, March 28, 10 AM -- 12 PM at College & Career Academy in #RinggoldGA.

More info & register here: https://www.weather.gov/ffc/skywarnsched

[tornadoquest]

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For May 11 - 18, 2024 #science #weather #climate #tornado #drought #astronomy #spaceweather #earthquake

Greetings everyone and thanks so much for stopping by. We may be in a bit of a “lull” for severe weather in the USA, but it’s temporary. Across North America, May is the peak month for tornado and severe weather activity and we’re certainly no where near the end of the peak months for severe weather events. On that note, let’s stay with our overview of tornado safety this week. As usual, we have…

[luckywolfsbane]

Quick (aggressive) PSA:

Rain w/o lightning, light or heavy, and no threat beyond mild flash flooding: Decently safe. Go play!

Severe thunderstorms w/ visible sky-to-earth lightning and/or threat of tornadoes/high wind/hail/etc: GO THE FUCK INSIDE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!? PLAY IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATER WHEN THE THREAT IS GONE, NOT WHILE THERE IS LIGHTNING IN THE AIR. Do you want to die? This is how you die. This is the Midwest. You should know better. Tornadoes can crop up in an instant. Do you want to become human debris? Do you WANT to be a headline with a memorial service? Knock that shit off right now.

Sincerely,

A very tired godparent who doesn't want to see people get struck by lightning.

[reasonsforhope]

No paywall version here.

"Two and a half years ago, when I was asked to help write the most authoritative report on climate change in the United States, I hesitated...

In the end, I said yes, but reluctantly. Frankly, I was sick of admonishing people about how bad things could get. Scientists have raised the alarm over and over again, and still the temperature rises. Extreme events like heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more severe and frequent, exactly as we predicted they would. We were proved right. It didn’t seem to matter.

Our report, which was released on Tuesday, contains more dire warnings. There are plenty of new reasons for despair. Thanks to recent scientific advances, we can now link climate change to specific extreme weather disasters, and we have a better understanding of how the feedback loops in the climate system can make warming even worse. We can also now more confidently forecast catastrophic outcomes if global emissions continue on their current trajectory.

But to me, the most surprising new finding in the Fifth National Climate Assessment is this: There has been genuine progress, too.

I’m used to mind-boggling numbers, and there are many of them in this report. Human beings have put about 1.6 trillion tons of carbon in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution — more than the weight of every living thing on Earth combined. But as we wrote the report, I learned other, even more mind-boggling numbers. In the last decade, the cost of wind energy has declined by 70 percent and solar has declined 90 percent. Renewables now make up 80 percent of new electricity generation capacity. Our country’s greenhouse gas emissions are falling, even as our G.D.P. and population grow.

In the report, we were tasked with projecting future climate change. We showed what the United States would look like if the world warms by 2 degrees Celsius. It wasn’t a pretty picture: more heat waves, more uncomfortably hot nights, more downpours, more droughts. If greenhouse emissions continue to rise, we could reach that point in the next couple of decades. If they fall a little, maybe we can stave it off until the middle of the century. But our findings also offered a glimmer of hope: If emissions fall dramatically, as the report suggested they could, we may never reach 2 degrees Celsius at all.

For the first time in my career, I felt something strange: optimism.

And that simple realization was enough to convince me that releasing yet another climate report was worthwhile.

Something has changed in the United States, and not just the climate. State, local and tribal governments all around the country have begun to take action. Some politicians now actually campaign on climate change, instead of ignoring or lying about it. Congress passed federal climate legislation — something I’d long regarded as impossible — in 2022 as we turned in the first draft.

[Note: She's talking about the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Act, which despite the names were the two biggest climate packages passed in US history. And their passage in mid 2022 was a big turning point: that's when, for the first time in decades, a lot of scientists started looking at the numbers - esp the ones that would come from the IRA's funding - and said "Wait, holy shit, we have an actual chance."]

And while the report stresses the urgency of limiting warming to prevent terrible risks, it has a new message, too: We can do this. We now know how to make the dramatic emissions cuts we’d need to limit warming, and it’s very possible to do this in a way that’s sustainable, healthy and fair.

The conversation has moved on, and the role of scientists has changed. We’re not just warning of danger anymore. We’re showing the way to safety.

I was wrong about those previous reports: They did matter, after all. While climate scientists were warning the world of disaster, a small army of scientists, engineers, policymakers and others were getting to work. These first responders have helped move us toward our climate goals. Our warnings did their job.

To limit global warming, we need many more people to get on board... We need to reach those who haven’t yet been moved by our warnings. I’m not talking about the fossil fuel industry here; nor do I particularly care about winning over the small but noisy group of committed climate deniers. But I believe we can reach the many people whose eyes glaze over when they hear yet another dire warning or see another report like the one we just published.

The reason is that now, we have a better story to tell. The evidence is clear: Responding to climate change will not only create a better world for our children and grandchildren, but it will also make the world better for us right now.

Eliminating the sources of greenhouse gas emissions will make our air and water cleaner, our economy stronger and our quality of life better. It could save hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives across the country through air quality benefits alone. Using land more wisely can both limit climate change and protect biodiversity. Climate change most strongly affects communities that get a raw deal in our society: people with low incomes, people of color, children and the elderly. And climate action can be an opportunity to redress legacies of racism, neglect and injustice.

I could still tell you scary stories about a future ravaged by climate change, and they’d be true, at least on the trajectory we’re currently on. But it’s also true that we have a once-in-human-history chance not only to prevent the worst effects but also to make the world better right now. It would be a shame to squander this opportunity. So I don’t just want to talk about the problems anymore. I want to talk about the solutions. Consider this your last warning from me."

-via New York Times. Opinion essay by leading climate scientist Kate Marvel. November 18, 2023.