Severe Weather Awareness

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
404 PM CST SUN FEB 20 2011

...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...

...DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A WATCH AND A WARNING...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OR A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE
WEATHER.

SPECIFICALLY...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR
LARGE HAIL AND/OR DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS.  1 INCH (QUARTER-
SIZED) OR LARGER HAIL IS CONSIDERED SEVERE, AS IS THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED, WHICH ALSO
INCLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF LARGE AND/OR MULTIPLE TORNADOES.

AFTER COORDINATING WITH AFFECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICES, THE WATCH IS ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA.  THE TYPICAL SIZE OF A WATCH AREA IS TWENTY FIVE
THOUSAND SQUARE MILES AND USUALLY TAKES THE SHAPE OF A FOUR-SIDED
POLYGON.  THE WATCH TYPICALLY LASTS FOR SIX TO EIGHT HOURS. WHEN A
WATCH IS ISSUED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ON THE ALERT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO SAFETY WHEN SEVERE WEATHER
DEVELOPS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY LOCAL NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES WHEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR
TORNADOES ARE IMMINENT, EITHER AS INDICATED BY DOPPLER RADAR OR WHEN
OBSERVED & REPORTED BY RELIABLE SOURCES SUCH AS SKYWARN SPOTTERS.  A
WARNING USUALLY COVERS A PORTION OF ONE TO SEVERAL COUNTIES OR
PARISHES AND NORMALLY LASTS FOR AN HOUR OR LESS.  PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE WARNING AND TAKE
IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT YOURSELVES.  WARNINGS INCLUDE IMPORTANT
DETAILS SUCH AS WHICH LOCATIONS ARE AT GREATEST RISK AND WHAT
MEASURES YOU SHOULD TAKE TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

REMEMBER:  IN A WATCH...WATCH THE SKY.  IN A WARNING...TAKE ACTION TO
PROTECT YOURSELF.