A GUIDE FOR REPORTING SEVERE WEATHER
Please call National Weather Service whenever you observe the following:
- Tornadoes or funnel clouds
- Be very wary of look-a-likes; watch for rotation
- Wall clouds
- Especially if they are rotating
- Hail
- Be specific with regard to size
- Do not report MARBLE size
- Wind
- 40 mph or greater, specify whether estimated or recorded
- Large branches downed (specify diameter of branch)
- Trees/power lines downed
- Structural damage to buildings (roof, windows, etc)
- Rainfall
- 1 inch or greater in ONE hour (NOT a 1 inch/hr. rate for 10 minutes)
- 2 inches or greater storm total
- Flooding
- Streams/Rivers-also, when nearing bank full
- Coastal
- Streets (when more than the usual poor drainage puddles)
- Winter Weather
- Precipitation type change (rain to sleet/freezing rain/snow. When the change has "taken hold")
- Thunder, when accompanied by snow
- ¼ radial ice accretion (from twig outward, not circumference)
- New Snowfall
- First 2 inches, every 2-3 inches there after
- 1 inch per hour or greater
- If less than 2 inches total, give final total only
- Give final total (please don't leave us hanging with a partial report)
- Report any snow/sleet/freezing rain if not in NWS forecast.
PROCEDURES:
- Call the NWS at the toll-free number given to you
- Identify yourself with your Spotter ID # and your name
- BRIEFLY describe WHAT was observed, and WHEN and WHERE it was observed
- If you cannot reach us and you consider your report to be life-threatening, call the police or fire department, explain who you are, and ask that they relay the report to NWS in Taunton, MA