Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
National Weather Service
Dwain E. Miller Jr., GISPVolunteer
National Weather ServiceWakefield, VA
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Who/What is the NWS?
• A Federal Government Agency• Dept of Commerce
– NOAA• 5000 Employees total in the NWS• 122 Forecast offices across the
country (including Puerto Rico and Guam)
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Our office• 24/7 Operation• 10 Forecasters
– All degreed meteorologists• Hydrometeorological
technicians• Interns• Technicians• Management/Support Staff
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Operations 24 hours a day 7 days a
week• Public Forecasts• Aviation Forecasts• Marine Forecasts• Hydrology• Fire Weather• Severe Weather• Climatology• Upper Air• Data Collection • Quality Control
• Doppler Radar• Observing Equipment• Rain & River Gauges• AWIPS• Computers • Networks• NOAA Weather Radio• Web Site • Administrative Duties• Outreach
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
“Tools of the Trade”• Upper air balloons• Thermometers
– temperature• Anemometers
– wind speed• Barometers
– atomspheric pressure• Ceilometers
– height of cloud base• Hygrometers
– moisture content
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Where do thunderstorms occur?
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Last about 30 minutes
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Towering Cumulus
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Mature Thunderstorm
when damage/severe weather occurs
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
What is the definition of a severe
thunderstorm?•2 parts – Hail and
Wind– Hail – ¾ Inch in
Diameter (penny size) or larger
– Wind – Sustained wind or wind gusts 58 mph (50 knots) or higher•Damage to Trees, Power
lines, and/or Structures
Church Creek, Md. – 4/28/2002
Near Victoria, Va. – 5/22/2000
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
What is the difference between
a watch and a warning?
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Watch•Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado
•Covers a large area•Out for 4-8 hours at a time•Have a plan/watch the sky
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Warning•Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado
•Covers a pretty small area•Only out for up to one hour•Take Action!!!
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Dissipating Thunderstorm
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
How fast are the winds in a tornado?
112 mph to more than 300 mph!
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Where do tornadoes occur?
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Tornado Safety• BASIC RULE of Thumb
– “Go Low, Stay Low”• Seek Safe Shelter –
Sturdy Bldg.– Lowest floor
bathroom, closet or hallway
– Crouch down– Use cushions,
blankets, coats, etc. as protection from debris
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Tornado Safety• If Outside – Move to
Shelter, if possible• NO Shelter &
Outside– Get as Low as
Possible – Use Ditch, if nearby– Crouch down or LIE
down– Cover head with
hands
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Waverly Tornado (Feb 2016)
Damaged RR Crossing SignalRoof Damage of Grocery Store
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Waverly Tornado (Feb 2016)
Outside of Waverly Post Office
Damaged roof of Waverly Gym
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Flood Safety
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
How much water does it take to
float a car or van or bus?
2 Feet or less!
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Do not drive or walk through a flooded roadway or flowing
water…• 2 feet of water
will cause most vehicles to float
• 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Lightning Safety
• Young adults aged 20-29 accounted for the most losses with (36%)– Followed by kids aged 10-
19 (16%)• Lightning accounted for 1 out
of 4 weather related deaths in Virginia in 2007
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Radar/Lightning Image
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Which state sees the most lightning each
year?
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Lightning Safety• Seek Safe Shelter – Enclosed,
Grounded Building– Tents, Picnic Pavilions and
Porches are NOT Good Shelters– Inside a vehicle (with windows
closed)•Lightning tends to strike the
tallest object
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Lightning Safety• As a LAST
RESORT…• If your hair stands
on end or your skin tingles…
• And NO SHELTER…– Get Away From
Trees– Avoid Open Spaces– Get as Low as
Possible– Assume Lightning
Desperation Position
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Most Important Thing to Remember!
• Stay informed!• How can you get the latest
information?• Make sure you know where the
storms are and where they’re expected to move
Weather Forecast Office Wakefield, VA
Questions?
