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Public Information Statement

National Weather Service State College PA

620 AM EDT Mon Apr 15 2024



...PENNSYLVANIA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...



This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Pennsylvania.



Now is the time to prepare for the upcoming severe weather 

season. We will be covering various topics about severe weather 

safety and preparedness throughout the week. 



Our topic for today is Severe Thunderstorms. 



We will cover what classifies a thunderstorm as severe, and what 

the differences are between a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning. We will also give you information on 

what to do when a watch or warning is issued for your area.



What is a severe thunderstorm?



A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces wind gusts of 

58 miles per hour or higher, and/or hail one inch in diameter or 

larger. Those hailstones are about the size of a quarter. Severe 

thunderstorms are often accompanied by torrential downpours and 

frequent lightning. They can also produce tornadoes. Damage 

from the strong wind gusts of a severe thunderstorm can be just

as bad as the damage made by a tornado.



What is a Severe Thunderstorm Watch?



A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued in order to alert you that 

thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail may develop near 

your location. A watch by itself does not mean that severe weather

is actually occurring yet, but it does mean that the ingredients 

for severe weather are present and severe thunderstorms may 

develop. A severe thunderstorm watch usually covers an area as 

large as a state and is in effect for several hours, expiring only

when the severe thunderstorms are expected to end.



What should you do when a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued?



Go about your normal activities, but watch the sky around you for

developing storms. Periodically check NOAA Weather Radio or other

media outlets for forecast updates and possible warnings. Know 

which county you live in, and which ones border your community. 

Think of a safe place to be and plan a route that you can use to 

get that safe place quickly. 



What is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning?



A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means a severe thunderstorm is 

occurring and is going to move through your location soon. It is 

your signal that you will need to take quick action to protect 

your life and property. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are issued by

the National Weather Service when meteorologists detect a severe 

thunderstorm using Doppler radar or when damage has been reported 

by trained Skywarn weather spotters or law enforcement. 



Typically, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued for an 

area as big as a county or two, and for a period of up to one 

hour. In the text of the warning statement, we try to make a 

specific list of towns that are likely to be in the path of the 

storm. Pay close attention and see if communities or landmarks 

near you are mentioned in the warning. 



What should you do when a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued 

for your location?



If you are outdoors, get inside your home or another sturdy 

building. Boaters should head to shore immediately.



When indoors, go to an interior room on the lowest level. Stay 

away from windows and exterior doors. Do not use electrical 

appliances and avoid using the telephone, as lightning can travel 

through electrical and telephone lines. Also avoid taking a 

shower, sitting in a bath, or doing the dishes during a 

thunderstorm, as lightning can travel through plumbing.



If you are driving on a highway, safely exit the highway before 

entering a thunderstorm, as thunderstorms can produce very low 

visibility in heavy rain. Heavy rain can also flood roads quickly,

so never try to drive through an area where water covers the 

road, even if you think it is shallow. Water may sweep your 

vehicle away if you attempt to drive through it.



For additional thunderstorm and severe weather safety information

check out our web page at:



www.weather.gov/ctp/severeweatherawarenessweek



Our weather safety topics for the rest of the week will be, 

Tuesday, Outlooks, Watches, and Warnings. 

Wednesday, Flash Flooding. 

Thursday, Tornadoes. 

Friday, Ways to become involved - SKYWARN spotters, Weather Ready

Nation, StormReady, and HAM radio.



$$