NWS Boulder is slacking

denverpilot

denverpilot

Tied Down
Joined
Nov 8, 2009
Messages
55,472
Location
Denver, CO
Display Name
DenverPilot
Home Airfield
KAPA
This is overhead right now. Not even a Watch box...

aefda03c-eaf5-a71c.jpg
 
Well, let's look at the definitions:
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH -- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch will be issued when conditions are favorable for development of severe thunderstorms. While not anticipated, tornadoes may occur in the watch area. The Storms Prediction Center (SPC) is the sole agency responsible for issuing a watch. A watch covers several thousands of square miles and generally lasts from two to six hours.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING -- When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued, severe thunderstorms are occurring and have been reported by spotters or detected by radar. The National Weather Service (NWS) defines a severe thunderstorm as having winds 50 kts (58 mph)or greater, and/or hail 1 inch or greater in diameter (about quarter-sized). There is imminent danger for people in the area warned. Issued by a local NWS office, the size of the warning area is generally the size of one or two counties and usually lasts less than an hour.
Click to expand...
So first, it's not NWS Boulder, since it is the SPC that generates the watch. And then I have to ask if the storm met the criteria of severe (wind and/or hail as defined above). I can't tell from the RADAR picture.
 
Good to know the criteria went up from 3/4". I've had that memorized for years.

Didn't there also used to be lightning frequency criteria? I seem to recall that from my chasing days, many many moons ago.

The storm was high-based and precip never hit the surface, so the forecaster must have seen that in the temps/dewpoints. It did produce copious amounts of cloud to ground lightning, though.
 
denverpilot said:
Good to know the criteria went up from 3/4". I've had that memorized for years.

Didn't there also used to be lightning frequency criteria? I seem to recall that from my chasing days, many many moons ago.

The storm was high-based and precip never hit the surface, so the forecaster must have seen that in the temps/dewpoints. It did produce copious amounts of cloud to ground lightning, though.
Click to expand...

Lightning may once have been one of the criteria, but it definitely is not part of the criteria now.
 
you don't get a watch everytime it rains.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top