A severe thunderstorm warning (SAME code: SVR) is a type of public warning for severe weather that is issued by weather forecasting agencies worldwide when one or more severe thunderstorms have been detected by Doppler weather radar, observed by weather spotters, or reported by an emergency management agency, law enforcement, or the general public. Unlike a watch, a warning is issued to areas in the direct path of active severe thunderstorms, that are expecting a direct impact typically within an hour. Severe thunderstorms can cause property damage and injury due to large hail, high winds, and flooding due to torrential rainfall. The exact criteria to issue a warning varies from country to country.
In the United States, the National Weather Service issues a warning when an observed thunderstorm is producing wind gusts of at least 58mph, or hail of at least 1inches in diameter. Most forecasting agencies have similar criteria, but some agencies, such as Environment Canada, also include high rainfall rate. Others may instead issue a flood advisory or in the case of the National Weather Service, a flash flood warning.
A severe thunderstorm warning indicates the warned area is in impending danger from hail or wind speeds meeting warning criteria as well as from lightning and hydrological impacts associated with the storm cell. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes without warning. While not all severe thunderstorms produce tornadoes, they can produce serious straight line wind damage as severe as a lower-category tornado or hurricane, and can actually cover a much wider area than that exceeded by a tornado's comparatively narrow path width.
If a tornado is detected on radar or is sighted visually, a tornado warning will be issued either in replacement of or concurrently to the existing severe thunderstorm warning. Generally, but not always, a severe thunderstorm watch or tornado watch (or a regional equivalent thereof) will precede a warning. If a tornado warning is issued, based on Doppler weather radar, it means strong rotation has been detected within a thunderstorm. Usually, if a thunderstorm is producing only weak rotation, it will only yield hazardous weather warranting a severe thunderstorm warning. However, the public will usually be advised this type of rotation has been detected and that the storm in question should be watched closely in the near future for further intensification.
In the United States, the National Weather Service (NWS) defines a severe thunderstorm as having large hail of 1inches in diameter or larger, surface wind speeds of 58mph or greater, and/or a tornado.[1] [2] Prior to January 2010, the hail size for which a thunderstorm would be considered severe was 0.75inches; public complacency due to overly frequent issuances of severe thunderstorm warnings and recent studies stating hail did not produce significant damage on the ground until it reached one inch in diameter caused the upgrade in hail criteria.[3] Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued by the National Weather Service through the agency's local Weather Forecast Offices, which utilize WarnGen software integrated into the Advance Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) to generate the warning statement; it is then disseminated through various communication routes accessed by the media and various agencies, on the internet, to NOAA satellites, over NOAA Weather Radio and, depending on the storm's severity and at the office's discretion, via activation of the Emergency Alert System to local broadcast media and Wireless Emergency Alerts for cellular phones.
Local NWS forecast offices outline warnings for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in polygonal shapes for map-based weather hazard products distributed to the main agency, individual forecast office websites and the Storm Prediction Center (including open-source APIs available for free use to public weather websites and mobile apps), based on the storm's projected path as determined by Doppler weather radar at the time of the warning's issuance. In NWS text products, warnings are usually illustrated by individual counties, parishes or other county-equivalent jurisdictions (sections or the entirety thereof, and in list format if it covers more than one jurisdiction), particularly dependent on the jurisdiction's total land area. Prior to October 2007, warnings were issued by the National Weather Service on a per-county basis. SPC and NWS products, as well as severe weather alert displays used by some television stations, typically highlight severe thunderstorm warnings with a yellow or orange polygon or filled county/parish/equivalent jurisdiction outline.
The NWS has the option of adding enhanced wording to severe thunderstorm warnings and update statements issued as a Severe Weather Statement (SVS)—"particularly dangerous situation" (PDS), "severe thunderstorm emergency", or, as used by some Central and Southern Region offices as indicative PDS wording, "this is a very dangerous storm"—when an extremely intense severe thunderstorm expected to impact a densely populated area contains very large hailstones and/or intense straight-line winds capable of causing major structural damage (especially to roofs, windows, siding and structures of poor construction such as outbuildings and mobile homes), and severe injury if not death to people and animals exposed outdoors (from either repeated hail-induced blunt trauma or wind-generated debris). Although it is an unofficial alert product, a "severe thunderstorm emergency" statement—an extension of the tornado emergency statements issued to warn of a violent tornado impacting populated areas—is the highest and most urgent level relating to non-tornadic severe thunderstorms. When a threat of tornadic activity exists (especially if a tornado watch is in effect), local NWS forecast offices, particularly those in the Great Plains or Southeastern U.S., will sometimes include a safety precaution action statement indicating "Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with no advance warning..." or similar wording in their severe thunderstorm warnings to advise the public to keep abreast of possible tornado development and any tornado warnings that may be issued.
As part of the agency’s March 2012 implementation of a multi-tier Impact Based Warning (IBW) system to notify the public and emergency management officials of the severity of specific severe weather phenomena, National Weather Service-issued severe thunderstorm warnings and associated Severe Weather Statements providing updated storm information include event tags at the bottom of the product text providing summarical estimates of straight-line wind speeds (sustained or gusts) and hail size and, when applicable, an indication of possible tornadic development. The product text will also provide a summary of impacts to life and property that may be caused by the hailstones and winds being produced by the parent thunderstorm. Initially implemented at six NWS offices in Kansas and Missouri, the categorical threat and damage indicator text—which are applicable to all of the agency’s Weather Forecast Offices, primarily those operating within the agency's Central and Southern Region divisions—were expanded to 33 additional Central Region WFOs in March 2013; eight additional offices operating within the Eastern, Southern and Western Region divisions began using the IBW indicators in March 2014. The entire agency began using the format in 2016. The threat indicators consist of three coded taglines, ascending by observational level:[4] [5]
Since July 28, 2021 (or as late as August 2 in certain County Warning Areas), the NWS has incorporated categorical damage threat indicators for higher-end hail and/or wind events at the bottom of text products for severe thunderstorm warnings (including update statements to existing warnings issued as Severe Weather Statements):[7] [8]
Similar to the indicators used for tornado warnings since the 2013 implementation of its Impact Based Warning system, the categorical criteria—which will be applicable to all NWS Weather Forecast Offices—was introduced to further explain to the public of the dangers of some thunderstorms, especially those that occur in the Great Plains, that can produce massive hailstones of baseball size (2.75inches) or larger that may fall fast enough to severely injure if not kill a person by repeated blunt trauma, and winds that can cause damage equivalent to hurricanes and tornadoes (especially to roofs and weaker structures such as outbuildings and mobile homes). When deemed necessary, initial warnings and Severe Weather Statement updates containing the "destructive" tag will be disseminated into the Wireless Emergency Alerts system as well.[8]
In Canada, a severe thunderstorm is defined as having wind gusts of greater than 90kph, hail with a diameter of greater than 2cm (01inches), rainfall rates of greater than 50mm in one hour or greater than 75mm in three hours, or tornadoes. Environment and Climate Change Canada issues severe thunderstorm warnings through regional offices of the Meteorological Service of Canada based in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Dartmouth for specified municipalities and census subdivisions, sometimes including areas adjacent to a particular warned thunderstorm that are not in the immediate approximate path but may experience severe weather from adjacent thunderstorms during the warning timeframe. Warnings are disseminated to the public through broadcast and online media outlets, and Weatheradio Canada; depending on storm severity and regional office discretion, the warning may require activation of the National Public Alerting System (Alert Ready) (French: Système national d'alertes à la population [En Alerte]) and feeding provincial alerting systems (such as Alberta Emergency Alert and SaskAlert) to distribute the alert to local broadcast media and cellular phones.
In United Kingdom, a severe thunderstorm is defined as having hail in excess of 2cm (01inches) and straight-line winds in excess of 89kph. The Met Office issues de facto severe thunderstorm warnings through general-purpose weather warning products disseminated by the National Severe Weather Warning Service (classified as yellow, amber or red, depending on storm severity and proximity to the time of expected onset of storm impacts).[9]
In Australia, a severe thunderstorm is defined as having damaging winds in excess of 90kph, large hail of 2cm (01inches) or larger, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding. Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued by regional offices of the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) based in Melbourne Docklands, Adelaide, Darwin, Perth and Brisbane.[10] BOM-issued severe thunderstorm warnings are outlined as either a broad-based warning, covering expected impacts within a weather reporting area, or as a detailed warning, when a thunderstorm is within weather-watch radar range and includes a map depicting any existing thunderstorms and the forecast direction of movement for up to 60 minutes.[10] [11]
In New Zealand, a severe thunderstorm is defined by the Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService) (Maori: Te Ratonga Tirorangi) as having large hail of 20mm, damaging winds of 110km/h, rainfall rates of at least 25mm per hour and/or tornadoes producing winds above 116km/h (rated F1 or stronger on the Fujita Scale).[12] MetService issues severe thunderstorm warnings to alert regions expected to experience severe weather phenomena meeting regional criteria and utilize the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to generate the warning statement.[13] The warning is then disseminated to the public through terrestrial television and radio stations, online media, mobile app and SMS messaging through Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA); if a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar within the warned area during the severe thunderstorm warning's duration, civil defense sirens, if present, are usually activated within the region to be affected to inform people who are present outdoors of the approaching tornado threat.[13]
In the Philippines, a severe thunderstorm is defined by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as having strong winds, large hail, torrential rainfall, tornadoes, flash flooding and/or landslides. PAGASA, through its regional services divisions, issue thunderstorm advisories to alert regions and/or provinces expected to experience severe weather phenomena meeting regional criteria within a period of two hours.[14] Warnings are disseminated to the public through terrestrial television and radio outlets,[15] online media, and via SMS messages through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's Emergency Cell Broadcast System.[14]
| Country | Tornado | Minimum hail size | Minimum wind speed | Minimum rainfall rate per hour | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | See Tornado Warning | 1inches | 58mph | See Flash Flood Warning | ||
| Canada | See Tornado Warning | 20mm | 90kph | 50mm | ||
| Australia | All | 20mm | 90kph | "Conducive to flash flooding" | ||
| New Zealand | F1 or stronger | 20mm | 110kph | 25mm | ||
| Germany | All | 15mm | 105kph | 20mm | ||
| Mexico | All | 5mm | 89kph | 20mm | ||
| United Kingdom | All | 20mm | 55mph | "Conducive to flash flooding" |
Here is an example of a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by the National Weather Service in San Angelo, Texas.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
VAC059-153-600-683-685-140130-
/O.NEW.KLWX.SV.W.0529.190814T0058Z-190814T0130Z/
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
TXC151-253-042245-
/O.NEW.KSJT.SV.W.0017.220404T2223Z-220404T2245Zny
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
523 PM CDT Mon Apr 4 2022
The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Western Jones County in west central Texas...
East central Fisher County in west central Texas...
* Until 545 PM CDT.
* At 521 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Neinda,
moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
Neinda around 525 PM CDT.
Anson around 540 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Truby
and The Intersection Of Us-180 And Ranch Road 126.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in San Angelo.
Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground
lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately.
Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can
hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3261 10025 3276 10031 3294 9990 3263 9981
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 258DEG 33KT 3271 10012
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
TP
This is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for a cluster of severe thunderstorms.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning ALC003-FLC033-113-130200- /O.NEW.KMOB.SV.W.0225.200713T0114Z-200713T0200Z/ BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service Mobile AL 814 PM CDT Sun Jul 12 2020 The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Baldwin County in southwestern Alabama... West central Santa Rosa County in northwestern Florida... Escambia County in northwestern Florida... * Until 900 PM CDT. * At 813 PM CDT, a cluster of severe thunderstorms was located near Bay Minette, moving southeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Ensley, Gonzalez, Bay Minette, Pace, Lillian, Molino and Perdido Beach. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3022 8750 3092 8781 3099 8770 3070 8706 TIME...MOT...LOC 0113Z 301DEG 31KT 3084 8779 HAIL...<.75IN WIND...60MPH $$ CGAL
This is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for winds associated with a strong outflow boundary, as opposed to a traditional thunderstorm.[16]
287
WUUS53 KLOT 162204
SVRLOT
ILC031-043-063-093-097-111-197-162245-
/O.NEW.KLOT.SV.W.0073.240616T2204Z-240616T2245Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville
504 PM CDT Sun Jun 16 2024
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southeastern Kendall County in northeastern Illinois...
Lake County in northeastern Illinois...
Will County in northeastern Illinois...
Northeastern Grundy County in northeastern Illinois...
Northeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois...
DuPage County in northeastern Illinois...
Cook County in northeastern Illinois...
* Until 545 PM CDT.
* At 502 PM CDT, severe outflow winds from thunderstorms were
located along a line extending from Channel Lake to Elk Grove
Village to near Romeoville to near Morris, moving east at 35 mph.
This strong surge of outflow winds from weakening thunderstorms
will produce wind gusts of 50 to locally 60 mph, strong enough to
down some trees and powerlines. These strong winds will be
accompanied by little or no rain.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
Chicago, Joliet, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook, Des
Plaines, Mount Prospect, Downers Grove, Glenview, and Elmhurst
around 510 PM CDT.
Skokie, Orland Park, Berwyn, Oak Park, Austin, Highland Park,
Wilmette, Zion, Brookfield, and Justice around 515 PM CDT.
Cicero, Evanston, Oak Lawn, Irving Park, West Ridge, Burbank,
Mokena, Palos Hills, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park around 520 PM
CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Wind damage with these storms will occur before any rain or
lightning. Do not wait for the sound of thunder before taking cover.
SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY inside a sturdy structure and stay away from
windows.
&&
LAT...LON 4249 8780 4227 8783 4213 8774 4206 8767
4190 8761 4190 8760 4188 8762 4185 8761
4178 8756 4173 8757 4129 8793 4129 8801
4128 8802 4128 8847 4160 8822 4199 8809
4250 8825
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 258DEG 32KT 4247 8815 4201 8801 4162 8813 4136
8833
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Izzi
This is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning with a "considerable" tag to denote that 70 mph wind gusts were possible. � 664 WUUS53 KLBF 052239 SVRLBF NEC017-031-052300- /O.NEW.KLBF.SV.W.0108.210805T2239Z-210805T2300Z/ BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service North Platte NE 539 PM CDT Thu Aug 5 2021 The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... East central Cherry County in north central Nebraska... Southwestern Brown County in north central Nebraska... * Until 600 PM CDT. * At 539 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles southwest of Johnstown, or 18 miles southwest of Ainsworth, moving southeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. * Locations impacted include... Moon Lake, Willow Lake State Wildlife Management Area and Long Lake State Wildlife Management Area. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && LAT...LON 4244 10033 4249 10019 4227 9991 4219 10022 TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 327DEG 26KT 4242 10018 THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...70 MPH $$ Sporer
This is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning with "destructive" wording to denote that three-inch hail was possible with this storm, with a request for activation of Wireless Emergency Alerts (as indicated by the wording "BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED" at the top of the warning). � 115 WUUS53 KLBF 052249 SVRLBF NEC089-149-052330- /O.NEW.KLBF.SV.W.0109.210805T2249Z-210805T2330Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service North Platte NE 549 PM CDT Thu Aug 5 2021 The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Rock County in north central Nebraska... Southwestern Holt County in north central Nebraska... * Until 630 PM CDT. * At 548 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Newport, or 15 miles east of Bassett, moving southeast at 40 mph. THIS IS A DESTRUCTIVE STORM APPROACHING STUART! HAZARD...Three inch hail and 70 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be severely injured. Expect shattered windows, extensive damage to roofs, siding, and vehicles. * Locations impacted include... O'neill, O'Neill, Atkinson, Stuart, Newport and Emmet. This includes the following highways... Highway 20 between mile markers 265 and 308. Highway 281 between mile markers 183 and 189. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Prepare immediately for large hail and damaging winds. People outside should move immediately to shelter inside a strong building. Stay away from windows. This is a dangerous storm. Prepare immediately for large destructive hail capable of producing significant damage. People outside should move to shelter inside a strong building, and stay away from windows. && LAT...LON 4256 9946 4274 9928 4252 9857 4224 9884 TIME...MOT...LOC 2248Z 300DEG 33KT 4262 9924 THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...3.00 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...70 MPH $$ SporerOn August 16, 2019 at 1:31 a.m. MDT, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyoming incorporated the "emergency" wording into a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. In this instance, the "severe thunderstorm emergency" statement was included to denote that 3spell=inNaNspell=in diameter hail (as confirmed by storm spotter reports) was imminent in portions of Scotts Bluff, Banner and Sioux Counties in Nebraska, specifically areas around the towns of Scottsbluff and Gering.[17]
�
187
WWUS55 KCYS 160731
SVSCYS
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
131 AM MDT Fri Aug 16 2019
NEC007-157-165-160815-
/O.CON.KCYS.SV.W.0342.000000T0000Z-190816T0815Z/
Scotts Bluff NE-Banner NE-Sioux NE-
131 AM MDT Fri Aug 16 2019
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM MDT
FOR SCOTTS BLUFF...NORTHEASTERN BANNER AND SOUTHEASTERN SIOUX
COUNTIES...
...THIS IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM EMERGENCY FOR SCOTTSBLUFF AND
GERING!...
At 129 AM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Scotts Bluff
National Monument, or near Scottsbluff, moving east at 40 mph. 3
INCH DIAMETER HAIL IS IMMINENT! PREPARE NOW FOR DESTRUCTIVE HAIL!
This is a very dangerous storm!
HAZARD...Three inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be severely injured.
Expect shattered windows, extensive damage to roofs,
siding, and vehicles.
Locations impacted include...
Scottsbluff, Gering, Mitchell, Terrytown, Minatare, Wildcat Hills
State Recreation Area, Lake Minatare Campground, Wildcat Hills
Campground, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Hubbard Hill, Scottsbluff
Airport, Lake Minatare, Lake Alice, Melbeta and McGrew.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
This is a dangerous storm. Prepare immediately for large destructive
hail capable of producing significant damage. People outside should
move to a shelter, inside a strong building and away from windows.
&&
LAT...LON 4185 10394 4233 10379 4230 10344 4209 10345
4209 10340 4200 10340 4198 10336 4156 10337
4170 10388
TIME...MOT...LOC 0729Z 288DEG 34KT 4189 10374
HAIL...3.00IN
WIND...60MPH
$$
Lyons