Time to think “Severe”?

NOAA's Severe Weather Outlook for February 23

Average temperatures and the amount of daylight increase markedly during the second half of February in advance of meteorological spring which arrives March 1.  As the transition from winter to spring gets underway, the United States typically sees an uptick in the amount of thunderstorms that can be “severe.”

According to NOAA, the criteria that makes a thunderstorm severe includes the presence of any of the following: wind gusts of at least 58 mph, hail at least one inch in diameter, or a tornado.  Neither heavy rain nor lightning can make a thunderstorm “severe.”  Although, February isn’t normally one of the busier severe weather months, it sometimes becomes one.

Significant severe weather outbreaks have occurred in recent years during the latter half of February.  For example, on February 21, 2014, there was a significant severe weather outbreak with more than 100 reported cases from Florida to the DC Metro Region.  Tornadoes are relatively uncommon in the Mid-Atlantic Region at any point of the year and especially during the month of February.  That fact made the two reported tornadoes all the more unusual (one in south central Virginia and the other in St. Mary’s County, Maryland).

On February 28, 2011, there was a larger severe weather outbreak with almost 300 reported cases – including 18 tornadoes – from Alabama to Pennsylvania.  Tragically, one of these tornadoes caused a fatality in Tennessee.  There was another deadly severe weather outbreak on February 22-23, 1998.  Atmospheric conditions were favorable for tornadoes in central Florida, where seven touched down and claimed 42 lives.  What made this outbreak so deadly was its timing since the tornadoes occurred between 10:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. when most people were asleep.

Knowing the basics of severe weather and what to do in the event a watch or warning is issued for your area is very important.  Fortunately, education and technology, including NOAA weather radios and smart phone apps, are effective tools that can be used to ensure safety.  Meteorologists and local authorities are also able to use social media to more effectively communicate the latest weather watches and warnings.