Severe Weather Awareness Week
Release Date: May 7, 2001
Release Number: R10-01-23
Boise, ID -- The Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services (BDS), Idaho's County Emergency Managers, and the National Weather Service (NWS) are jointly holding a Severe Weather Awareness Week from May 7 through May 11, 2001.
The primary activity for the week will be the state-wide Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Flash Flood Drill on Tuesday, May 8 at 10:20 a.m. During this drill warning, the NWS will send a Tone Alerted warning message over the Boise, Twin Falls, Mc Call, and Payette Weather Radios. The following steps should be taken during the drill or during any severe thunderstorm warning:
- If outside, have all staff and children go inside a sturdy building immediately.
- Close all doors.
- Stay away from exterior glass and large open spaces such as gymnasiums and auditoriums.
- Because Severe Thunderstorms develop rapidly and at best, only minutes occur between the warning and an actual severe thunderstorm, the NWS encourages all schools and businesses within range of a NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) to buy a NWR and place that NWR in the administrative office of that school or business.
Severe thunderstorms are defined by the NWS as downdraft winds in excess of 58 miles an hour and/or hail 3/4 of an inch or greater. Since 1986, severe thunderstorm winds have killed over 300 people and injured over 4000 nationwide.
Idaho averages 38 severe storms a year. Since 1950, 987 severe thunderstorms were reported. Since 1981, 713 severe storms or 38 storms per year have occurred. This increase in reports is because of increasing population, heightened meteorological awareness, and improved NWS verification and preparedness procedures.
Although severe thunderstorms can occur in any month of the year, the summer months of June, July, and August account for 74% of the total number of reports. July ranks first with 31%, followed by June with 26%, then August with 17%. The most common type of event is the downburst which makes 70% of the total reports. Large hail accounts for 30% of the reports.
For more information, contact Mr. Carl Weinbrecht, NWS at (208) 334-9860 or Lt Col Timothy Marsano, BDS at (208) 422-5268.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 28-Oct-2003 16:19:40