Severe Weather Awareness FAQ

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QUESTION #1: Can a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning be issued without a watch in place?

Yes it can. While the majority of the time a watch is in place prior to a warning being issued, there are times a warning is issued for a storm with no watch having been issued. This is usually in a situation where a lone storm or maybe a couple storms briefly get strong enough to produce damaging winds or hail in a localized area, but the overall conditions do not support widespread severe weather.

QUESTION #2: What do the Marginal, Slight, Enhanced, Moderate, and High risk categories in the Convective Outlook mean?

Marginal, Slight, Enhanced, Moderate, and High risks represent progressively larger threats for organized severe storm episodes. These risks, along with their numerical, abbreviated labels, and colors (1-MRGL-dark green, 2-SLGT-yellow, 3-ENH-orange, 4-MDT-red, 5-HIGH-magenta), are based directly

QUESTION #3: What does it mean to be Weather Ready Nation (WRN)?

NOAAâ€™s Weatherâ€“Ready Nation (WRN) is about readying your community for extreme weather, water, and climate events. The devastating impacts of extreme events like record breaking snowfall, violent tornadoes, destructive hurricanes, widespread flooding, and devastating drought can be reduced by taking advanced action, which is why the Weatherâ€“Ready Nation initiative is so important.

QUESTION #4: Can a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning be issued without a watch in place?

Yes it can. While the majority of the time a watch is in place prior to a warning being issued, there are times a warning is issued for a storm with no watch having been issued. This is usually in a situation where a lone storm or maybe a couple storms briefly get strong enough to produce damaging winds or hail in a localized area, but the overall conditions do not support widespread severe weather.

QUESTION #5: Questions about tornadoes?

Questions about tornadoes?

QUESTION #6: How can I become a SKYWARN Spotter?

How can I become a SKYWARN Spotter NWS WAKEFIELD? How can I become a SKYWARN Spotter NWS STERLING VA (DC)? How can I become a SKYWARN Spotter NWS BLACKSBURG VA?

QUESTION #7: WHAT IS THE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERT (WEA)?

WHAT IS THE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERT (WEA)

QUESTION #8: HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A TORNADO & WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD I TAKE IF A WARNING IS ISSUED?

TORNADO PREPARE

QUESTION #9: HOW MANY TORNADOES USUALLY OCCUR IN VIRGINIA PER YEAR?

VA TORNADO NUMBERS

QUESTION #10: WEATHER READY NATION INFO

MORE WRN INFO HERE