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Central Region Headquarters

Regional Headquarters

How to Submit Storm Reports

Weather.gov > Central Region Headquarters > How to Submit Storm Reports
How to Report
There are a variety of ways to report weather to the NWS office in
 
. You can use any/all of these to reach us. Below the contact info are the types of information we'd like you to report. Please be sure to include the location of the weather event, e.g. 5 miles northwest of Columbus. You may also indicate if you are a trained spotter, a ham radio operator, a member of law enforcement, or other affiliation if applicable. 
Submit Report
Use this Web Based Form: Submit Report
Mobile App
Send reports from your location via a smartphone app: MPing
 
Tornado
Damaging Winds
Hail
Flooding
Heavy Rain
Snow
Freezing Rain/Icing
Strong Winds
Fog

Tornado

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. The Enhanced Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale is used to categorize tornadoes

Funnel Cloud: A condensation funnel extending from the base of a towering cumulus or cumulonimbus, associated with a rotating column of air that is not in contact with the ground (and hence different from a tornado). A condensation funnel is a tornado, not a funnel cloud, if either a) it is in contact with the ground or b) a debris cloud or dust whirl is visible beneath it.

Wind Damage

What kind of damage did the wind cause?

  • Small limbs down (less than 2" in diameter)
  • Large limbs/branches down (more than 2" in diameter)
  • Trees snapped or uprooted
  • Power lines down
  • Structural damage and/or Roof damage

Hail

What size hail did you see?

  • Pea Size: 0.25 inches
  • Small Marble: 0.50 inches
  • Penny: 0.75 inches 
  • Nickel: 0.88 inches
    Any hail size at or above a Quarter (1.00 inches) is severe thunderstorm criteria:
  • Quarter: 1.00 inches
  • Half Dollar: 1.25 inches
  • Ping Pong Ball: 1.50
  • Golf Ball: 1.75 inches
  • Hen Egg: 2.00 inches
  • Tennis Ball: 2.50 inches
  • Baseball: 2.75 inches
  • Softball: 4.00 inches
  • Grapefruit: 4.50 inches

Flooding:

What kind of flooding was observed?

  • Minor street flooding
  • Low water crossings flooded
  • Widespread flooding
  • Home/Business flooded
  • Creek/Stream out of banks
  • River out of banks

Heavy Rain

  • How much rain fell, e.g. 1.50".
  • What period of time did the rain fall? (e.g. 1 hour 15 minutes.)
  • Was the rainfall measurement estimated or measured with equipment?

Snow Info

  • How much snow fell (to nearest tenth of an inch if possible), e.g. 3.5".
  • What period of time did the snow fall? (e.g. 1 hour 15 minutes.)
  • Was the snowfall measurement estimated or measured?

Freezing Rain/Icing

  • How much icing was observed (to nearest tenth of an inch if possible), e.g. 0.5".
  • What period of time did the ice accumulate? (e.g. 2 hours 30 minutes.)
  • Was the rainfall measurement estimated or measured?

Strong Winds

We are generally interested in wind speeds of 40-50 mph or higher. Here is some info on how to estimate wind speeds:

  • 39-54 mph: Twigs break off trees; wind generally impedes progress.

  • 55-72 mph: Damage to chimneys and TV antennas; pushes over shallow rooted trees.

  • 73-112 mph: Peels surfaces off roofs; windows broken; light mobile homes pushed or overturned; moving cars pushed off road.

Dense Fog

We are mainly interested in visibility reports of a half mile or less.