How to report severe weather:
Via email at, ggw.wxreport@noaa.gov
Calling: 1-800-775-5771 or (406) 228-4042
When to send a storm report?
When you can do safely, please send us a report when you observe one or more of the following:
Tornado
Hail (with size)
0.25" or less - Pea
0.50" - Mothball
0.75" - Dime/Penny
0.88" - Nickel
1.00" - Quarter
1.25" - Half Dollar
1.50" - Walnut/Ping Pong
1.75" - Golf Ball
2.00" - Hen Egg
2.50" - Tennis Ball
2.75" - Baseball
3.00" - Tea Cup
4.00" - Grapefruit
4.50" - Softball
Wind damage
Flooding
Snowfall
Rainfall
Definitions:
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air, usually pendant to a cumulonimbus, with circulation reaching the ground. It nearly always starts as a funnel cloud and may be accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.
Severe Thunderstorm: A thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50 knots), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter. Structural wind damage may imply the occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. A thunderstorm wind equal to or greater than 40 mph (35 knots) and/or hail of at least ½" is defined as approaching severe.
Flash Flood: A flood which is caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Also, at times a dam failure can cause a flash flood, depending on the type of dam and time period during which the break occurs.
Please include in your report, the location (town and county) and time/date that the severe weather occurred.
If you can supply a picture of the severe weather you are experiencing, please do.
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