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Safety and Preparedness |
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Criteria for Severe Weather & Flooding Products Issued by WFO Paducah |
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Issued when either or both of the following is occurring or imminent: 1 inch diameter hail or larger; winds of at least 50 knots (58 mph).
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- Tornado Warning - Issued when a tornado is expected to develop or one is sighted by a trained spotter or public official. A Tornado Warning may also be issued if Doppler Radar shows the development of strong rotation within a storm.
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- Severe Weather Statement - Used to follow-up a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warning. This product updates the user on the current position and expected movement of the storm and includes timely reports of severe weather that have already occurred with the storm. A Severe Weather Statement is also issued to cancel a warning early.
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- Watch County Notification Message - Provides a final list of all counties in WFO Paducah's forecast area included in a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch. This product may be issued to adjust the counties covered by the watch, extend the valid time of the watch, or cancel the watch.
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- Local Storm Report - Used to distribute severe weather and flooding reports to the public. It is issued as reports are received and may occasionally be issued as a collection of all reports after an event is over. Delayed storm reports are disseminated after an event has ended as well.
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- Flood Watch - Issued when there is a threat of (flash) flooding, but the occurrence is neither certain or imminent. The product will be reissued to update, cancel, or expire a current watch.
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- Flash Flood Warning - Issued when rapidly rising water is expected to threaten life and/or property. If the flooding is expected to persist for a longer duration, typically greater than six hours, a Flood Warning will be issued.
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- Flash Flood Statement - Used as a follow-up to Flash Flood Warnings. The statement contains the latest and often more detailed information on the event, including flooding reports received from spotters or public officials.
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- Flood Warning - A dual-purpose product. (1.) Issued when a gradual rise in waters resulting from heavy rain is expected to threaten life and/or property and persist for typically more than six hours; (2.) Also issued for a river forecast point that is expected to rise above flood stage or is already at or above flood stage during rapid rises.
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- Flood Statement - Used to follow-up a Flood Warning, whether areal or river flooding. Other uses for this product include urban and small stream flooding, and river flooding at forecast points that are expected to approach but not exceed flood stage.
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