Topic: BoM Severe Thunderstorm Warning Survey

[David C]

Go to http://www.bom.gov.au/survey/gstw2.shtml

Probably worthwhile to provide some input. I think the graphical format is good. However, I like to know whether a storm might produce marbles, golfballs or cricket balls and I believe the algorithm that they adopted from Environment Canada (if that it what they still use) can provide such an indication etc etc.   Also suggested they throw in the lightning line which should be in any severe thunderstorm warning and that the base map be considerably more detailed than it is (places, major roads etc etc).

[nmoir]

yeah , i suggested that the warnings were too generic as though all storms are the same and that they should try and educate the public a little by using terms such as supercell though i didnt write that the warnings should say " A severe thunderstorm is in the area heading in a south easterly direction , any towns in its path wil be WIPED CLEAN OFF THE MAP!!!!!"

[David C]

" A severe thunderstorm is in the area heading in a south easterly direction , any towns in its path wil be WIPED CLEAN OFF THE MAP!!!!!"

hahaha, that is exactly how it should be done Nick - to the point!

[Jimmy Deguara]

Nick you sadistic bugger:)

I really to tell you guys the truth given the political pressures, limitations of radar and considdering events fom the past, I quite like the way the warning system is structured. Too much information sometimes can impact on how it is perceived by the public.

I do think that delivery can be improved and that relates to media.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Michael Bath]

I suggested the graphical system (highlighting actual cells - not just the area under warning) they have in Sydney and Brisbane used in regional areas too - where the radar coverage is good, like Northern Rivers. Guess it's a matter of having enough staff to produce the products.

MB

[Brad Hannon]

the warnings should say " A severe thunderstorm is in the area heading in a south easterly direction , any towns in its path wil be WIPED CLEAN OFF THE MAP!!!!!"

Hi Nick, I think another warning such as ...."stay away from wiiiiiindoows" could probably be useful too    My nearly finished DVD has some classic audio with the NOAA warning in it, not to mention a comedian in the car who does a good impersonation.

[Geoff Thurtell]

Hi all,

Overall, the BOM warning system is good but a bit variable. It looks like it depends who is on duty in the severe weather section at the time.
The media are hopeless with conveying warnings to the public. Yet, for example, most media reports for the Armidale storm say something along the lines of "...the storm hit without warning... freak storm..." and so on. It seems that they are unwilling to help with keeping the public informed but will then sensationalise their reports with hype about how the storm struck without warning. A little bit hypocritical from my point of view.

Enough from me!

Geoff

[zacaroo]

Hi,

Now to the point, I said that they should update the Severe Thunderstorm Warning more often instead of every hour because the situation changes alot faster than that.

Thanks,
Zac

[nmoir]

The problem with that is that the reports really are for the layman and too many reports would probably confuse the public. Like the boy who cryed wolf syndrome. In the midwest USA where the public has quite a good knowledge of weather and tornadoes kill a lot rapid up to date reports can be understood and used by the fleets of chasers , news crews and spotters for public safety, we just dont produce enough nasty storms.   

[Mike]

From the NT point of view...we had a severe thunderstorm warning issued last night (friday just gone).  I went straight out as they said winds up to 90kmh!!!  That's a huge cell - albeit travelling down the track for at least 50km here and there and seeing the storms but there was not much in it. I think the winds at whatever level killed them off as when we return home from initial warning (6:30pm) to 7:30pm they had virtually died competely.

As far as we were concerned,  up here these things die off really quickly which is very frustrating.  We had three cells, one 20km SE of home and going NW and two from the SE going NW a bit further out.  The warning was for rural within 60km of darwin - neither of which eventuated into anything.  But as i mentioned in other posts - better to err on the side of caution with these - in fact some areas probably were affected by the storms, the bureau can only go by their path and speed and issue warnings to those 'impending' areas.  The storms were very vast moving - up to 30km an hour - so the likelihood of them developing further was zip as far as conditions prevailed.  A bust run for me and a relief for the mango farmers in its path!

With the monsoon out to our north not much in the way of weather - the odd pulse storm around - but it's the wet season and that's what you get!

Mike