What is Severe Weather ?

What in dutchsinse sincedutch's mind constitutes severe weather when he tells you to 'expect severe weather in the next 24-48 hours' ? It would appear a normal everyday thunderstorm like the ones he shows on his screenshots. You know the ones. The ones that have the pop up bubbles with the text in them saying 'hail detected' or 'possible damaging winds' and even 'tornado detected'. I think I even recall some showing 'lightning' as severe weather in some of his shots. Just because the 'RADAR' mentions these things, does not mean it has happened. How many times have you looked at the radar and it showed rain where you are at, but it wasn't raining ?

We know severe weather can occur anytime in and around a volatile weather passage [ front ]. That's why 'he mentions all of the possibilities when he issues a HAARP RING forecast', and only does so when he knows a front is in the area. Kinda like covering your ass in my book.

His HAARP RING forecast are always somewhere in the middle of the country once a frontal passage is firmly in place, and over to the east coast. I have yet to see a forecast come from him out of the northwest or west coast. I could be wrong as I've only been watching his antics for about 2 weeks now.

There is a set of guidelines set forth by the National Weather Service that defines what is considered severe weather.

Severe Thunderstorm A thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50knots), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter.

Approaching Severe A thunderstorm wind equal to or greater than 40 mph (35 knots) and/or hail of at least 1".

Reportable Severe Weather Parameters

* Tornadoes
* Funnel Clouds
* Wall Clouds
* Winds in excess of 58 MPH
* Hail of any size
* Rain in excess of 1 inch per hour
* Flooding
* Coastal Flooding? (particularly if there is no watch or warning in effect)
* Snow in excess of 4" in PA and NNJ,? 3" in SNJ and 2" in the DelMarva<
* Any ice accumulation
* Tsunami

Note: Lightning is not a reportable severe weather parameter.

I cant wait to see what he does with winter weather hazards.

[ posted 12:52 PM EDT 10/26/2011 ]