Hillsborough County
New Hampshire
Covering the towns of Amherst, Bedford, Bennington, Brookline, Francestown, Goffstown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Lyndenborough, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, New Boston, New Ipswich, Pelham, Peterborough, Sharon, Temple, Wilton, and Manchester New Hampshire.
Date of Last Revision: July 10, 2002 Revision 1.8
Warning Coordination
Meteorologist: Glenn A. Field
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator:
Robert D. Macedo KD1CY
Hillsborough Emergency Coordinator: Don Dillaby KA1GOZ
Hillsborough
ARES SKYWARN Liaison: Marc Slater - KB1DFE
Purpose
This document provides
information for SKYWARN network control operators within Hillsborough County. The
document is organized into the following sections:
Section I - Introduction to
SKYWARN
Section II - Activation
Procedure and Contact
Personnel
Section III - Activation
Levels
Section IV - Net Operations
Section V – Liaison
with NWS Taunton
Appendix A –
Hillsborough County SKYWARN Frequencies
Appendix
B – Reporting Criteria
and Priorities
Appendix
C – NWS WeatherRadio and
SAME Codes for
Hillsborough County New Hampshire and Surrounding Area
Appendix
D - Suggested Equipment List
for Net Control Operators
Appendix
E - Tornado Classifications
Appendix
F - Hurricane Classifications
Appendix
G - Estimating Windspeed
Appendix
H - Estimating Hail Size
Appendix I - Change History
I. Introduction to SKYWARN
The National Weather Service SKYWARN system’s
goal is for the public to report precise and dependable information to NWS weather
meteorologists for the protection of life and property. For members of the
public to achieve SKYWARN status, the National Weather Service Office’s Warning
Coordination Meteorologist offers training so that anyone can become trained in SKYWARN
and assist the National Weather Service in its prime objective.
Amateur radio operators
perform a unique service for the National Weather Service. With their mobile radio
transmitters, technical knowledge, and NWS certified SKYWARN training, Amateur Radio
SKYWARN weather observers activate SKYWARN or Severe Weather Emergency Nets, which in
conjunction with the general public, provide the National Weather Service with validation
of severe weather reports throughout the coverage area.
Despite the technological
advances provided by Doppler Radar, the only way fully valid information of severe
weather can be disseminated to the public, is through validation of the radar reports
through ground based weather spotters. The general public can report this information via
telephone or through public service officials. Amateur radio operators can report
this information via telephone or by voice and packet transmissions.
The National Weather
Service Forecast Office in Taunton, Massachusetts can receive reports from weather
spotters and public safety officials, and also from amateur radio operators via
voice and packet communications. This allows NWS to take reports from the public even if
telephone communications were to be interrupted.
II. Activation Procedure and
Contact Personnel
The Southern New England
ARES SKYWARN Spotter
Network for NWS Taunton may be activated under the following conditions:
· Whenever a severe
thunderstorm, tornado, hurricane, or flood watch is issued.
· Whenever a winter storm,
blizzard, or high wind warning is issued
· If, in the lead
forecaster’s opinion
there is a strong potential for severe weather
The network is activated
by a phone call from the lead forecaster at NWS to the ARES SKYWARN Coordinator. The ARES
SKYWARN Coordinator is:
ROBERT MACEDO (KD1CY) |
|
| (H): (508) 994-1875 |
(W): 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 |
| Pager: (508) 354-3142 |
Cellular: (508) 259-9213 |
Home Email:
[email protected] |
|
Work Email:
[email protected] |
The ARES SKYWARN
Coordinator activating
SKYWARN will:
· Phone the appropriate
areas for which SKYWARN activation is required or will likely be required in the next few
hours.
· Be sure that the NWS
Taunton Amateur Radio Station is manned with at least one and possibly two Amateur Radio Operators.
· Assist in any other way
possible to expedite activation of the ARES/SKYWARN Network for the region.
The ARES SKYWARN
Coordinator will contact the following personnel in the order that they appear in order to
activate SKYWARN in Hillsborough County.
Once notification has been
received, that individual is expected to bring up a SKYWARN net on the Pack Monadnock and
Hollis NH repeater systems, solicit weather reports from any stations on frequency, and
relay those reports to NWS Taunton.
Please note that if severe
weather is observed, and no net is active, any amateur can activate the net to warn other
amateurs, and begin collecting weather observations.
Hillsborough County Ham Activation List:
Marc Slater (KB1DFE) SKYWARN Liaison |
|
(H) (603) 673-1674 |
(W): (603) 878-5055 ext 5130 |
| Email: [email protected] |
Cell: 603-930-5757 |
| Steve Maloney (N1JDK) Assistant Emergency Coordinator |
|
| (H): (603) 472-8996 |
|
| Email: n1jdk@attbi.com |
| Fletcher Seagroves (N1MEO) |
|
| (H) (603) 673-3036 |
(Cell) (603) 470-7508 |
| Email:
[email protected] |
Donald Grant (N1UBD) Assistant Emergency Coordinator |
|
| (H): (603) 429-1128 | |
| Email: [email protected] |
Larry Levesque (KA1VGM) Assistant Emergency Coordinator |
|
| (H): (603) 424-3353 | |
| Email: [email protected] |
Don Dillaby (KA1GOZ) Emergency Coordinator Hillsborough County |
|
| (H): (603) 888-2766 | (W): (603) 598-4444 |
| Email: [email protected] |
William Fleming (N1HKO) Assistant Emergency Coordinator Manchester |
|
| (H): (603) 668-5926 | |
| Email: [email protected] |
If no one on the list
above can be contacted, the following individual should be called to assist.
Tom Matisko (N1SKZ) Section Emergency Coordinator |
|
| (H): (603) 464-4095 | (W): (603) 424-2725 |
| Email: [email protected] |
This net will relay reports to NWS via the Spotter
line, Packet, or via the NWS liaison frequencies. The
amateur radio operator running the NWS Taunton amateur radio station may also check in and
field reports from these weather nets. Appendix
A contains the commonly used SKYWARN net and liaison
frequencies for Hillsborough County.
III. Activation Levels
The level of activation, and
the response of the amateur community, depends on the nature and severity of the weather
event. Nets may be activated in stand-by
mode, as an informal
net, or as a formal, directed net.
The level of activation
gives an indication of the severity of the impending weather and how wide spread the
impact of the weather is expected to be. A
Level III activation implies a more localized impact, and is the lowest level
of activation. A Level I activation implies a more wide spread, more urgent response is
required, and is the highest level of activation.
In most cases, the level of
activation and the status of the SKYWARN net is set at the discretion of the local ARES
SKYWARN operator.
SUMMERTIME ACTIVATIONS:
Level III:
While severe
weather is not expected at a widespread level, some scattered thunderstorms may approach
and reach severe levels in a given time period. SKYWARN activation in various local areas may be
necessary in case a Severe Thunderstorm or Special Marine Warning is issued for a
localized area (one or two counties.). Net
control operators will initiate a stand-by net and escalate the status of the SKYWARN net
as the situation
dictates. This is the lowest level of
activation.
Level II:
The potential
exists for severe weather over a widespread area. A Weather Watch Issuance (Severe
Thunderstorm, Tornado, Flood, Hurricane Watch) requires Stand-By Activation of SKYWARN.
This means that
NCS’s and contact people should be near a amateur radio and monitor the situation as
it develops. Particularly with Severe Thunderstorm Tornado and Flood Watches, amateur
operators should prepare for possible severe weather within a few hours of the Watch issuance and have a
SKYWARN net standing by on frequency in case severe weather warrants a directed net later.
Level I:
When Severe
Thunderstorm, Special Marine, Tornado, Flood or Hurricane Warnings have been issued for
the specified area, a directed net should be
instituted. Particularly in Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, and Flood Warnings, a directed
net should be instituted immediately after the warning is issued. In a hurricane warning,
the net can remain in stand-by mode until the first feeder bands of the hurricane
reach the coast, then the status of the net can be escalated to a directed net. This is
the highest level of activation.
WINTERTIME ACTIVATIONS:
Level II:
For Winter
Weather Advisories, hourly or bi-hourly activation’s for Snowfall Reports, Road Conditions
and any type of damage can be forwarded. Also, location of the snow/ice/rain line can be
forwarded, as it is difficult to detect on radar. Final reports on snowfall or after a
changeover to rain can be forwarded.
Level I:
If Blizzard Warnings, High Wind
Warnings, Coastal Flood Warnings, Winter Storm and Flood Warnings are issued for the
region, this will require at least hourly activation of SKYWARN, and perhaps formal
directed net mode if reports of damage and weather warrant. Snowfall, rainfall, and
damage reports as well as the rain/ice/snow line should be reported.
Appendix C describes
prioritization and what to report.
As stated previously, the
primary purpose of the SKYWARN program is to assist the National Weather Service in
gathering information to make an accurate prediction. SKYWARN operators should update the
amateur community of the situation, and maintain the status of the net in line with the
current weather situation.
The flow of the net is generally:
· announce the net
· take check ins
· designate net control
operators for secondary SKYWARN frequencies
· allow stations with
announcements to transmit their information
· ask for reports of severe
weather on a regular basis
· relay reports of severe
weather to NWS Taunton
The following procedure is
recommended as a guideline to amateur operators when they prepare to activate a SKYWARN
net.
The SKYWARN net control
operator should contact the Emergency Coordinator for Hillsborough Country,
by one of the methods listed
in Section II.
2.) The SKYWARN net
control operator should start a log. This log need not show every single contact, but it
should show the following:
· Time of Activation.
· When Watches and Warnings
were sent out.
· Time, frequency, location (by
city and county), and call signs and names of stations reporting severe weather that will
be used in NWS Taunton statements
· Weather
observations per the following format:
· Time
of report (in local 24hr format)
· Callsign
of reporting station
· Temperature
· Skycover
(overcast, mostly cloudy, partly cloudy, clear)
· Wind
direction
· Wind
speed
· Wind
gust
· Barometer
(and rising or falling)
· Type
of precipitation currently falling (if any)
· Total
precip for the storm
· Moisture
content
· Any
additional notes from that station
· Time of deactivation.
· Any other significant
events that occurred relating to SKYWARN.
3) Open the net as
follows:
Calling the
Hillsborough County SKYWARN
net. Calling the Hillsborough County
SKYWARN
net. This is <call>, net control for the
Hillsborough County SKYWARN
net. My name is <name>, and I am
located in <town, state>.
4) If the net is in
response to a formal SKYWARN activation, bring the net up as a directed net:
This is a directed net in
response to a formal SKYWARN activation. Stations should transmit only when directed to do
so by net control. The only exception
to this is for emergency, priority, or time sensitive traffic.
5) If the net is in
response to a stand-by or informal SKYWARN activation, bring the net up as an informal net.
This is a stand-by
(informal) net in response to a stand-by (informal) SKYWARN activation.
6) Invite check-ins
All amateurs are welcome
to join the net, and you do not have to be a member of SKYWARN or the Amateur Radio Emergency Services to join the
net.
When checking into the
net, please announce yourself with the words "THIS IS", followed by a carrier
drop to check for doubling, then give your call sign phonetically, followed by your name
and your location.
The first call up will be for Emergency
Coordinators, Assistant Emergency Coordinators, and Liaison stations. Any ECs, AECs, or liaisons wishing to check into
the net, please call <call>.
7) After ECs, AECs, and
liaisons have been checked in, take general check ins.
This is <call>, net
control for the Hillsborough SKYWARN net. Any
stations, anywhere, wishing to check into the net please call now with your callsign,
name, and location.
8) As each station or
group of station checks in, acknowledge them by stating:
Net recognizes
<call>, <name> in <location>, thanks for checking in please stand by.
Or alternatively:
Net recognizes
<call1>, <call2>, …, thanks for checking in, please stand by.
9) After check ins have
been received, pass control to the Emergency Coordinator or any
Assistant Emergency Coordinators on frequency, and invite them to make any announcements
or an informal, then pass control back to net control.
After ECs, AECs, and
liaisons have made their announcements, transmit any of your announcements that have not been
covered to the net. If NWS has published a
severe weather statement, this might be an appropriate point to transmit the statement. See Section VI on how to obtain information from
the NWS.
10) The net control
station should identify
themselves and the net every 10 minutes. Ask
for any reports of severe weather, and for any further check ins. Reannounce the purpose of the net at least every
30 minutes. For example:
This is KB1DFE, net
control for the Hillsborough SKYWARN net looking for reports
of strong or severe weather. Reports of
(tornadoes, funnel clouds, or rotating funnel clouds, hail, wind 40 MPH or greater,
flooding, heavy downpours, wind or lightning damage, and closed or impassable roads) are
of particular interest.
Stations with reports please call now.
Not everything in the
script needs to be read, but at least a portion of that information should be read so that
the proper description of reports is given to NWS meteorologists.
If the SKYWARN net is active for a winter event this
example script should be used in some form:
This is KB1DFE, net
control for the Hillsborough SKYWARN net looking for reports of severe weather.
Reports of (snowfall totals, severe icing, sleet or freezing rain, wind in excess of 40 miles per hour, damage
reports and impassable or closed roads) are of particular interest. Stations with reports
please call now.
11) Finally, when National
Weather Service meteorologists issue weather statements, watches and warnings, if time allows, the operator should
read the statement as written by the NWS forecaster. No changes or deletions should be
made. If there is not enough time to read the statement, be sure to give a clear and
concise summary on watches, warnings and reports to the weather spotters, so they
can guide their roving spotters to next “hot spots” of severe weather, and react
to changing weather situations.
12.) All reports of damage
meeting the strong or severe criteria of severe weather should be logged. NWS meteorologists will use this
information in their Local Storm Report or Other Public Products report and later in the
printed publication called Storm Data. See
Appendix C for reporting criteria.
VI. Liaison with NWS Taunton
This section describes the
methods with which the
SKYWARN net control operator and other amateur radio weather spotters can interface with
National Weather in times of severe weather.
· The NWS spotter line. (Should not be given over
the air.) In
general, only those who have received NWS training and have received a
spotter card and number have the hot line number. Net
control operators should also have the hot line number in order to be able to relay
reports of severe weather directly to NWS Taunton, especially if the operator at NWS
cannot be raised on
any of the liaison frequencies. Contact the
SKYWARN Liaison listed in Section II to obtain the hot line number.
· Call
the NWS at the toll-free number.
· Identify
yourself with your Spotter ID # and your name.
· BRIEFLY
describe WHAT was observed; and WHEN & WHERE it was observed.
· If
you cannot reach NWS and you consider your report to be life-threatening, call your local
police or fire department, explain who you are, and ask that they relay the report to the
NWS.
· The net control operator
at NWS Taunton may
monitor area weather nets from time to time. Liaison frequencies are listed in Appendix A. The net control operator running the SKYWARN net
should listen on one or more of the liaison frequencies, announce themselves from time to
time, and call the NWS
Taunton operator if needed to pass along reports of severe weather.
· In the case where the NWS
Taunton operator checks into the active SKYWARN net, the net control operator should pass
along any reports of severe weather on behalf of the net.
· If the status of the net
is stand-by or informal, the net control operator should identify themselves and append
/SKYWARN to their call, and then attempt to relay any formal reports to the NWS operator
to avoid wasting time.
Up to date hard copy of
NWS bulletins are
available from the following Internet locations:
· National SKYWARN page -
http://www.skywarn.org/weather.htm
· NWS site -
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/nationalwarnings.html
· Weather.com -
http://www.weather.com/ and type your zip code into the appropriate box
· Another NWS link -
http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/er/box/
Appendix
A: Hillsborough County SKYWARN Frequencies
This section lists the
frequencies that may be used during SKYWARN activation in Hillsborough County.
Please note that nets
should be activated on the Pack Monadnock NH 443.350, the Hollis NH 146.730 repeater
system, the Nashua NH 147.045 repeater, and the Francestown 146.685 repeater.
It is strongly recommended
that the station initiating the first SKYWARN net in an event call the net on the Pack
Mondanock repeater, and as stations check into the net, designate stations to act as net
control operators on the Nashua, Hollis, and Francestown repeaters.
This section lists the
frequencies that may be used during SKYWARN activation in
Hillsborough County. Please note that nets
should be activated on the Pack Monadnock NH 443.350 and the Hollis NH 146.730 repeater
systems. If net traffic becomes heavy, it is
recommended that a fixed station with separate 70cm and 2M transceivers be designated
as net control on the Hollis NH 146.730 repeater and relay information to the Pack
Monadnock 443.350 repeater as needed.
Use |
Tactical Name |
Frequency |
PL |
Location |
Primary SKYWARN |
ARES1 |
443.350 |
110.9 |
Pack Monadnock NH |
Secondary SKYWARN |
ARES2 |
146.730 |
88.5 |
Hollis NH |
- linked |
ARES2 |
443.500 |
88.5 |
Hollis NH |
- linked |
ARES2 |
442.150 |
88.5 |
Pat’s PeakHenniker
NH |
- linked |
ARES2 |
448.825 |
88.5 |
Leominster MA |
- linked |
ARES2 |
53.930 |
88.5 |
Brookline NH |
- linked |
ARES2 |
449.375 |
88.5 |
Brookline NH |
- linked |
ARES2 |
146.730 |
151.4 |
Brookline NH RX
only |
Secondary SKYWARN |
ARES3 |
147.045 |
100.0 |
Nashua, NH |
Secondary SKYWARN |
ARES4 |
146.685 |
100.0 |
Francestown, NH |
| Secondary SKYWARN | ARES5 | 147.330 | 127.2 | Manchester NH |
Primary simplex |
ARES6 |
147.42 |
|
Simplex |
Secondary simplex |
ARES7 |
147.48 |
|
Simplex |
Primary liaison
frequency to NWS Taunton |
ARES1 |
443.350 |
110.9 |
Pack Monadnock NH |
Secondary liaison
frequency to NWS Taunton |
ARES8 |
53.310 |
71.9 |
Mt. Wachusett MA |
Granite State FM Traffic
Net |
ARES9 |
146.940 |
|
Concord NH, daily at 20:30
local |
Granite State Phone
Traffic Net |
ARES10 |
3942 kHz |
|
LSB 3942 kHz, 6:30 PM
Daily LSB 3945 kHz, 9:30 AM
Sunday |
Primary APRS |
ARES11 |
144.390 |
|
|
Primary Packet |
ARES12 |
145.030 |
|
Node: BBSSNH |
Secondary
Packet |
ARES13 |
145.030 |
|
Node: WA1WOK |
Weather Preparedness Net |
|
7231.5 kHz or 3993.5 kHz |
|
LSB Sunday 9:30 am |
Appendix
B: Reporting
Criteria and Priorities
Please
report whenever you observe the following:
· Tornadoes
or funnel clouds
(be very wary of look-alikes; watch for rotation)
· Wall
clouds,
especially if they are rotating
· Hail
(Be specific with regard to size; DO NOT report MARBLE size, see the section on Estimating
Hail Size)
· Winds
(40 mph or greater; specify whether estimated or recorded)
-- large branches downed (specify diameter of branch)
-- Trees/power lines downed
-- Structural damage to buildings (roof, windows, etc.)
· Rainfall
-- 1 inch or greater in an hour (NOT a 1"/hr. rate for 10 minutes)
-- 2 inches or greater storm total
· Flooding
-- Streams/Rivers -- also, when nearing bankfull
-- Coastal
-- Street (when more than the usual poor drainage puddles)
· Winter
Weather
-- Precipitation type change (rain to sleet/freezing rain/snow, when the
change has "taken hold")
-- Thunder, when accompanied by snow
-- 1/3" radial ice accretion (from twig outward; not circumference)
· New
Snowfall
-- First 2 inches; every 2-3 inches thereafter
-- 1 inch per hour or greater
-- If less than 2 inches total, give final total only
-- Give final total (don't leave us hanging with a partial report)
-- Report any snow/sleet/freezing rain if not in NWS forecast!
Appendix
C: National Weather Service
WeatherRadio and SAME Codes for Counties Surrounding Hillsborough County New Hampshire
SAME stands for Specific
Area Message Encoding.
When an NWS office broadcasts an
urgent audio message (warning, watch, or non-weather emergency) it also creates and
broadcasts a digital SAME code (that may be heard as a very brief static burst, depending
on the characteristics of the receiver). This SAME code contains the type of message,
county(s) affected, and expiration time of the message.
An appropriately
programmed NWR SAME receiver will then turn on for that message, with the listener hearing
the 1050 Hz warning alarm tone as an attention signal, followed by the broadcast message.
At the end of the
broadcast message, listeners will hear a brief digital end-of-message static burst
followed by a resumption of the NWR broadcast cycle.
Here are the SAME codes
for Hillsborough County, and surrounding counties.
St |
County |
SAME # |
NWR |
Freq. |
Call |
Watts |
Remarks |
NH |
Belknap |
033001 |
Concord NH |
162.400 |
WXJ40 |
330 |
Central/S |
|
Cheshire |
033005 |
Worcester MA |
162.550 |
WXL93 |
500 |
South |
|
Cheshire |
033005 |
Concord NH |
162.400 |
WXJ40 |
330 |
NE |
|
Cheshire |
033005 |
Windsor VT |
162.475 |
WXN44 |
400 |
West |
|
Cheshire |
033005 |
Marlboro VT |
162.425 |
WXM68 |
330 |
Far SE |
|
Hillsborough |
033011 |
Worcester MA |
162.550 |
WXL93 |
500 |
South |
|
Hillsborough |
033011 |
Concord NH |
162.400 |
WXJ40 |
330 |
|
|
Merrimack |
033013 |
Concord NH |
162.400 |
WXJ40 |
330 |
|
|
Rockingham |
033015 |
Concord NH |
162.400 |
WXJ40 |
330 |
|
|
Sullivan |
033019 |
Concord NH |
162.400 |
WXJ40 |
330 |
East |
|
Sullivan |
033019 |
Windsor VT |
162.475 |
WXN44 |
400 |
West |
|
Sullivan |
033019 |
Marlboro VT |
162.425 |
WXM68 |
330 |
SW |
MA |
Essex |
025009 |
Boston MA |
162.475 |
KHB35 |
500 |
|
|
Franklin |
025011 |
Hartford CT |
162.475 |
WXJ41 |
300 |
South |
|
Franklin |
025011 |
Worcester MA |
162.550 |
WXL93 |
500 |
Central/E |
|
Franklin |
025011 |
Windsor VT |
162.475 |
WXN44 |
400 |
North |
|
Franklin |
025011 |
Marlboro VT |
162.425 |
WXM68 |
330 |
North |
|
Middlesex |
025017 |
Boston MA |
162.475 |
KHB35 |
500 |
Near NW |
|
Middlesex |
025017 |
Worcester MA |
162.550 |
WXL93 |
500 |
Central/W |
|
Worcester |
025027 |
Hartford CT |
162.475 |
WXJ41 |
300 |
SW |
|
Worcester |
025027 |
Worcester MA |
162.550 |
WXL93 |
500 |
|
Appendix
D - Suggested Equipment
List for Net Control Operators
In order to maintain a
minimum level of
preparedness for SKYWARN activations, here is a suggested list of equipment that net
control operators might keep on hand in anticipation of being called to activate a SKYWARN
net.
· This document
· Paper and writing
instruments, including log sheets
· Ear phones
· Flash lights
· Battery operated lamp
· Extra batteries
· Indoor antennas for 2M and
70cm (and possibly 6M)
· Transceivers (hand held or
base) for 2M and 70cm (and possibly 6M)
· Weather radio or scanner
tuned to the appropriate NWS WeatherRadio
· Alternate power sources for transceivers,
scanners, receivers, and lamps
Appendix
E - Tornado Classifications
The
Fujita or F-Scale applies to the strength of tornadoes, and runs from F0 to F5.
· F0
and F1, or minor tornadoes have wind speeds on the order of 110 mph. Winds of this speed
will peel back roof shingles, and push moving automobiles off the road.
· F2
and F3, or moderate tornadoes have wind speeds between 113 and 205 mph. Winds of this
strength will tear off roofs and walls, snap large trees, and lift cars off the ground.
· F4
and F5, or severe tornadoes have winds between 206 and 318 mph. A tornado of this type
will level a well constructed house, blow structures a distance off of their foundations,
and sweep the ground clear of debris.
Appendix
F - Hurricane Classifications
The
Saffir/Simpson scale is used to classify the damage potential of a tropical cyclone.
Storms of this nature fall into categories ranked from 1 to 5.
· A
Category 1, or minimal hurricane, has winds between 74 and 95 mph.
· A
Category 2, or moderate hurricane, has winds between 96 and 110 mph.
· A
Category 3, or extensive hurricane, has winds between 111 and 130 mph.
· A
Category 4, or extreme hurricane, has winds between 131 and 155 mph.
· A
Category 5, or catastrophic hurricane, has winds greater than 155 mph.
Appendix
G - Estimating Windspeeds
The
Beaufort scale of wind speeds was originally developed for estimating winds at sea, but
has been adapted for use on land. The scale runs from Beaufort Force 0...calm, to Force
12...Hurricane or wind speeds greater than 74 mph.
Here
is a simplified guide to estimating winds.
· If
large tree limbs are in motion and the wind whistles through wires...winds are between 25
and 30 mph.
· When
whole trees are in motion and it is difficult to walk against the wind...winds are between
30 and 40 mph.
· When
twigs break off trees or the wind generally impedes you from walking...and slight
structural damage is done to chimneys or shingles...estimate winds between 40 and 55 mph.
Start reporting to NWS if winds reach this level!
· If
the winds are causing widespread damage to roofs and antennas; and shallow rooted trees
are pushed over...the winds are between 55 and 70 mph.
· If
roofs begin to peel off; windows are broken; small trailers are moved or overturned; or
moving vehicles are pushed off the road...estimate the winds over 70 mph. Winds of this
speed can occur from downburst or straightline winds in any thunderstorm, tornadoes, and
hurricanes.
Appendix
H - Estimating Hail Size
The
following are the hail sizes that the national weather service equates with various
terminology,
Description |
What
to report |
Severity |
Pea |
1/4
inch |
not
severe |
Marble |
1/2
inch |
not
severe |
Mothball |
1/2
inch |
not
severe |
Dime |
3/4
inch |
severe |
Penny |
3/4
inch |
severe |
Nickel |
7/8
inch |
severe |
Quarter |
1
inch |
severe |
Half
dollar |
1
1/4 inches |
severe |
Walnut |
1
1/2 inches |
severe |
Ping
pong ball |
1
1/2 inches |
severe |
Golf
ball |
1
3/4 inches |
severe |
Hen
egg |
2
inches |
severe |
Tennis
ball |
2
1/2 inches |
severe |
Baseball |
2
3/4 inches |
severe |
Tea
cup |
3
inches |
severe |
Grapefruit |
4
inches |
severe |
Softball |
4
1/2 inches |
severe |
Appendix I - Change History
| 1.4 08/08/99 | Added revision history, corrected the callup list and frequency table |
| 1.5 09/15/99 | Added additional frequencies |
| 1.6 11/12/00 | Added additional frequencies, updated the contact list |
| 1.7 04/17/01 | Added various appendices |
| 1.8 07/10/02 | Edits to reflect the merging of Eastern and Western Hillsborough, updated the contact list |