Wildfire Smoke and Severe Thunderstorms in the East; Monsoon Thunderstorms in the Southwest

Wildfire smoke continues to impact air quality from the Great Lakes region into New England and the Mid-Atlantic today with widespread Air Quality Alerts in effect. Severe thunderstorms are expected across portions of the Ohio Valley and Lower Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, this afternoon into the evening. Monsoonal thunderstorms may bring areas of flooding to the Southwest. Read More >

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Reports of severe weather (tornadoes, thunderstorm wind damage, etc.

Map of recent
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Map of recent
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Public Information Statement

Damage survey results, Snowfall, and General Information:

See a video on how to properly measure snowfall

Please Report:

We ask our SkyWarn™ Spotters to contact our office when they experience any of the events listed below.

Cold-Season (Winter) criteria:

Snowfall
- When (new) snow accumulation reaches 3 inches
- When (new) snow accumulation reaches 6 inches
- Give a final report/total at the end of the storm (water equivalent if possible)
- 1 inch per hour or greater accumulation rates
Ice
- Any occurrance, or accumulation, of freezing rain
- Accumulation of 1/4" or more of ice on trees/wires
General Winter Reports
- When forecast winter precipitation differs significantly from observed (i.e. snowing with no snow in forecast, sleet...when only snow is forecast...)
- Any other significant weather occurrence/oddity (i.e. flooding due to snow melt/ice jam, damage from strong winds not associated with a thunderstorm)

Warm-season (Thunderstorms) criteria:

Tornadoes or funnel clouds (be very wary of look-alikes; watch for rotation)
Wall clouds, especially if they are rotating

Hail (Please be specific with regard to size)

Other sizes/descriptions to use for hail:

* Pea 0.25 inch

* Penny 0.75 inch

* Nickel 0.88 inch

* Quarter 1.00 inch (15/16")

* Half dollar 1.25 inch

* Walnut/Ping Pong 1.50 inch

* Golf ball 1.75 inch

* Lime 2.00 inches

* Tennis Ball 2.50 inches

* Baseball 2.75 inches

* Large Apple 3.00 inches

* Softball 4.00 inches

* Grapefruit 4.50 inches

Quarter-Size (1") and larger is severe!

Wind Gusts (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
- Street (when more than the usual poor drainage puddles)