University of Kentucky

Storm Ready Weather Spotter

Criteria and Procedures

 

Objective:  To understand conditions for severe weather, what to do in the event of severe weather, how to recognize the potential for severe weather.  This includes emergency actions needed for the safety of our occupants.

Spotting Techniques:  What to look for:

1.     Wall Cloud—Low hanging cloud under the rain free base of the storm.  Not the leading edge of the storm which looks the most threatening.  Look for rotation of cloud fragments in the wall cloud.

2.     Funnel clouds descending from the wall cloud or from a super-cell storm.

3.     Dust or debris whirling around at or near ground level indicates a tornado has made contact with the ground.  It may take a brief time for the entire funnel to become visible, usually 20-30 minutes for the tornado to from.  You may never see a true funnel. 

4.     The presence of large hail, size of a quarter or half dollar, storm intense enough for large hail, could be strong enough to produce a tornado.

 

Procedures for reporting:                      Things to look for:

1.      Identify yourself                         Excessive wind gusts

2.      What have you seen?                  A wall Cloud

3.      Where did you see it?                 A funnel Cloud

4.      When did you see it?                  Hail

5.      What is/was it doing?                 Debris or dust at the surface

                                                                  Heavy Lightning

 

Appropriate places to call:

UK Police:                                    911

National Weather Service:            1-800-292-5588