Tag Archive for: #nws

National Weather Service

During Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Governor Stein Reminds North Carolinians about Readiness Tips

/by

March 1-7 Is Severe Weather Preparedness Week

During Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Governor Josh Stein is joining emergency management officials in urging North Carolinians to be prepared should severe weather impact their communities.

“North Carolina is no stranger to severe weather that can strike anywhere in the state,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolinians can get prepared now by updating their emergency kits, having preparedness plans, and staying informed. Visit readync.gov to learn more.”

Governor Stein is also encouraging North Carolinians to participate in this year’s statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m. by going to the lowest floor of the building they’re in and finding the most interior room. Knowing the location of the safe place at home or at work is essential for withstanding severe weather. Tornadoes form during severe thunderstorms when winds change direction and increase in speed. These storms can produce large hail and damaging winds that can reach 300 miles per hour.

In addition to Governor Stein, the National Weather Service indicates online at weather.gov/rah/severeprep, “This week is North Carolina’s annual Severe Weather Preparedness Week. This week the National Weather Service and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety are teaming up to bring this severe weather safety campaign to all of North Carolina’s residents. With warmer weather quickly approaching, now is the time to prepare for the severe weather season. If each North Carolina resident would take a few moments this week to learn about severe weather safety and implement a safety plan, then we would all be better off when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes inevitably strike our state and the likelihood of injury and fatalities caused by severe weather could be minimized.”

“A tornado can develop rapidly with little warning, which is why we encourage families, businesses, and individuals to have plans in place so they can respond quickly to a tornado and get to safety,” said Will Ray, Director of North Carolina Emergency Management. “We encourage all North Carolinians to participate in the statewide tornado drill to ensure that you, your family, and your coworkers know where to go and what to do in the event a tornado or other severe weather impacts you.”

Test messages will be broadcast via the Emergency Alert System on radio and TV and on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios when the drill begins.

The NWS states, “On Wednesday, March 4th at 9:30 AM, the National Weather Service in cooperation with local broadcasters will conduct a statewide tornado drill. The alarm test, which will come in the form of a Required Monthly Test, will activate the State Emergency Alert System and be carried by local radio broadcasters. Every school, business, and residence is encouraged to participate in this drill. It’s really easy: at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, take a few moments to practice your severe weather safety plan, and seek shelter for a few minutes as if a tornado was headed your way. Practicing this when the weather is good will allow you to react more quickly when the weather turns bad.”

Across the state in 2025, North Carolina recorded 16 tornado touchdowns, 113 large-hail events, 710 damaging thunderstorm wind events, and 216 flood or flash flood events.

Emergency Management officials recommend the following safety tips:

  • Develop a family emergency plan so each member knows what to do, where to go, and who to call during an emergency.
  • If thunder roars, go indoors! Lightning is close enough to strike you.
  • Know the location of the nearest safe room, such as a basement or interior room away from windows.
  • Know the terms: WATCH means severe weather is possible. WARNING means severe weather is occurring; take shelter immediately.
  • Assemble an emergency supply kit for use at home or in your vehicle. Make sure to include a 3-day supply of non-perishable food, essential medication, and bottled water for each person and pet.
  • If driving, leave your vehicle immediately to seek shelter in a safe structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle, and do not stop under an overpass or bridge.
  • If there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area.

To learn more about how you, your family, or your business can become more resilient and prepared for all hazards, visit readync.gov.

(Information courtesy of the National Weather Service, the State of North Carolina and the Office of Gov. Josh Stein.)

Click Play To Listen To This Story

TownTalk: NWS Predicts Above Average Hurricane Season

/by

Summer’s On The Doorstep And That Means Hurricane Season Is, Too

Summer is still officially about a week away, but Jonathan Blaes, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service office in Raleigh says it’s not too soon to be thinking about having a plan in case of a hurricane.

Blaes said Tuesday that the first two named storms have posed no threat to North Carolina, but the June to November hurricane season is shaping up to be another busy one for weather forecasters. And he’s watching another system in the Gulf of Mexico that could bring our area rain in the next three to five days.

“This season is likely to be another busy one,” he said. He said last year was an extreme year, and this year is shaping up along the same lines.

He told Bill Harris and John C. Rose on Town Talk that this is the seventh consecutive year that a tropical storm has developed before the normal June start date. There’s even talk about changing the official start date to May 15 because of this, he said. “The weather doesn’t really know the calendar very well – that’s for people to worry about,” Blaes said.

TownTalk Broadcast with Jonathan Blaes

Meteorologists must deal with more and more data in their jobs, and artificial intelligence is one tool that helps target more meaningful data to make their forecasts. But Blaes said it’s important to know when to rely on computer models. “There are certain patterns where humans add a great deal of value to forecast,” he said. One example is cold air damming or “the wedge.”

In winter, when temperatures hover in the 30s and 40s for days, “the wedge” sits over the area and computer models struggle with just how long the weather pattern will last. “Sometimes, we (humans) can beat the models,” Blaes said. But at other times, such as accurately predicting the track a hurricane will take, it’s best to leave it to computers.

“Weather likes balance,” Blaes said, “and to be honest, that’s what a hurricane does.” Hurricanes are nature’s way to remove excess moisture and heat from one area of the globe and put it somewhere else – the Atlantic Ocean supports development of a Bermuda high pressure system, which “hurricanes tend not to be able to drive through,” Blaes said.

Depending on where that high is set up that often will dictate the path a hurricane takes, he added.

“There’s a reason we have a rich history in this area,” he added. Hurricanes oftentimes graze us, and sometimes crush us.”

National Weather Service

National Weather Service Raleigh: Latest Briefing

/by

No matter the time of day or the time of year, you can always find the latest briefing from the National Weather Service in Raleigh by following this link (https://www.weather.gov/media/rah/briefing/NWSRaleighLatestBriefing.pdf).

The possibility of severe weather definitely exists for much of the rest of the day.

That said, the latest briefing in the link above, as of this publication at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, indicates the most likely time for the WIZS listening area, and for that matter all of central North Carolina, is between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Areas from Raleigh northward are under a level 3 out 5 risk as a cold front pushes through with the threat increasing as you approach the NC/VA border.

The strongest storms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts. A short-lived and weak tornado is also possible.

Stay tuned to WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM and fb.com/wizsradio for the latest along with www.weather.gov/rah and Raleigh NWS on social media.

National Weather Service

Winter Weather Advisory Until 10 p.m. Monday (3-12-18)

/by

Updated 6:45 p.m. Monday, March 12

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has extended the Winter Weather Advisory for Vance, Granville and Warren Counties  until 10 p.m. Monday, March 12, and the advisory now includes Franklin County in the WIZS listening area.

Rain transitioned to snow and sleet Monday afternoon and was forecast to continue into the evening.

The latest NWS briefing is always available by clicking here.

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…Snow. Additional snow accumulations of up to one inch are expected.

* WHERE…Portions of central North Carolina.

* WHEN…Until 10 PM EDT this evening.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions, including during the evening commute. Be prepared for reduced
visibilities at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.  The latest road conditions for North Carolina can be found online at DriveNC.gov.

National Weather Service

Irma Update for Henderson-Vance and surrounding

/by

For the latest briefing on Hurricane Irma from the National Weather Service in Raleigh – CLICK HERE

——————————

LOCAL UPDATE Noon Monday –

Brian Short, the Director of Emergency Management for Henderson and Vance County, said, “Please see the (latest) briefing from the NWS regarding TS Irma. As you can see, our impact will be very light if at all with some gusty winds and minimal rain.

“This will likely be the final update unless our situation should change for the worse.”

(A note from WIZS Radio and WIZS.com about Brian Short: Our immense thanks to Brian for providing these and other updates, for how he conducts himself, and for how he takes care of the citizens he serves.)

——————————

LOCAL UPDATE 2:30 p.m. Sunday –

Brian Short, the Director of Emergency Management for Henderson and Vance County, said, “As you might imagine, our office has been watching Irma very closely as it moved into Florida keeping an eye on the track for any changes that could potentially change our forecast for the worse, but thankfully that has not happened.

“As you can see from the (latest) weather briefing from the National Weather Service, we are forecast to receive some gusty winds and some rain, but nothing that we anticipate will cause any problems for us.

“What is left of Irma as it moves on shore is expected to track west of us late (Monday) and overnight with some rain possibly still remaining on Tuesday.

“We will continue to keep everyone informed.”

——————————

LOCAL UPDATE 2:12 p.m. Friday –

Brian Short, the Director of Emergency Management for Henderson and Vance County, said, “As you can see (in the noon briefing), the impact in our area is now forecast to be minor. With that said, we will continue to monitor it very closely and will make any response related decisions that may be necessary as the storm progresses.”

Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations