MetService Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

[Weather Watcher]

On Wednesday 1 July 2009, MetService will be launching a new Severe Thunderstorm Warning product. These warnings are radar based and will come in both graphical and text format.

More information is here...

http://blog.metservice.com/pages/severe ... g-service/

Note that the final graphical product will differ a little from the example in the blog (it will have more detail like times and roads on the map). The graphical and text products will be available on the website, or you can subscribe through the MetService website for the text version via email (this may not be available until 1 July).

[jamie]

[Tornado Tim]

Great news!!!
I want to subscribe to the email service already.
I cant really see where Hamilton is on the map but does the Bright blue circle cover it?

[Weather Watcher]

The warnings will actually extend out to 180 km from each radar, so that will include Hamilton.

[Tornado Tim]

sweet.... The system will probably be in use by spring time....

[Vertigo]

very awesome! looking forward to using these warnings!

[spwill]

Good to see MetSevice will be able to provide these warnings, I look forward to seeing the warning system in action .
I recall living in Sydney severe thunderstorm warnings usually came over radio an hour or two after the storm had been through.

[tgsnoopy]

I recall living in Sydney severe thunderstorm warnings usually came over radio an hour or two after the storm had been through.

Well done BOM

[NZstorm]

Yes, good on the Met service for introducing the ts warning system.

I recall living in Sydney severe thunderstorm warnings usually came over radio an hour or two after the storm had been through.

BOM need a major shake up in my opinion.

[DT-NZ]

MetService, Peter Kreft for the article, awesome.

[Manukau heads obs]

sounds great
will you be also looking here for ground spotter reports as storms develop to backup what the radar shows, etc?

[Weather Watcher]

will you be also looking here for ground spotter reports as storms develop to backup what the radar shows, etc?

We always appreciate ground spotter reports. You can either post them here on the forum, or we could arrange an 0800 number for reports.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Interesting?
I thought MetService already had a Severe Thunderstorm Warning on it's Severe Weather Warning Page?
Is this a Severe-er warning, warning?

JohnGaul
NZThS

[Manukau heads obs]

read the info in the link for more info
the difference is explained there

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Thanks Brian. cheers.



JohnGaul
NZThS

[Paul Mallinson]

will you be also looking here for ground spotter reports as storms develop to backup what the radar shows, etc?

We always appreciate ground spotter reports. You can either post them here on the forum, or we could arrange an 0800 number for reports.

I would just like to follow up what Weather Watcher has said above...

This is an exciting time for those of us at MetService who will be manning the severe convection desk. We have developed our expertise over the last 5 to 6 years and your reports of hail size, observed rainfall rates and pictures etc have been really useful in assisting us to know what is occurring out there. I know that in other countries such as the US and Canada, they have developed a team of severe weather observers from interested members of the public and I have always thought that you folks could potentially help out in much the same way.

This is one of the reasons why I have been be involved in this forum from time to time. I thought it important to participate in order to put a face (so to speak) on MetService. Not only contribute in the understanding behind what is going on with the weather, but also to let you see that we are a bunch of people trying to do the best jobthat we can and not some obscure faceless entity.

I think Weather Watcher's ideas about continuing to post reports here on this forum or perhaps the establishment of an 0800 number are good ones. Perhaps one day we could arrange a visit to MetService for interested forum members and show you how we go about running the Severe Convection desk.

Paul

[Tornado Tim]

Perhaps one day we could arrange a visit to MetService for interested forum members and show you how we go about running the Severe Convection desk.

I am in, let me know where and when.......

[Manukau heads obs]

that would be really great!
count me in

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Well Paul/WeatherWatcher, I have just read Peter Kreft's blog and I hope that this coming thunderstorm season will bring fruit to your forcasting tool.
The NZThS and other 'Severe Weather Enthusiasts' members of the forum will/should be greatly appreciative of this service and will be keen to contribute to by posts on this forum or email or 0800 number.
...yes and visit to you guys at Kelburn would be on the cards

JohnGaul
NZThS

[Andrew Massie]

SO SO SO SO cool! I'm VERY impressed! Particularly with the new weather radar coverage, VERY overdue! Hope funding is approved for this as a substantial part of the economy can benefit from this.

[tgsnoopy]

I see this topic as so positive, very pleased and will participate as and when I get the chance.

How about more frequent radar updates please Paul?

I don't need an 0800 number, I'd be happy to call a normal number if conditions dictate it necessary.

[kaimaikid]

Awesome stuff - can't wait to see it in action, looks like Tauranga will have some coverage to start with and later on full coverage - will be handy for chasing....

[GreggWard]

Excellent. Well done Metservice. Count me in for the Metservice visit, too.

[Dale]

Good stuff!
An 0800 number would be very helpful for spotter reports.. but you may need to set a criteria as the system over in Aussie, ive been a registered spotter and active chaser there since i was a kid.. the BoM in certain instances have relied on people like us, sure they get an influx of calls with people saying things which dont exactly fit severe t/storm criteria.. hence us having to ring into the number and provide our own registered details thence making the observations.

I wouldnt go blaming the BoM about the storm efforts there guys, they screw up and so have the M/S here.. generally it is the media which are slow to respond not so much the forecasters themselves.

[NZstorm]

I wouldnt go blaming the BoM about the storm efforts there guys,

I was a bit critical of BOM as they don't supply a public convective outlooks. Their forecasting of severe thunderstorms seems quite lacking considering eastern Australia is prone to particularly severe thunderstorms.