Meteorologists Just Upgraded Severe Weather Alerts: Here’s How

Severe weather season is ramping up across the country. As storms become more frequent in the weeks ahead, it is important to know how to assess the risk to your area when the action ignites. New this year, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is adding intensity levels to its severe weather forecast, making it easier to understand what threats could be on the way. Here is what you need to know about these changes.

What to Know About Severe Weather Threat Designations

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. experiences approximately 10,000 thunderstorms every year. Of that number, about 10% fall under the designation of a severe storm. The NOAA SPC and the National Weather Service (NWS) work together to provide warnings about the possibility of tornadoes, large hail, and strong winds.  

The SPC recently changed its forecasting services to provide more specific details about its daily severe weather outlooks. The changes have been implemented in an effort to help people plan for the threat of severe weather.

The color-coded system used by the SPC to highlight the overall chance of severe weather is remaining the same. As a refresher, the SPC uses five different levels corresponding to a color to designate the threat of severe weather in an area on any given day.

Level 1 - Green: Marginal risk
Level 2 - Yellow: Slight risk
Level 3 - Orange: Enhanced risk
Level 4 - Red: Moderate risk
Level 5 - Pink: High risk

While Level 1 is frequently used to warn residents of a low-end threat of isolated storm activity, a Level 5 designation is only used two or three times per year. A Level 5 designation is only used when forecasters are exceptionally confident that widespread severe weather is on the horizon. Level 5 designations are also used when forecasters are confident that the storms will be powerful enough to produce long-lived tornadoes or destructive winds.