First Alert: In-Depth NWS Warnings

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – The National Weather Service recently changed the way they issue severe thunderstorm warnings.

Let’s take a look at some of those categories.

The first category is Base. This is for winds of 58 mph and quarter size hail.

The other category is considerable and that’s when we have gusts around 70mph and golf sized hail.

The last one is destructive. We don’t typically see this locally, but this is for when winds are over 80mph and for baseball size hail.

These alerts will go to your phone and they will stay whether they are base, considerable or destructive.

Let’s get a look at another hazard, leaves piling up near storm drains. If you do see your storm drain covered with leaves, definitely clear it if you can. What that is going to do is create less standing water, helping to avoid pooling and ponding on roads.

Plus, fewer leaves on the road, the less the chance to slip and slide!