Storm Spotters class boasts good turnout
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

On March 27 at 6:30 pm the City of Chandler hosted a class about identifying storm features in the Chandler Community Center building. This Storm Spotters class, taught by Gary Woodall, a warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, aimed to educate citizens about thunderstorms and other common weather hazards.

"We talked a good amount about thunderstorms and the clues they give us," Woodall said. "With radar we only see part of the storm. Eyewitnesses help give us the full picture. "

The class had a good showing, Woodall added. Between 50 and 55 people from radio operators and firemen to the general city populace came to learn about what to watch for in the sky.

During the class, Woodall spoke about how Storm Spotters operate, how Storm Spotters can keep safe while watching a storm, the ingredients for severe storm weather and the most common East Texas severe weather.

"A lot of people think tornadoes are the biggest killer around here," Woodall said. "Because of the state size we're number one in the nation for amount of tornadoes, but it's flash floods that are the biggest killer."

In second place for most deadly weather hazard is lightning. Tornadoes occupy the third slot.

"Any storm can be a killer because of the lightning," Woodall noted.

While flash floods, lightning and tornadoes are the weather's biggest killers, hail remains at the top in property damage. Large hail can reach baseball or softball size, and that amount of hard ice can cause severe damage to property.

Another hazard to watch for is powerful winds. Woodall described a damaging form of wind called a downburst, and downbursts can be equal in power and destruction to a medium sized tornado.

In his lesson to the community center audience, Woodall went through some facts about severe weather.

For example, during a flash flood, it only takes two feet of moving water to lift a large vehicle such as a pickup truck. To stay safe during a flash flood, never attempt to drive on a flooded road or around a barricade. In general, stay away from flood water.

Lightning causes an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year, according to National Weather Service data. Tornadoes cause 70 deaths and 1,500 injuries each year on average. Flash floods cause well over 100 deaths per year.

Woodall said the peak period of severe weather is approaching. This period, which lasts from mid-April to the second or third week in May, unleashes fierce and devastating storms.

"Make sure a severe weather plan is ready as soon as possible, " Woodall advised.

One of the class' purposes was to recruit people for the ranks of Storm Spotters. Spotters call the National Weather Service with tips and information regarding area storms.