It’s about time
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Craig Edwards and I are happy campers today.
The NWS Central Region has decided to change the hail size criteria for issuing severe thunderstorm warnings from 3/4" to 1" diameter hailstones. This makes excellent sense, and means Craig and I won't have to bemoan the 3/4" criteria any longer over coffee or something stronger.
Like us, many media meteorologists have advocated for this change. Studies show 1" hail is more closely associated with storm damage on the ground than the previous 3/4" criteria. Most of these warnings are issued by reading information from the doppler radar hail algorithm, which can sometimes read a little high on hail size.
The change will have a couple of positive impacts this summer. First, we'll likely see fewer severe thunderstorm warnings (and fewer program interruptions) for marginally severe storms. Second, when severe thunderstorm warnings are issued, the public will be better served (and had better take them seriously!) knowing they are the real thing and that damaging weather is likely.
The Twin Cities NWS has not announced the date of the changes yet, but overall the region will switch to the new criteria between April1st and July 1st.
It can't happen soon enough!
PH
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