Q During last week’s storm, was the blast of wind in my neighborhood simply wind or could it have been a funnel that had not touched the ground? The top of the windmill in my backyard spun 360 degrees as the storm went through. The strip of damage is a very narrow line through town. Can certain government organizations get into trouble for not placing a warning on this?
A Never underestimate the power of a thunderstorm and the turbulence that accompanies it.
“It’s a very turbulent event that’s occurring there, so it’s not surprising to me to hear the report that the windmill was swirling around,” said Matt Wolters of the National Weather Service in Topeka.
“Any time you get the wind blowing, it’s not a homogenous wind field. There’s all kinds of turbulence associated with thunderstorms. There are a lot of different meteorological things that can go into explaining that type of event there.”
Wolters said that within the thunderstorm there could have been a structure, like an eddy or a swirl, that was too small to be resolved by Doppler radar. Those are called “gust fronts” and are similar to dust devils.
“You’re going to have a lot of turbulence in those storms, a lot of turning of the winds,” he said. “These storms are capable of producing damage in addition to just hail. We get a lot of straight-line wind damage. It’s important to take severe thunderstorm warnings just as serious as we take tornado warnings.”
Wolters said that the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning any time meteorologists see any kind of threat or potential for a tornado.
“By law, we’re here to protect life and property from Mother Nature and the different hazards that can occur,” Wolters said.
Readers who have questions on topics of local interest may send them to Because You Asked, in care of The Emporia Gazette, Drawer C, Emporia KS 66801, or e-mail them to newsroom@emporiagazette.com. Questions must be signed, but names will not be revealed.
Cliffy (anonymous) says...
On behalf of "certain Government Organizations"...CAUTION...Wind can damage your property. During cloudy days YOU should stay in your home and not venture out. You have been warned!
June 11, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TacoBellB (anonymous) says...
Hahahaha Great response Cliffy. Hopefully you just saved an onslaught of lawsuits against the government for not injecting common sense in babies when they are born.
June 11, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmb232 (anonymous) says...
While employed at a "certain govt. agency" I sounded sirens in a small town to warn them of an approaching storm and most of the inhabitants came out and looked outside. Sounds like this guy is not alone...... Did someone say common sense?
June 12, 2008 at 4:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )