Military Watches, Warnings, and Conditions
Station weather personnel, independently or in conjunction with the NWS, may issue
advisories or warnings or may recommend to base operations that various readiness
conditions be set. Basic guidance on conditions of readiness is contained in Adverse
and Severe Weather Warnings and Conditions of Readiness, OPNAVINST 3140.24F,
and more specific guidance can usually be found in amplifying local instructions.
Thunderstorm Conditions
There are four thunderstorm conditions: Thunderstorm Watch (T2), Thunderstorm
Warning (T1), Severe Thunderstorm Watch (Severe T2), and Severe Thunderstorm
Warning (Severe T1). Definitions for each are contained in Table 1-26.
Condition
Definition
Thunderstorm Watch
Thunderstorms with winds below 50 knots and/or hail smaller
(T2)
than 3/4 inch are expected to develop within 25 nm of the
station within 6 hours.
Thunderstorm Warning
A thunderstorm with winds below 50 knots and/or hail smaller
(T1)
than 3/4 inch has developed and is expected to move within
10 nm of the station within the next hour.
Severe Thunderstorm
Severe thunderstorms with winds above 50 knots, hail greater
Watch (Severe T2)
than inch, and/or tornado activity expected within 25 nm of
the station or expected within the 6 hours.
Severe Thunderstorm
Severe thunderstorms with greater than 50 knots, hail greater
Warning (Severe T1)
than inch, and/or tornado activity is expected to be within
10 nm of the station or expected within 1 hour.
Table 1-26 -- Thunderstorm conditions
Wind Conditions
There are several military conditions of readiness in use when high winds are expected
at airfields. Table 1-27 lists the conditions and gives a brief definition of each.
1-48
