HOW TO CALL IN YOUR REPORT

When you call in a report it is very important that you speak plainly, relate the details precisely and accurately, and answer any questions you are asked as precisely as you can. In a severe weather emergency speed and accuracy can save both you and the public from harm. Remember to take all necessary precautions for your own safety and to alert the authorities if emergency help is needed.

Tell Us .....
Your name
Where are you calling from?
What are you reporting?
(hail, flooding, any damage, tornado, funnel cloud, other)
Provide any measurements
Where is it in relation to your location, what direction, how far?
What direction is it moving?
How fast is it moving?
When did it occur?
How long did event last?
Is it still occurring?

SAMPLE REPORT
This is Hank Harley calling from Whoville. I have just sighted a funnel cloud in a storm about 5 kilometres to my north. It was visible for 2 minutes, starting at 5:36, but seems to be disappearing now. The storm is moving from the southwest at about 50 km/h and was accompanied by high winds and small, pea-sized hail. I didn't see any damage.

WHAT TO REPORT QUICK REFERENCE

EVENT          REPORT ...          INCLUDE ...

hail          2 cm dia. & larger time hail began & ended

                                 depth if covering ground

              hail damage        signs of damage, eg: flattened crops,

                                 broken windows, dented cars



wind damage   90 km/h or higher  moderate or severe structural damage,

                                 uprooted trees, time wind surge hit,

                                 direction & duration



flooding      25-50 mm in 1 hr   roads/fields under water, overflowing 

rains         causing flooding   creeks/ditches, mudslides

                                 near-zero visibility during cloudburst

 

tornado/      all sightings      time seen, description of size, distance

funnel                           away, direction of movement

                                 if no funnel, debris rising

                                 was the tornado funnel shrinking or

                                 enlarging?

                                 was it accompanied by sound?  hail?

                                 +damage?

                                 tornado damage discovered in absence 

                                 of sighted tornado or after the event has

                                 passed                                                    



rotating cloud  all sightings    time seen, size of lowering, where was 

under storm                      it relative to main part of storm?



roaring sound   all occurrences  time, direction, prevailing sky conditions



unusual         all occurrences  waterspouts, large dust devils, etc.

sightings                        damaging wind, blizzard/snowsqualls/fog

other events                     with near-zero visibility, freezing rain