Extreme Wind Warning

[Robert Dewey]

Just looking over some stuff, and came across a list of NWSFO that are capable of issuing an EWW product.

http://www.weather.gov/om/hurricane/eww_sites.shtml

Since this is a hurricane product, I really have to wonder why Tulsa, OK... and better yet... Albuquerque, NM are on the list. Any local oceans I don't know about?

 

[rdale]

Could they be backup sites for hurricane-prone areas?

 

[Robert Dewey]

That's my guess... I suppose if every NWSFO in TX goes down, you can fail to ABQ

 

[rdale]

David Drummond pointed out that they get some intense winds in west Texas associated with durst storms, but that's not what this product covers....

The EWW is for landfalling hurricanes only, as a replacement to Tornado Warnings that had been used for the eyewall winds.

 

[Scott Overpeck]

Actually, the EWW carries a criteria of 115mph winds or greater. This is typically associated with eyewalls of landfalling CAT3 hurricanes. I believe it also carries a duration of up to 2 hrs. Some other offices may have it as it can be issued for derecho type events with winds greater than 115mph, but this would be an extreme case and not likely. The other condition would be downslope winds hence ABQ being listed. Granted 115mph downslope winds would be quite incredible...but that is what the training on EWW said. Hope that helps clear things up.

 

[Bob Schafer]

...downslope winds hence ABQ being listed.

That's pretty odd. ABQ but not DEN? The CO front range gets a whole lot more downslope wind events than NM.

 

[rdale]

Granted 115mph downslope winds would be quite incredible...

I can't forsee downslope winds coming from a landfalling hurricane...

The EWW product is for the following per NWS:

Part II - Technical Description​

a. Format & Science Basis - The EWW product is a text product produced by WFOs. The
following criteria (as specified in NWS Tropical Cyclone Directive 10-601) must be met
for issuance of extreme wind warnings:​

• Imminent onset of, or occurring, tropical cyclone-related sustained surface winds, greater
than or equal to 100 knots (115 mph).
• Extreme tropical cyclone winds expected to occur within a WFO’s county warning area
within an hour.
In addition, Extreme Wind Warnings will…
• Be issued for the smallest geographic area possible, encompassing the extreme wind
conditions.
• Use valid times of two hours or less.
• Not be reissued for the same location (if conditions persist, follow-up information or​

updates will be provided within Severe Weather Statements).

http://products.weather.gov/PDD/EWW.pdf

 

[Scott Overpeck]

Hey, not disagreeing with you, just saying that was what was in our training on the EWW. I think they were saying it could be for a hurricane, but could also be used for extreme derecho/downslope situations. As for ABQ being in there and not DEN...no idea why, just speculating like everyone else why ABQ is in there.

 

[Gene Moore]

The MSP radar product from last night (13 Aug) showed warning outlines that were EWW color coded. That said, I checked the warnings and didn't see any EWW wording....just a graphics mistake? There were severe storms in the area and two mesocyclones showed up on the velocity data.

gm

 

[rdale]

Yep. No EWW's have been issued, and MPX cannot issue them anyways, and there were no hurricanes in Minnesota. EWW products are tropical only.

 

[Robert Dewey]

Even if this warning included non-tropical winds... It would be very difficult for a severe thunderstorm to attain sustained winds of 115mph. The May 31, 1998 derecho produced several +120mph wind gusts, but even then... I don't think they were sustained at that level. Thus, this would be a product that would probably never be issued over land.

 

[Doug Lee]

Just speculation on my part, but hurricane remanants do reach the Tulsa area. If a CAT 5 hit close to Houston and made a beeline for Tulsa, we might see 115 mph winds for a while.
How likely is it to happen? Probably as often as a 100-year flood.

But then, Tulsa's MIC used to do research down in hurricane country. Maybe the NWS figures a 'cane or two might follow him? Or maybe Ma Nature might send him one for old times sake?