Kirtland's Weather Flight promotes severe weather awareness campaign

  • Published
  • By Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  In an effort to strengthen knowledge among the base populace about the various facets of adverse weather, Kirtland's Weather Flight is promoting Severe Weather Awareness Week.

The educational awareness campaign runs the week of March 29 to April 3. This year's emphasis is on preparedness and vigilance.

"Severe weather impacts millions of lives each year," said Master Sgt. Jodi Janssen, the 377th Maintenance Squadron's Weather Flight chief. "Adverse weather potential reminds us all that we must be professionally and personally aware of changing conditions as they occur." 

Kirtland is partnering with the National Weather Service to ensure base members understand key terms such as watches and warnings and the importance of being prepared.

"The weather flight and its collaborating partners continue to emphasize the crucial need for individuals, families, businesses, and communities to have plans, test those plans, and adjust their plans as needed," Janssen said.

Information to assist in these actions can be downloaded by clicking here.

Additional useful information from the National Weather Service:

-- Severe thunderstorms, particularly those that produce giant hail (two inches or greater) and/or tornadoes, are most common across central and eastern New Mexico from April through July.  However, all 33 counties in the state have experienced severe thunderstorms at some time during the year. Tornadoes have been verified in most New Mexico counties.

-- New Mexico also experiences a secondary peak in large hail and tornado reports during the fall.

-- New Mexico has averaged about 10 tornadoes per year since 1980.

-- New Mexico experiences mostly weak, short-lived tornadoes. Strong tornadoes, while rare, are possible and occur about once every 10 years.

-- New Mexico's complex terrain favors the formation of numerous small landspouts, a weak and short-lived variation of a tornado similar to a dust devil. Landspout tornadoes can and do form without the presence of a strong thunderstorm.

-- Hail with flash flooding becomes a threat for central and western New Mexico from June through September.

Applicable severe weather watches and warnings for Kirtland include:

TORNADO WATCH: Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in and close to the watch area.

TORNADO WARNING: Issued when a strong rotation in a thunderstorm is indicated by Doppler weather radar or a tornado is sighted by trained personnel.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH: Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm contains hail larger than three-quarters of an inch in diameter and/or damaging winds greater than 58 mph (50 knots or greater). Isolated tornadoes are also possible.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING: A severe thunderstorm is indicated by Doppler weather radar or sighted by trained personnel. A severe thunderstorm contains hail larger than three-quarters of an inch in diameter and/or damaging winds greater than 58 mph (50 knots or greater). Isolated tornadoes CAN and DO occur at times with little warning.

LIGHTNING WATCH: Conditions are favorable for the development and occurrence of lightning in and close to the watch area.

LIGHTNING WARNING: Issued when lightning has been observed within a designated radius.

NOTE: When severe weather is forecasted by the weather flight, a message is sent to the Kirtland Command Post, which then uses either the Giant Voice or siren system to alert the base populace.