The Importance of Spotter Reports
-Jennifer Hill
The importance of spotter reports to our warning operations cannot be emphasized enough. With all the capabilities we have with the WSR-88D Doppler radar, we still need ground truth observations. This is the important role that our Skywarn Spotters play. The Doppler radar has its limitations.

On Sunday June 7, 1998, severe thunderstorms in the eastern plains of New Mexico produced two tornadoes and hail the size of baseballs.

This picture was taken by John Smith and Mike Umscheid, storm chasers who encountered the large hail between Melrose and Clovis on Highway 60 in Curry County.

The statement below is the Tornado Warning issued by our office for eastern Curry county.  Notice how the spotter report validates the tornado.  It emphasizes the urgency of the situation.

 Thank you to all of our spotters, including amateur radio operators and law enforcement, for all of your reports. We couldn't do it without your help!!

hail5.jpg (64796 bytes)

For the full account from John and Mike's chase on June 7, 1998 click here.
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A
 
*   TORNADO WARNING FOR...
      EASTERN CURRY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
 
*   UNTIL 710 PM MDT
 
*   AT 635 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AND SPOTTER REPORTS INDICATED A TORNADO 5         MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF CLOVIS OR 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF TEXICO MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
 
*   THIS TORNADO IS A THREAT TO PEOPLE IN RANCH HOMES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.