000 NOUS44 KCRP 202353 PNSCRP TXZ229>234-239>247-211100- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 553 PM CST SUN FEB 20 2011 ...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS... ...THE FIRST TOPIC IS WATCHES... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCHES FOR TEXAS ARE ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS. HAIL IS CONSIDERED SEVERE IF IT IS QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER. WINDS ARE CONSIDERED DAMAGING IF THEY ARE 58 MPH OR STRONGER. A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED THAT INCLUDES THE LIKELIHOOD OF LARGE OR MULTIPLE TORNADOES. WATCHES ARE ISSUED FOR MANY COUNTIES AND LAST FOR SEVERAL HOURS. DURING A WATCH... ONE...STAY AWARE OF WEATHER CHANGES...SEVERE STORMS CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY. TWO...MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS...COMMERCIAL RADIO... TELEVISION...THE INTERNET...OR CABLE SERVICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THREE...REVIEW YOUR SEVERE WEATHER PLAN AND WHAT ACTION YOU WILL TAKE IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS. MAKE SURE THOSE WHO ARE WITH YOU ALSO KNOW WHAT TO DO. ...THE SECOND TOPIC IS WARNINGS... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE WHEN FORECASTERS DETECT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO. THIS COULD BE BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR OBSERVATIONS OR REPORTED BY RELIABLE SOURCES SUCH AS SKYWARN SPOTTERS. A WARNING USUALLY COVERS ONE COUNTY OR A PORTION OF A COUNTY AND NORMALLY LASTS FOR AN HOUR OR LESS. DURING A WARNING... ONE...REMAIN CALM AND TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION IMMEDIATELY. TWO...MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS...COMMERCIAL RADIO... TELEVISION...THE INTERNET...OR CABLE SERVICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. NOTE DETAILS SUCH AS WHERE THE SEVERE WEATHER IS MOVING...EITHER TOWARD YOU OR AWAY FROM YOU...AND HOW LONG THE WARNING WILL CONTINUE. REMEMBER... IN A WATCH...WATCH THE SKY. IN A WARNING...TAKE ACTION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WATCHES AND WARNINGS...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE OR VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CORPUSCHRISTI $$