West Burlington Iowa in Des Moines, County Iowa

Iowa Radars & Local Weather

Solar Terrestrial

Solar Terrestrial

Developed in 1971 by Tetsuya "Ted" Fujita (1920 - 1998) "Mr. Tornado"  of the University of Chicago
The Fujita Scale is based on structural strength and engineering research done by Ted Fujita and a host of others. This research created the Fujita scale as a measurement of a tornadoes strength or intensity. Simply put, how intense would a wind have to be to move a cardboard box or to move bricks?  One questions to ask would be: How fast or intense would the winds have to be to knock over a brick wall,? Obviously those winds would be significant. Through extensive research the Fujita Scale was developed based on damage, not wind speeds. Based on the extent of this damage conclusions are drawn as to what the winds would likely have to be to cause that type of damage. Since two wooden structured homes can be vastly different in quality and strength, there can be some misleading conclusions from the damage. Because of this and other overly general conclusions, storm researchers came up with the Enhanced Fujita scale to better reflect a tornado’s strength. Below is the new Enhanced Fujita scale started February 2007.

*** IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT ENHANCED F-SCALE WINDS: The Enhanced F-scale still is a set of wind estimates (not measurements) based on damage. Its uses three-second gusts estimated at the point of damage based on a judgment of 8 levels of damage to the 28 indicators listed below. These estimates vary with height and exposure. Important: The 3 second gust is not the same wind as in standard surface observations. Standard measurements are taken by weather stations in open exposures, using a directly measured, "one minute mile" speed.

Enhanced Fujita Scale article has been completed by the Wind Science and Engineering Center at Texas Tech University.

 Click herefor the (pdf) document that details how the new scale is derived. 

Discussed in the article is the need for revising the current rating system used that was created by Dr. Ted Fujita. Thanks to http://www.spc.noaa.gov and http://www.wind.ttu.edu for the new information.

One of the first scales to estimate wind speeds and the effects was created by Britain’s Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857). He developed the scale in 1805 to help sailors estimate the winds via visual observations. The scale starts with 0 and goes to a force of 12. The Beaufort scale is still used today to estimate wind strengths.

Beaufort Scale: Specifications and equivalent speeds for use on land

Who are Storm Spotters?
Virtually every community has some form of spotter network. Often, local fire and police personnel are trained to observe and report severe weather, partly due to their extensive radio communication and 24-hour operations. Citizens may also be an active part of the spotter network, some with an avid interest in the weather and many without. Some spotters are amateur radio operators.  All share a sense of responsibility to their neighbors.
Why become a storm spotter?
Real-time reports are critical in issuing warnings and saving lives. That’s an indisputable fact. Spotters provide this real-time ground-truth of local conditions - such as hail size, wind speed, storm structure, tornado development, and local damage - to help warn the public. Even as new technology allows the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue warnings with more lead time, spotters will always serve as a key link between radar indications of severe weather and what’s happening on the ground.
What is SKYWARN?
SKYWARN is a program sponsored by the National Weather Service. The program is made up of thousands of volunteers who attend regular training and then scan the skies of their communities identifying and reporting critical storm information. These volunteers, sometimes organized under the SKYWARN banner in the U.S., are typically trained by NWS forecasters to be the eyes and ears of both the warning forecasters and the local public safety networks.
Do spotters “chase” storms?
Generally, no. Some may be mobile, such as law enforcement officers; and others may track storms, depending on how the local network is structured.  However, most spotters simply report the weather that occurs where they are.
Do spotters need special tools or equipment?
Maybe – or maybe not. All spotters need a reliable and effective means of communication with their network. Some may invest in a rain gage or perhaps an anemometer for measuring wind speed.
 How do I become a community storm spotter?
Although the NWS often provides training, spotter groups in most areas are organized by emergency management officials or the police or fire department. If you are interested in becoming a spotter, check with these agencies to find out who serves as spotters in your area.
How do I become a spotter in the Quad Cities service area?
We have assembled a guide for becoming a spotter in our area. Please check it out at: www.weather.gov/quadcities/?n=stormspotters
Is there an age requirement for attending a class or becoming a spotter?
Short answer: no. People of all ages attend spotter training classes. Those ages 10 and up are likely to get the most from the class. Youth who are interested in registering as spotters with the NWS Quad Cities are registered along with an adult in the same household. 
What training is required?
A typical SKYWARN training class conducted by the NWS lasts about 2 hours. Classes include information on identifying storm features, effective positioning strategy, safety, and severe weather communication. The National Weather Service recommends that spotters train every 2 years to remain current.
When will a class be offered in my community?
In the Quad Cities service area, spotter training classes are conducted from late February through early April. One to two classes are conducted in each county.  Scheduling of spotter training classes begins around the New Year. A list of classes currently scheduled can be found at: www.weather.gov/quadcities/?n=spottertraining
Can I attend a class in another area?
Short answer: Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that attending a class in your own county will give you the most insight into the SKYWARN activities in your home community. It is also generally good practice to train with the people you will be working with. However, if you are unable to attend your local class, you can certainly attend a class in another area.
How often should I retrain?
The NWS recommends that spotters retrain every 2 years. For NWS spotters in the Quad Cities service area, we require that spotters retrain every 2 to 3 years to remain active in our database.
Can I take spotter training online instead of attending a class?
At this time the NWS Quad Cities only accepts spotter registrations and updates from those who attend a class in person. The reason...relaying accurate information effectively is critical during severe weather. Therefore, we feel that it is important to attend spotter training in person to optimize this process. In the future, there may be an option to renew training online.
I don't want to be a spotter. Can I attend a class anyway?
Sure! Many people attend spotter training classes because they simply have an interest in weather and want to learn more about storms. Some even attend because they have fear of storms and hope that learning more will ease their fear. Scout troops, high school science classes, and many others also often attend spotter training.
Can I schedule a spotter training class for my group?
Because classes must be complete before severe weather season begins, we must limit the number of classes to one or two per county. This means that we usually are not able to schedule classes for individual groups. Spotter training classes are typically coordinated through the county emergency manager and should include all groups and general public involved in the local storm spotting program. Check with your local emergency management officials if you are interested in hosting a class for your county.