Dyess weathermen prepare for storm

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –Weather forecasters from the 7th Operations Support Squadron, Senior Airman Sara Wauer (center), Senior Airman Ann Winters (right) and Staff Sgt. James Ellis (left), assemble a Tactical Meteorological Observing System (TMQ-53) near the flightline May 12 for upcoming storms here. The TMQ-53 is used mostly in deployed locations providing pilots weather patterns to help land aircraft and detect wind direction, temperature, relative humidity, lightning, rain conditions, cloud depth and visibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Reyes)

Stay safe during severe weather by learning the signs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Senior Airman Ann Winters and Tech. Sgt. Mark Sterling, 7th Operations Support Squadron, observe the severe weather radar June 24 here. The weather flight uses the radar system to interrogate severe weather when activity is detected. They have 30 minutes prior to the actual event to warn the Dyess populous of a tornado, and two hours to give notice of any other severe weather. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jennifer Romig)

Team Dyess prepares for tornadoes

Published June 8, 2012
By Senior Airman Robert Hicks
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- March through June are the peak months for tornados in West Texas. Understanding how tornado watches and warnings are issued on-base and for the city of Abilene is more important now than any other time of the year.

During a severe weather event, the 26th Operational Weather Squadron at Barksdale AFB La., coordinates with the Dyess weather flight to issue a tornado watch when conditions are favorable for tornado development within five miles of the base.

A tornado warning is issued when a certified observer, law enforcement representative or an air traffic controller has sighted a tornado, or when radar indicates one may threaten the base.

Dyess weather flight provides at least 30 minutes of warning, if possible, before a tornado impacts the base, which is why the base may have a tornado warning and the city of Abilene does not.

"Thirty minutes of lead time on a tornado warning is critical for many reasons, such as flightline workers needing time to secure aircraft and equipment, and air traffic must be coordinated to cope with the impending storm," Master Sgt. Travis Hale, NCO in charge of weather.

The National Weather Service issues tornado warnings for Abilene and the rest of Taylor County based on the same criteria as the Dyess weather flight, but they are not required to give 30 minutes of warning.

When a tornado warning is issued on base, the forecaster informs command post of where the tornado is or where it was indicated on radar, how fast it's moving and when it's expected to impact the base. Command post then sounds the warning sirens for three to five minutes.

In the event of a tornado, people should avoid windows, stay on the first floor and hide in some sort of interior room such as a closet or bathroom.

"The dangers of severe storms come in many forms," Hale said. "Lightning is associated with all thunderstorms and can strike as far as 25 miles from the storm. Microbursts, extremely strong winds produced by a collapsing thunderstorm, can exceed 90 mph and hit all at once. In July of 1999 a 104 mph one hit creating havoc as it moved through the area."

Dyess has never been touched by a tornado, but there have been 64 tornadoes in Taylor County dating back to 1951.

Individuals should update their personal information by clicking on the purple globe at the bottom right hand of the screen on a government computer system to receive severe weather updates via text message, personal email or phone call.

People interested in seeing the weather station, even during a thunderstorm event, call (325) 696-2501.