Q: What is required before a thunderstorm is classified as severe?

A: Storms must have one of three following variables before it is considered severe:

Q: Large gatherings, especially those in the open, are at greatest risk. How do we make these events safe?

A: Many of the entertainment companies that own these facilities hire private weather consultants and have emergency plans. Many smaller or less structured groups like intramural school sports or little league teams do not have organized plans for severe weather emergencies. Find out what the organization you associate with does to prepare for weather emergencies.

Q: How long do tornadoes last and how fast do they move?

A: Most tornadoes last only two or three minutes. The kind seen in videos and do the damage we see on the news average 15 minutes. The few tornadoes that have been timed seem to average about 35 miles per hour, but some are seen to stand still and others are clocked at 60 miles per hour.

Q: Sometimes we have thunderstorms at night and I worry about the safety of my family. What is the best way to be alert ?

A: The best advice is to be aware of weather conditions and watch or listen to a weather report at least once a day during severe weather season. It is recommended that your family have at least one weather radio with a battery back up. Many retail stores and some news agencies sell the radios that are activated by a special tone sent by the National Weather Service. Additionally, whenever the City of Mesquite is under a severe weather warning, it is recommended that someone stay awake and alert on the developing conditions.

Q: What do tornadoes sound like? Do they really sound like a train?

A: Many tornadoes have been described as sounding like a train. Others have been described as sounding like a jet plane, or a waterfall. Never wait to seek shelter until you hear the tornado, it might be too late.

Q: I live in an area where there are a lot of warnings, but the storms miss us sometimes. Why do we get so many warnings?

A: Most "unrealized" warnings are caused by the appearance of a mesocyclone or other storm phenomenon on Doppler Radar. If radar indicates the development of a dangerous thunderstorm or a storm that has tornadic potential, a warning will be issued. Sometimes they are called "radar based warnings" as opposed to "spotter based warnings", which involve actual field confirmation. Additionally, National Weather Service Broadcasts are currently issued on a county by county basis. Mesquite residents will usually receive watch or warning information for other cities in Dallas County.

Q: Who actually issues severe weather watches and warnings?

A: The local office of the National Weather Service (NWS) issues these advisories. The local NWS office is located in northern Fort Worth. Mesquite also has a warning systems of it's own. There are 16 outdoor warning sirens, AT&T Cable Override System, and an Emergency Alert System (EAS) operated by the City of Mesquite Office of Emergency Management. Learn more about how we will get the word out by visiting the Watches and Warnings Page.

Q: Do I need to go to my families safe-place if there is a watch?

A: No, but when a watch has been issued, it is time to turn a television or radio on, look out the window from time to time, and be more alert to what is happening outside. This might be a good time to find your family disaster plan and start reading over the procedures you and your family have developed.