Public Services for Severe Weather Information

Public Services for Severe Weather Information

There are several useful public services related to severe weather information:

Nixle (nixle.com) sends weather and hazard updates to your phone via a text message or to your email, however you choose to set it up. You can subscribe for text messages directly from your phone; simply text your zip code to 888777 (standard text messaging rates for your mobile phone service apply). You can opt out at any time by texting “STOP” to 888777.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center’s site spc.noaa.gov  has predictive maps. Their Convective Outlooks page offers predictions and descriptions for several days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) website weather.gov offers forecast and current conditions, watches, warnings, radar, and discussions for your zip code. Enter your zipcode, and bookmark the page for your weather location. Most of our diocese will be served by the Fort Worth weather forecast office, but our northern counties, especially those along the Red River, are also served by the Norman, Oklahoma weather forecast office.

Local broadcast TV is hard to beat; stations “sound off” on severe weather, so turn on your TV and tune in to a local broadcast station.

Social media is not a reliable source for weather warnings and watches; the agencies issuing weather information disclaim that they have more pressing responsibilities to the public than to update their social media. However, the National Weather Service does provide information on Facebook and Twitter to extend the reach of NWS  information and engage the public. The NWS Fort Worth weather office is on Facebook (facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.FortWorth.gov) and Twitter (@NWSFortWorth). The NWS Norman, Oklahoma office is also on Facebook (facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Norman.gov) and Twitter (@NWSNorman).