STORM2K

The NWS is experimenting with Twitter to receive severe weather reports from the public:

http://www.weather.gov/stormreports/



*Stickied by vbhoutex*

I think it's cool, but I do not have my tweet location selected because I want it to be private. I also don't think that everyone is going to remember to put "WW" before your location and then again before the weather condition. I think that the NWS can do better than that.

I did save #wxreport under my saved searches.

While I have never used this feature, I do use twitter for most of my weather reports. I have a tendency to run on in great detail when given the chance, and when severe weather is going on...that stuff is not needed. Twitter, with it's 140 character limit, forces me to condense everything down, and get to the "meat" of the report. I then, sometimes, follow up with a report through the eSpotter system if there is something I feel should be detailed, or if there are other interesting things ongoing (always let them know you are going to submit a follow up via eSpotter, so they don't think it is a separate report).

For example, with the Halloween squall line, I saw a couple power flashes off to my WNW as the line approached. I submitted the report via twitter, and then followed up later that morning on eSpotter detailing what exactly I saw. If you don't have an eSpotter account, you can simply e-mail your local weather office your details later.

One thing I am guilty of, though...remember to give them your location! I tend to forget, which can result in either them asking you or having to follow up (if you realize it before they message you back).

I usually call in my reports.
I set up an espotter account but the first time I tried to use it it came back that my NWS office doesn't have it set up. In Houston???
I probably need to set up a twitter account, but haven't yet. You know-old people-new things, etc.

It is a great idea to receive public reports on weather. We will be able to know about any weather events that will occur in the local areas. It will also help us to get the accurate weather reports on time. It might be an experiment right know but it will help both the public and NWS.