Weather Forecasting: Severe Weather Forecasting

Severe weather is any type of violent or extreme weather event that represents a hazard to public safety and welfare, including tornadoes, damaging windstorms, flash floods, lightning, and hailstorms. The societal costs of severe weather events are very high, involving injuries, lost lives, and property damage. Accurate severe weather forecasts help reduce the loss of life and mitigate economic loss. The severe weather forecasting process requires knowledge of climatology and incorporates the techniques of pattern recognition and parameter evaluation as applied to both observations and numerical weather prediction model forecasts.