0405L-WEDNESDAY OUTLOOK FROM GARFIELD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT-5/19/21

1-We are in a MARGINAL Risk area for severe weather today. The higher risk for severe weather will be out west. Hail and wind would be the cause for severe if it occurs here. Guidance this morning is from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), and both the NWS offices in Norman and Wichita.

2- The tropical atmosphere makes any wave that pushes through the area a potential rainmaker and per guidance, we are in the CHANCE area for at least the next 36 hours. Understand also that when tropical moisture mixes with disturbances moving across the area like a trough, there may be a few funnel clouds form up and then dissipate. This occurred yesterday a few times so if you see a lowering and then a funnel and then it disappears shortly thereafter, don’t panic. These are normally harmless BUT if they occur within a strong thunderstorm, they could reach the ground. Most of these form and dissipate and radar doesn’t detect these all of the time. Let us know DIRECTLY if you see any. Call the office 580-249-5969. That number forwards to my cell after 2 rings so please be patient. Take a picture and forward it to us through our GARFIELD COUNTY EM app.

3-REMEMBER, just because the TV folks are in panic mode on any of this doesn’t mean you have to be in that mode too. Decision making while in an emotional state can cause BAD DECISION MAKING. It’s true for everyone. Stay up with the latest conditions and we’ll advise as needed.

4- Our app has had a few issues recently as RADAR hasn’t been working properly. This happens. There are other sources for radar when one program isn’t working. Find and utilize them until it gets fixed. I will post a suggestion to everyone that uses our app on what to do when something quits working at least on your phone. I will post that later this morning on social media and on the GCEM.ORG WEBSITE.

Here is your forecast from the NWS/NORMAN;

Today-Cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds around 10 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent.

Tonight-Cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 10 mph. Chance of thunderstorms 50 percent.

HAVE A GOOD DAY!!

MIKE