National Weather Service expert Steve Runnels discusses severe weather

NewsTalk KZRG welcomed Steve Runnels of the National Weather Service to the program on Wednesday to discuss weather and severe-weather preparedness.

Runnels, who has been involved in National Weather Service outreach and severe-weather safety efforts in southwest Missouri, has emphasized the importance of being prepared before dangerous weather develops.

“Now is the time to plan and prepare for the impacts of severe weather,” Runnels says.

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides forecasts, watches and warnings to help communities prepare for potentially dangerous conditions and protect lives and property.

Runnels has also been involved in efforts to examine severe weather and tornado impacts in the Joplin and southwest Missouri area, including public education about the importance of taking warnings seriously.

Runnel says advances in technology have helped the NWS get a better feel for what is going on. He says some of the advances have been made since the 2011 Joplin tornado.

"Joplin had a rather significant tornado. And during that time there was a blob from the debris lofted up in the sky. That was the first time I had seen on radar a confirmation of a tornado on the ground, " Runnels says.

"Soon after that, though, we got an advancement called dual polarization, which sends our radar beam out in both horizontal and vertical manners. And that combination allows us to look at the cross section of what different things are being lofted up into the sky."

Runnels stresses that modern weather techniques combined with the Internet means more people can learn about severe weather conditions.

You know, as the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that picture of anticipated weather element still needs interpretation. Pictures from spotters or the public that shows a tornado or shows hail or wind damage, and again through the Internet we can quickly put that information in people's hands through their cell phones or home computers.

Runnels says Artificial Intelligence - A.I. - is bringing an additional tool to weather forecasting.

"Like many scientific fields, artificial intelligence has generally increased efficiency," Runnels states.

"I think it has a long way to go to provide forecast information that can be counted on at face value but, like many things, it is a tool and it is a very good tool and it's getting better and better all the time."