Net Activation 5/24/98

[Michael E. Nie]

Greetings from WARN central!

As many of you know, WARN was activated by the National Weather Service on

Sunday 5/24/98 at about 4:30 P.M. for severe weather occurring in the 
Cincinnati Tri-state area.  A few SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS were issued

in the area, as well as an URBAN AND SMALL STREAMS FLOOD WARNING for 
Hamilton County.

Yours truly was the Net Control Operator.  I was paged about 4:30 by Vern,

WD4EEB asking if I could take net control duties.  I left immediately and 
Vern ran the net until I got to our control station at WLW radio.  My car 
was pelted with 1/2" hail on I-75 near Hopple Street.  Our control station

is on the 4th floor looking southeast.  I have to tell you that we had an 
awesome view of a vivid lightning display.  Cloud to ground strikes were 
occurring several times a minute. Even though lightning is not a reporting

criteria, it was nevertheless very impressive.  In fact, our host, WLW,
was 
knocked off the air for a while by lightning.

Most of the reports received were of hail ranging from 3/4" to 1" on the 
west side of Cincinnati.  Storms also moved across Campbell County and 
Clermont County.  A few reports of POSSIBLE rotation were received. 
 Luckily, other spotters in the same vicinity were able to view the clouds

in question clearly from other angles and indicated no SUSTAINED rotation 
was present.  This is exactly the way the system is supposed to work.  A 
large number of field spotters can view storms from all sides and we can 
provide verified reports to the NWS.  Remember, tornado and funnel 
producing clouds will exhibit SUSTAINED rotation for a number of minutes, 
so keep an eye out for this.

The net was closed about 7:30 as severe weather left the area or 
dissipated.  Steve - N8TFD arrived toward the end of the net, in case it 
went longer.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  This was a very good 
net.  Most, if not all of the reports received met severe weather
reporting 
criteria.

One point of clarification.  We occasionally hear questions why the net is

not activated when people have vivid cloud to ground lightning.  Lightning

is not a severe weather reporting criteria.  It is also not a criteria for

activating the net.  Remember ALL thunderstorms contain lightning.  They 
are all dangerous in that regard, severe or not.

Thanks again to participants in Sunday's net.

Mike - KB8VMX
Public Information Officer - WARN


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