New "destructive thunderstorm" warning to alert you with a piercing sound on cellphones

Have you ever received that BLARING sound on your cellphone if a Tornado Warning or a Snow Squall Warning has been issued for your area? That piercing sound sets off the Wireless Emergency Alert on your cellphone to make sure you are aware of impactful and important life-threatening weather that is imminent for your area!

A new alert will also get the same ear-piercing sound treatment and subsequent important weather information to your cellphone.

What triggers the "Wireless Emergency Alert" piercing sound on your cellphone?:
--Only a Severe Thunderstorm Warning with the "Destructive" category will set off that alarm.
--On average, only 10 percent of all severe thunderstorms reach the destructive category each year, nationwide.
--Most of these storms are damaging wind events such as derechoes.
--The Labor Day storm of 1998 that struck the New York State Fair and the greater Syracuse area is an example of a derecho that hit central New York.
--Some of the larger, more intense thunderstorms, called “Supercell” storms that can typically produce very large hail in their path.
--The new destructive thunderstorm category conveys to the public urgent action is needed.
--A life-threatening event is occurring and may cause substantial damage to property.

The National Weather Service has implemented a tiered system for Severe Thunderstorm Warnings that includes this new "destructive" category. While regular severe thunderstorms can certainly produce damage, there is a big difference if a thunderstorm has 58 MPH winds and a thunderstorm with 80 MPH or higher.

What is a "severe thunderstorm"?:
-- A severe thunderstorm contains damaging winds of at least 58 MPH and/or contains quarter-sized hail or larger.
-- These types of wind and/or hail damage would cause property damage and the potential for trees and wires to come down.
-- Even if thunderstorms do not become severe, the power may go out if lightning strikes hit poles or power substations.

What does a "Severe Thunderstorm WARNING" mean?:
--A severe thunderstorm WARNING means that there is imminent danger for large hail, damaging winds, lightning and torrential rain in the path of the strongest part of the storm.
--Severe winds are defined by 58+ MPH wind.
--Severe hail is defined as quarter sized hail.

What are the new tiered categories for Severe Thunderstorm Warning?:
--Considerable wind damage can occur with 70+ MPH wind.
--Destructive wind damage will occur with 80+ MPH wind.
--Considerable hail damage is defined as golf ball sized hail.
--Destructive hail damage is defined as baseball sized hail.

This new change started on Monday August 2nd.

If you would like additional information about this new weather alert, you can click here.