Storms 8/7 - my weather app now says probably not? Cancel plans?
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Anonymous
| We have outdoor activities scheduled in the DMV late this afternoon. Did the forecast really shift us out of the path of the storms until at least 6 or 7, or is my weather app messing with me? |
Anonymous
| These are really difficult to predict. I'd keep the plans until 1-2 hours out when the weather prediction is more accurate. |
Anonymous
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What sort of plans do you have? I wouldn’t take a weather app over what the actual forecasters are saying.
It sounds like not everywhere will get the storms, so the weather app may be accurate for the moment but that could change. If your plans are flexible, I’d go ahead with them but be ready to call them off at the last minute. If that won’t work, then cancel. |
Anonymous
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I debated buying P!nk tickets all year… and now today my teen has a fever and the weather is supposed to be lousy.
Guess it’s a good thing I never bought those tickets 
(Although if the storm misses us, I’ll be conflicted!) |
Anonymous
That is the problem with current ticket sales - it is so hard to recoup the money (should something arise), and the logistics are such a time suck, people are going to start not bothering to attend as much. That, and the customer service in Fedex is non existent, so why bother spending all that money. |
Anonymous
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"National Weather Service expects to issue a tornado watch for DC area (95% chance) soon. "Relatively higher" tornado threat in our region -- "strong tornado cannot be ruled out."
https://twitter.com/capitalweather/status/1688587952648024064 |
Anonymous
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The last time this area had a Level 4 risk was in 2013 and the last time before that was the derecho.
We could be in a storm hole and get not much - or we could get a lot. Microbursts like 10 days ago have a 45% chance. Tornado chance is also elevated. |
Anonymous
+1. How risk averse are you? Are you plans such that you can safely get to an indoor location if storms hit? |
Anonymous
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What you need to remember, OP, is that weather apps are never accurate. You need to read the Weather Service forecast, written by actual meteorologists, and understand that there is a large latitude in timing for the straight-line (derecho-like) storms coming our way. Currently, it's still believed to arrive in the immediate metro area at around 6pm, but it could be late, like 8pm. Meteorologists want people to be in buildings by 6pm, basically. But this could change this afternoon, so you need to carry your phone with weather alerts everywhere, and you mustn't stray too far from a building where you can take shelter if necessary. Capital Weather Gang has issued a preparation list that includes charging all your devices, not being on the road during the storm, and moving to a solidly-built lower level away from windows if you get a tornado warning. |
Anonymous
| I grew up in tornado alley. If we canceled plans every time there was a tornado watch, we would be forever cowering in our basements. Keep your plans with an alternate plan in mind for severe storms. |
Anonymous
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This looks more like derecho, than tornado right now I think. Derecho is a straight line, and affects more people. I would cancel. I would certainly not plan to be on the road between 4:30-7.
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Anonymous
I grew up in tornado alley too, and yes, tornado watches were not unusual. But straight line winds are, and microbursts are no joke. We have changed our evening plans. Ymmv |
Anonymous
| Op here. My plans got cancelled for me! |
Anonymous
Ha! Solves that problem! |
Anonymous
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Now looks more like 7pm for beltway people. Storms are coming in slower than initially calculated. |