What's the Situation?

Analyze the weather forecasts below and try to determine what you should be concerned about, as well as the authors' purpose.

Weather information is provided in a variety of ways.

Below are forecasts from several sources about a real life event.

As you review the information, be prepared to answer these questions:

  1. What weather hazards are the authors are concerned about?

  2. What is the author's intent (inform, persuade, entertain)?

  3. Who is the intended audience?

  4. What information is being shared?

  5. What types of media are being used (graphics, text, videos, etc.)?

NWS = National Weather Service

SPC = Storm Prediction Center


Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Tulsa OK

223 PM CDT Wed May 4 2022


...SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY WITH THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING

THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...

...SHORT TERM...

(The rest of this afternoon through tonight)

Issued at 138 PM CDT Wed May 4 2022


Warm front is currently lifting north near the I-40 corridor with

upper 60s to near 70 dew-points extending south down to the Red

River. As additional heating continues MlCAPES around 2000 J/kg

are expected along and south of frontal boundary. Isolated strong

to severe thunderstorms have already developed across portions of

western Oklahoma. Latest mesoscale trends, including CAM solutions

suggest that scattered strong to severe storms will develop across

central Oklahoma, spreading into portions of eastern Oklahoma by

early evening in association with approaching upper level jet

streak. Large hail and damaging winds will be likely with any

storms that develop with an enhanced tornado threat along/south of

frontal boundary.


PWATs have already climbed to 1.5 inches over much of the area

and will likely continue to increase into the 1.75 to 2.00 inch

range overnight. In additional to the scattered storms this

evening, convection to the west will likely grow upscale, with a

MCS sweeping through Eastern Oklahoma into northwest Arkansas by

Thursday morning. A swath of 1 to 3 inches have already occurred

just south of I-44 and with additional rainfall overnight, significant

flash flooding will be possible in some areas with locally 5 to 6

inches possible through Thursday. Several main-stream rivers are

also expected to rise above flood.


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You're not expected to understand all of the text here! Just remember what you're trying to identify for this activity.





KOTV in Tulsa news report from 5/6/22.