We talk about severe weather a lot this time of year. In Central Texas, that can include everything from flooding rains to tornadoes. But when we refer specifically to "Severe Thunderstorms" (as in a "Severe Thunderstorm Watch" or "Severe Thunderstorm Warning", we're talking about storms that meet certain specific criteria, in terms of the nasty weather they're producing.

According to the National Weather Service, a "Severe Thunderstorm" contains at least one of the following:
  1. hail at least penny size (3/4 inch diameter)
  2. wind gusts 58 mph or greater (50 knots)
  3. a tornado

You'll notice there are a few things missing from that list. Severe thunderstorms are in no way defined by how hard the rain is falling, or by how much lightning the storm is producing (although by definition, a thunderstorm must contain at least some lightning... otherwise there would be no thunder!). And interestingly enough, you can see that tornadoes are included in the list of criteria for severe thunderstorms. Normally, the National Weather Service will issue a "Tornado Warning" for a storm that either is producing or could produce a tornado. But in some cases, severe thunderstorms produce tornadoes with little or no advanced warning, which is why they're included in the definition for severe thunderstorms.

But mostly, when we talk about severe thunderstorms, we're talking about storms that are producing large hail, damaging winds, or both. It's sometimes easy to dismiss these storms as less threatening or violent than tornadic ones, but it's still important to take whatever action necessary to protect you, your family, and your property!