White Sands Missile Range is changing its weather warnings to be in alignment with national and Department of Defense weather organizations.

WSMR to Change Weather Warning Titles

White Sands Missile Range is changing its weather warnings to be in alignment with national and Department of Defense weather organizations.

Matthew Walter, Chief Meteorology Branch at WSMR, said current weather warning titles don’t align with the World Meteorological Organization, National Weather Service, Air Force, or other Army Test and Evaluation Command Test Ranges.

“The approved changes re-align WSMR with authorities outlined in AR/AFIs as well as our areas of responsibility,” Walter said.

He said the verbiage changes will be easier to understand and troops coming from other Army installations will be familiar with the terms/criteria similar to Air Force Weather, which typically provides weather support for Army installations (like Fort Bliss) and may also result in fewer alert messages.

Here are the changes:

Winds

OLD: Phase 1 Wind gusting 35-55 mph (30-50 kts)

NEW: Strong Wind Warning (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 2 Wind gusting 55-85 mph (50-75 kts)

NEW: Damaging Wind Warning (same criteria) {Note: Visibility Advisory typically paired}

OLD: Phase 3 Severe damaging windstorm - Wind greater than 85 mph (75kts)

NEW: Extreme Wind Warning (same criteria) {Note: Visibility Advisory typically paired}

Visibility

OLD: Phase 1 {Visibility less than: One/Three miles due to: Fog, Blowing dust/sand or snow}

NEW: Visibility Advisory - same criteria

Thunderstorms

OLD: Phase 1 {Thunderstorms (lightning, wind gusts 35-55 mph, possible small hail less than 0.5 inch) a.  Isolated/Few b.  Scattered c.  Numerous}

NEW: Thunderstorm Advisory (Isolated/Scattered Thunderstorms Possible-- lightning, wind gusts 35-55 mph, small hail less than 0.5 inch possible in/around storms)

OLD: Phase 2 {SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH--Favorable conditions for the development of severe thunderstorms}

NEW: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 3 {SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS--Intense lightning, wind gusts over 55 mph (50kts)}

NEW: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING (same criteria)

Tornado

OLD: Phase 2 {TORNADO WATCH!  High potential for tornadoes or funnel clouds. Stay alert -- be prepared to seek shelter}

NEW: TORNADO WATCH (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 3 {TORNADO WARNING -- Seek shelter immediately -- tornado sighted or indicated by radar at: ***, moving ***}

NEW: TORNADO WARNING -- SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY -- Tornado Sighted or Indicated by Radar At/Near: (location), Moving (direction) at (speed)

Rainfall (Flooding)

OLD: Phase 1 {Heavy rainfall in some areas with possible low area flooding}

NEW: Heavy Rainfall Advisory (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 2 {FLASH FLOOD WATCH (high potential for flash flooding in and near thunderstorms)}

NEW: FLASH FLOOD WATCH (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 3 {FLASH FLOOD WARNING -- dangerous flash flooding observed or imminent at/near: (location)}

NEW: FLASH FLOOD WARNING (same criteria)

Snow

OLD: Phase 1 {Snowfall less than 4 inches (possible ice/snow on roads)}

NEW: Snow Advisory (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 2 {Heavy snowfall - greater than 4 inches (possible ice/snow on roads)}

NEW: Heavy Snow Advisory (same criteria)

WBGT (Heat Stress)

OLD: Phase 1 – Green Flag – Wet Bulb Globe Temperature above 82 deg F

NEW: Green Flag Conditions (same criteria)

OLD: Phase 2 – Black Flag – WBGT above 90 deg F

NEW: Adding Yellow, Red, and Black Flag at 85F, 88F, 90F WBGT respectively

Note: WSMR had never alerted for Black Flag conditions—while it’s very hot, it’s not humid enough in the summer to get above 90F wet bulb.

By Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs