Severe Weather Awareness
The most common hazard that residents of Southlake face is the threat of severe weather. Severe weather comes in many forms from ice storms, high winds and rain to extreme heat, hail and even tornadoes. Recognizing the danger of severe weather, the Southlake Office of Emergency Management has taken steps to provide early warning to the residents and visitors of Southlake.
Outdoor Warning System Testing
The city has purchased five Outdoor Warning Sirens that are strategically located sirens within Southlake and tone alert radios for each public school within Southlake. The sirens are located at:
- DPS West facility - 2100 West Southlake Blvd
- DPS Headquarters - 600 State Street
- Public Works Operations - 1950 East Continental
- Bob Jones Park - 3901 North White Chapel
- Bicentennial Park - 400 North White Chapel
The siren system is used to notify residents and visitors located in outdoor gathering areas. The sirens emit the familiar warning tone during a tornado as well as voice messages for severe weather emergencies. The outdoor warning system will only be activated when there is severe life threatening weather and not for regular thunderstorms and small hail. The City of Southlake tests its Outdoor Warning System on the first Wednesday of each month at noon.
Why Don't We Have Sirens in my Neighborhood?
The City purchased and placed our 5 siren Outdoor Warning System (OWS) strategically within the city to warn people in our common outdoor areas (our parks and shopping centers). The purpose of the OWS is to warn those who may be outdoors during a sudden storm event and encourage them to take immediate shelter, not to warn people in their homes. To receive warning within your home, the best resource available is a NOAA Weather Radio which can be programmed with a code to activate when there are storm warnings in your area—these radios are for purchase at many local retailers for a small price.
When Will the OWS be Activated?
In order for the Outdoor Warning System (OWS) to be activated there are very specific criteria, set by the Southlake Office of Emergency Management based on guidelines set by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, that must be met. The OWS Activation Criteria are:
- The National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning or Severe Thunderstorm Warning with the phrase "Destructive winds in excess of 70 mph (or higher) are likely with this storm" for the immediate area.
- Trained SYWARN Storm Spotters have reported a tornado in neighboring cities, approaching Southlake, and/or has the imminent potential to affect Southlake.
- Trained SYWARN Storm Spotters have reported confirmed winds in excess of 65 mph (or higher) in neighboring cities, approaching Southlake, and/or has the imminent potential to affect Southlake.
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Reported hail of 1.25 inches in diameter or greater in adjacent cities, approaching Southlake, and/or has the imminent potential to affect Southlake.
Skywarn Training
Skywarn is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service's (NWS) severe weather spotting program with nearly 290,000 trained volunteers nationwide. Since the late 1960s trained Skywarn spotters have helped support the NWS's primary mission of protecting life and property through the issuance of severe weather warnings. These dedicated citizens help keep their local community safe by conveying severe weather reports to their local NWS Forecast Office. Skywarn spotters are integral to the success of our Nation's severe weather warning system.
Every year the NWS conducts Skywarn spotter training sessions. The NWS currently has 122 Weather Forecast Office's across the nation, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the Skywarn program in their local area. There is no charge and a typical class takes about 2 hours to conduct.
For information on Skywarn Training please visit the National Weather Service's Skywarn Page or find local training information from the NOAA.
More Information
For more information on severe weather please contact the Southlake Office of Emergency Management:
Kyle Taylor
Emergency Management Coordinator
Department of Public Safety
City of Southlake
600 State Street
Southlake, Texas 76092
(817) 748–8624 office
(817) 748–8317 fax