Weather
Wilson County Weather Operations center is located at the Wilson County Emergency Operations Center and is part of the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (WEMA). We operate a 24/7 weather monitoring and alerting point for the communities in Wilson County, TN. Our goal is to protect the lives and property of the citizens and visitors of Wilson County from dangerous weather events by proactive forecasting, monitoring, alerting and responding. We have many free community education classes throughout the year and provide on-site event weather monitoring for large outside events, as well as direct warning notification for all schools in Wilson county. Contact us for questions, comments, or suggestions.
Education
Our Weather Operations group will hold several free community classes in the WEMA Training Center throughout the year. Our primary focus will be severe weather, held before severe weather season. Other classes will include storm spotter, storm safety and basic meteorology. All classes will be posted on the community calendar.
Please call or email Daniel Cowan for more information about becoming a weather operations volunteer.
Weather Alerting
The National Weather Service broadcasts warnings, watches and forecasts (as well as other hazard information) 24 hours a day. Known as the “voice of the national weather service”, NOAA Weather Radio is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We strongly recommend that every home be equipped with an alerting style NOAA Weather Radio. The various features and functions are described below.
In Wilson County, NOAA Weather Radio is broadcast on the frequency of 162.500 MHz or 162.550 MHz. The FIPS code required to program the NWS-SAME radio receivers for Wilson county is: 047189.
The NOAA Weather Radio network has more than 985 transmitters. What’s the weather? Thanks to NOAA Weather Radio, you’ll always have the answer to that question and access to potentially life-saving emergency information whenever you need it.
When you purchase a NOAA Weather Radio receiver, you are purchasing part of the National Weather Service network. The network is constantly upgrading its technology to provide the best weather reporting service possible.
For less than the cost of a new pair of shoes, you can own a special weather radio that provides instant access to the same weather reports and emergency information that meteorologists and emergency personnel use. This information that can save your life!
You can purchase a NOAA Weather Radio at many of the large retailers in Wilson County. For help chosing the right model, contact us
NWS Watch, Warning and Advisory Criteria
| Winter Season Watches, Warnings and Advisories |
Snow Advisory
Issued when accumulating snow of 2 to 4 inches is expected. An advisory may still be warranted if lesser accumulations will produce travel difficulties, especially early in the winter season.
Blowing Snow Advisory
Issued when blowing snow is expected to occasionally reduce visibilities to 1/4 mile or less with winds generally 25 to 34 mph. The event should last at least 3 hours.
Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory
Issued when winds of 25 to 34 mph are expected to be accompanied by falling snow and blowing snow, occasionally reducing the visibility to 1/4 mile or less. The event should last at least 3 hours.
Freezing Rain/Drizzle Advisory
Issued for freezing rain when ice accumulations are expected to cause travel problems, but not exceed 1/4″.
Sleet Advisory
Issued for accumulating sleet of 1/4″ to 1″. Because sleet usually occurs with other precipitation types, a winter weather advisory will almost always be used in such cases.
Winter Weather Advisory
Issued for a winter weather event in which there is more than one hazard present, but all precipitation is expected to remain below warning criteria. For example, it would be issued if 2 inches of snow were expected with a small amount of sleet mixing in at times.
Wind Chill Advisory
Issued when wind chill values will reach -5°F to -19°F, with wind speeds around 10 mph or more.
Wind Chill Warning
Issued when wind chill values will reach -20°F or colder, with wind speeds around 10 mph or more. A Wind Chill Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.
Ice Storm Warning
Issued when a period of freezing rain is expected to produce ice accumulations of 1/4″ or greater, or cause significant disruptions to travel or utilities.
Heavy Sleet Warning
Issued when a period of sleet is expected to produce ice accumulations of 1″ or greater, or cause significant disruptions to travel or utilities.
Heavy Snow Warning
Issued when snow is expected to accumulate 4 inches or more in 12 hours, or 6 inches or more in 24 hours.
Winter Storm Warning
Issued for a winter weather event in which there is more than one hazard present, and one of the warning criteria listed above is expected to be met. For example, it would be issued if 5 inches of snow were expected in 12 hours, with some sleet mixing in at times. It is commonly issued for heavy snow with strong winds of 25-34 mph that will cause blowing and drifting of the snow. A Winter Storm Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.
Blizzard Warning
Issued for sustained wind or frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more. A Blizzard Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.
| Severe Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories |
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Issued when there is evidence based on radar or a reliable spotter report that a thunderstorm is producing, or about to produce, wind gusts of 58 mph or greater, structural wind damage, and/or hail 1 inch in diameter or greater.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Is issued by the Storm Prediction Center when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms over a larger-scale region. Tornadoes are not expected in such situations, but isolated tornado development cannot be ruled out.
Tornado Warning
Issued by the local NWS Office when there is evidence based on radar or a reliable spotter report that a tornado is imminent or occurring.
Tornado Watch
Is issued by the Storm Prediction Center when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over a larger-scale region.
Significant Weather Advisory
Issued for strong thunderstorms that are below severe levels, but still may have some adverse impacts. Usually issued for the threat of wind gusts of 40-58 mph or hail up to 1 inch in diameter.
| Flooding Watches, Warnings and Advisories |
Flash Flood Watch
Issued generally when there is the possibility of flash flooding or urban flooding over an area within the next 36 hours.
Flash Flood Warning
Issued when flash flooding is imminent, generally within the next 1 to 3 hours. Usually issued based on observed heavy rainfall (measured or radar estimated), but may also be issued for significant dam breaks that have occurred or are imminent.
Flood Watch
Issued when there is the possibility of widespread general flooding over an area within the next 36 hours.
Flood Warning for River Forecast Point
Issued when a river gauge has exceeded, or is forecast to exceed, a predetermined flood stage.
Flood Advisory
Issued when flooding is imminent or occurring, generally within the next 1 to 3 hours, but is not expected to substantially threaten life and property.
| Non-Precipitation Watches, Warnings and Advisories |
Wind Advisory
Issued when sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph are expected for 1 hour or longer.
High Wind Warning
Issued when sustained winds of 40 mph or more are expected for 1 hour or longer, or for wind gusts of 58 mph or more with no time limit. A High Wind Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.
Dense Fog Advisory
Issued when fog is expected to reduce visibilities to 1/4 mile or less.
Heat Advisory
Issued when maximum daytime heat index values are expected to reach or exceed 105°F on at least 2 consecutive days, with intermediate low temperatures of 75°F or higher.
Excessive Heat Warning
Issued when maximum daytime heat index values are expected to reach or exceed 110°F on at least two consecutive days, with intermediate low temperatures of 75°F or higher. An Excessive Heat Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.
Frost Advisory
Issued when nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to range from 33°F to 36°F in the growing season.
Freeze Warning
Issued when nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to reach 32°F or lower in the growing season. They are usually issued to highlight the first few freezes of the fall, or unusually late freezes in the spring. A Freeze Watch is issued when these conditions may be met 12 to 48 hours in the future.
Air Stagnation Advisory
Issued only at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whenever atmospheric conditions are stable enough to cause air pollutants to accumulate in a given area.
Dense Smoke Advisory
Issued when smoke is expected to reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less.
Fire Weather Watch
Issued when dry vegetation and conditions favoring extreme fire danger are expected 12 to 72 hours in the future.
Red Flag Warning
Issued when dry vegetation and conditions favoring extreme fire danger are expected, generally within 24 hours.
Wilson County EMA maintains several outdoor warning sirens to provide additional weather alerting and warnings of impending danger near outdoor venues. As their name implies, these sirens are intended to be heard outside. The system is not designed or engineered to be heard inside a structure.
If you are outside when the sirens sound, seek shelter immediately. DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER UNLESS YOU HAVE EMERGENCY INFORMATION TO REPORT (for example, the sighting of a funnel cloud or other emergency). If there is not time to move to shelter, try to get into a low lying area, such as a ditch. Lay face down and cover your head with your hands. Be alert to rising water in ditches and low lying areas as the storm passes over. DO NOT stand under trees if at all possible. If a grove of trees is your only shelter, try to position yourself under the shorter trees. This will provide you with the least likelihood of being struck by lightning. However, a grove of trees should be your LAST choice for shelter.
You can often be better prepared for severe weather by simply listening to the forecast before you leave home. We recommend each home, school, and place of business be equipped with a NOAA Weather Radio. When they’re not dispensing watch and warning information, these valuable tools will provide you with detailed forecast information 24-7. Know before you go!
Siren Testing
The Wilson Emergency Management Agency operates and maintains 19 outdoor warning sirens throughout Wilson County. As a part of our regular maintenance program sirens are tested on the first Saturday of each month at noon, weather permitting. Should first Saturday siren testing be postponed, testing will be rescheduled for the second Saturday of the month at noon, weather permitting.
The Nixle Community Information Service allows us to create and publish messages to be delivered to subscribed residents instantly via cell phone text message and/or email. Notifications can also be accessed online at Nixle’s web site.
Messages may include Severe Weather Forecasts, Emergency Road Closures, Flooding Information, Disaster/Sheltering Information, as well as other relevant safety and community event information.
The service is reliable and free for our county to use, and free for you the citizen!
The messages can be sent specifically to residents registered within a ¼ mile radius, giving them the opportunity to receive trustworthy information relevant only to their neighborhood. Residents decide from which local agencies they want to receive information. Subscribers can also choose the way in which alerts are received, whether it is by email, text message, or over the web.
There is NO spam and no hidden cost. Standard text messaging rates do apply.
Nixle builds on the foundations of other public-to-public communication services, such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, but adds a key component: security. When citizens receive information from our agency via Nixle, they know it can be trusted.
“Nixle is a first-of-its-kind tool for communities that need to provide critical information to their residents,” said Craig Mitnick, Founder and CEO. “In today’s world, you have to trust the source of your information. Residents of Wilson County can rest easy that the local messages they receive are authentic.”
Residents of Wilson County and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering by clicking the Nixle link below.
We are very excited to have you experience these weather text alerts.
About Nixle
Nixle is a community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure and reliable communications. It is the first authenticated and secure service that connects municipal agencies and community organizations to residents in real time, delivering information to geographically targeted consumers over their cell phones (via text messages), through e-mails and via Web access. Nixle has secured a partnership with Nlets (the International Justice and Public Safety Network), allowing local police departments nationwide to send immediate alerts and advisories. Privately funded Nixle, which has offices in New Jersey and California, is free to all governments, their agencies and organizations, nongovernmental organizations and consumers.
