Weather Watch:  Threat of Severe Weather

As spring and summer approach, most of the United States comes under
increasing risk of severe weather: thunderstorms, hail, damaging
winds, and tornadoes.  To visualize where and when severe weather is
most likely to occur where you live and paddle, visit
<http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/hazard/hazardmap.html>.  By selecting a
particular hazard (e.g., wind) and clicking on a location (e.g.,
Chicago), the probability of a damaging thunderstorm wind on each day
of the year can be seen.  While some places have well-defined
severe-weather seasons (e.g., Minnesota in mid to late summer), other
places are more susceptible to tornadoes year-round (e.g., Gulf of
Mexico coastline).

-David Schultz, NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory