As tornadoes destroyed lives and homes in the Midwest and South this week, the National Weather Service continually posted regular storm reports online — a great resource for journalists.
The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center posts the latest severe weather reports — including tornado reports — every 15 minutes. The page includes maps pinpointing the locations of the reports, details on damage, and even the identity of the agency or witness who made the report so you can go straight to the source.
Lower down on the page you'll find more tornado statistics than you'll ever need, from 1950 through today.
On this page on the center's site you'll find a map showing all of the warnings and watches that are in effect.
TV news consultant Jeff Gralnick points out that the National Weather Service has a pretty cool continually updated interactive map showing severe weather watches and warnings. Click on any location in the country for more detailed information on that area's weather forecast and advisories, plus radar images and satellite maps.
He also thinks the site's image of the day is "gee-whiz neat."
The Online Tornado FAQ explains everything you ever wanted to know about tornadoes — and plenty that you couldn't care less about — from a true expert, Roger Edwards of NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. It's a great starting point if you want to create a FAQ for your readers.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a good tornado page packaging lots of useful information, including explanations of the different categories on the damage scale.
If your circulation area is in a tornado danger zone, then your readers are bound to find this preparedness guide handy. It includes safety information for schools and was prepared by the National Weather Service, FEMA and the American Red Cross.
VORTEX: Unraveling the Secrets is a neat package on tornadoes that was created by the National Severe Storms Laboratory as a prototype educational site for the NOAA and includes basic facts and illustrations explaining tornadoes in simple terms.
History buffs will enjoy this: the oldest known photo of a tornado, taken long before the days of 24-hour cable news coverage — from an Aug. 28, 1884 twister that struck 22 miles southwest of Howard, S.D.
SUBMIT YOUR TIPS FOR PUBLICATION: What websites do you find most useful in your reporting? Send a brief note with your name, affiliation, and a description of a favorite site to tips@cyberjournalist.net and I may publish them in future columns.
Coming Tuesday: Sree Sreenivasan
Coming next Friday: Jonathan Dube
