Severe weather warnings to be more specific about location, beginning this fall

Tuesday, January 16th 2007, 9:05 pm

By: News On 6

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The National Weather Service will stop issuing countywide severe weather warnings this fall, instead putting out warnings that are more geographically specific, the federal government said Tuesday.

Beginning Oct. 1, the weather service will use well-known landmarks such as highways or rivers when issuing such "storm-based warnings" for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash floods and marine hazards.

Severe weather warnings are currently issued for entire counties. Watches will continue to be issued by county; they indicate less imminent weather that does not require immediate action.

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, director of the weather service, said the new system will provide the public with better information.

"These are potentially deadly, short-duration events that can develop very rapidly," Johnson said at a news conference during the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting.

Because of the current system, some people could be under a warning but be more than 100 miles from severe weather, he said. In Texas, some counties are bigger than the state of Rhode Island, he noted.

Particularly in vast counties that contain a large city, the new system will help avoid causing chaos if the weather is not likely to hit the population center, Johnson said.

"I do not want to teach America to ignore warnings," Johnson said, so under the new program, "if you get the warning, there is a direct correlation to you being at risk."