(KTEN) -- The National Weather Service (NWS) will begin using an Impact-Based Warning (IBW) system when issuing severe thunderstorm warnings.

The new warning system will be based on damage threat categories and criteria. The three damage threat categories are:

  • base
  • considerable
  • destructive

These damage threat categories are dependent on wind speed and hail size.  

A severe thunderstorm warning will be issued for 60 mph winds and/or 1 inch hail. This is known as the base trigger for a warning. 

A considerable tag will be added to a severe thunderstorm warning when 70 mph winds and/or golfball-size hail is radar-indicated or observed.

A destructive tag will be added for 80 mph winds and/or baseball-size hail. A severe thunderstorm tagged as destructive will trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) that will send a push notification to your phone, similar to an Amber Alert. 

The IBW system will go into effect on April 28, 2021. 

The NWS also announced they will be replacing Advisories and Special Weather Statements with plain language headlines that will more clearly describe hazards.

 

The reason behind this change has to do with years of research which confirmed that many confuse the terms “Advisory” and “Watch."

“Removing such confusion is critical to maximize the benefit of our Impact-based Decision Support Services (IDSS) and best serve those who use our headline products for decision making," the NWS said. 

No changes will be made to watches and warnings.

Advisories and Special Weather Statements will not be replaced until the year 2024.