This glossary contains weather-related terms that may be either heard or used by severe local storm spotters or spotter groups. Its purposes are 1 to achieve some level of standardization in the definitions of the terms that are used, and 2 provide a reference from which the meanings of any terms, especially the lesser-used ones, can be found.
The idea is to allow smooth and effective communication between storm spotters and forecasters, and vice versa. This is an important necessity within the severe weather warning program. Despite advances in warning and forecasting techniques e. Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the severe local storm warning program.
A complete list of terms probably is impossible to arrive at, but this list is as comprehensive as possible. Certainly it is not necessary for every spotter to know the meaning of every term contained herein. In this sense, the glossary serves as a reference.
In fact, many of the terms may never be heard at all; they are included here just in case, someday, they are. By the way, inclusion of a term in this glossary does not give license to use it freely in radio or phone communication.
Use of technical terms should be kept to a minimum. But there are some terms for which the meanings are both important and specific. The important ones are preceded by asterisks; all spotters should be familiar with the definitions of these terms before taking an active role in any spotter group. I have written the definitions in what hopefully passes as "layman's terms. At times I have sacrificed technical purity for simplicity, and the result may prompt a few moans from the technical purists.
