Many times we get calls in the weathercenter on why we are not breaking in to inform the public on the severe thunderstorm going on in someone's area. The National Weather Service for the New Orleans area is located in Slidell. They issue the warnings for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes for our area. We then either cut into programming or run a crawl at the bottom of your screen or both. However, the thunderstorm has to be severe and fit in a certain criteria. According to the National Weather Service, the thunderstorm has to have wind gusts in excess of 57 mph and/or hail with a diameter of 3/4 of an inch (about dime or penny size). Only then will a warning be issued. The storm over your area may seem severe, but if that criteria isn't met, then it isn't considered a severe thunderstorm.

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