Severe Weather Awareness Week prepares Sheppard for what’s to come Published Feb. 24, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Texas recognizes Severe Weather Awareness Week Feb. 21-27 27 to raise awareness of possible weather threats. Severe weather can happen year round, but primarily occurs in the spring between March and May. People living in the especially hazardous Tornado Belt of Texas, including Team Sheppard, should become knowledgeable of the possible dangers. Capt. Nengwei Shih, 80th Operations Support Squadron weather operations commander, said severe weather in the local area presents many factors to be wary of including tornadoes, winds of 50 knots or greater and hail of three fourths of an inch or greater. "Tornadoes are able to pick up anything from cars to houses to foundations," he said. "The result is usually total damage. "Hail mainly damages windshields and roofs, breaks through glass and harms crops. Hail can also damage expensive aircraft. "Winds, similar to tornadoes, can be powerful enough to flip vehicles and toss large objects around, which can cause injuries to bystanders," Captain Shih said. Captain Shih said when severe weather is likely, weather stations will declare a weather watch or warning. He said a weather watch goes out hours ahead of time whereas a warning is sent to indicate severe weather is about to occur or as it's happening. "In a weather watch, watch the sky. In a weather warning, take action," he said. "There are a lot of people who don't know the difference between the two conditions. That can be a fatal mistake." Captain Shih said to avoid vulnerability to severe weather, check the current weather condition status and know what they mean. For more information on severe weather visit http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/?n=swaw.