Understanding Severe Thunderstorms: Criteria and Risks for El Paso Residents

Severe thunderstorms are defined by specific criteria set by the National Weather Service, with only about 10% of the 100,000 annual thunderstorms in the U.S. qualifying as severe. A storm is classified as severe if it produces a tornado, has hailstones at least the size of a quarter, or wind speeds exceeding 58 mph. Hail can cause significant damage, especially when it reaches sizes comparable to golf balls or larger. Wind gusts above 80 mph can lead to destructive damage, similar to that caused by strong tornadoes. El Paso residents should be aware of these criteria, especially during storm season, to stay prepared and safe.

Key Details: • Severe thunderstorms occur when a storm produces a tornado, hail of at least 1 inch, or winds over 58 mph. • Hail size can escalate damage; hail 2.75 inches or larger is categorized as destructive. • Wind gusts over 80 mph can cause significant structural damage and trigger emergency alerts.