A severe thunderstorm warning is an official alert issued by meteorological authorities when dangerous thunderstorms are imminent or occurring in a specific area. These warnings are triggered by radar detection, spotter observations, or public reports of storms producing large hail, damaging winds, or torrential rain that can cause flooding. Unlike a watch which indicates possible development, a warning means severe weather is expected to impact the warned location, typically within the hour, requiring immediate protective action.
This type of warning is notable because it signals a direct and urgent threat to life and property. Severe thunderstorms can generate winds strong enough to damage structures, hail that can injure people and destroy crops, and intense rainfall leading to flash floods. The criteria for issuing a warning, such as hail size or wind speed thresholds, can vary by country, but the universal purpose is to prompt the public to seek shelter indoors to avoid these hazards.
Recently, severe thunderstorm warnings have been actively issued across various regions, as indicated by news headlines. Multiple counties in Central Illinois were placed under warnings, while over a hundred thousand people in other areas were urgently advised to move indoors. Unseasonal November storms have also been reported, bringing lightning and hail to areas like southeast Nebraska, and widespread thunderstorm threats are forecast for parts of Western Australia, highlighting that these severe weather events are currently affecting populated areas.
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- Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued For Multiple Counties - Effingham Radio 2025-11-19 04:17 · Effingham Radio
- More Than 100,000 People Told to Move Indoors In Urgent Message - Newsweek 2025-11-19 04:02 · Newsweek
- Several counties in Central Illinois under Severe Thunderstorm warning - IPM Newsroom 2025-11-19 03:57 · IPM Newsroom
- Rare November thunderstorm brings lightning, pea-size hail, rain to southeast Nebraska - KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE 2025-11-18 05:52 · KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE
- Much of Western Australia will face the threat of thunderstorms from Tuesday, with the stormy skies "just the beginning” of a wet week ahead. - facebook.com 2025-11-18 03:47 · facebook.com
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Strong winds, small hail possible for parts of Western Pa. - WTAE 2025-11-16 09:56 · WTAE
- UPDATE: Damaging winds and quarter-sized hail forecast with thunderstorms in Bladen County Sunday - Raleigh News & Observer 2025-11-10 10:12 · Raleigh News & Observer
- UPDATE: Thunderstorms with penny-sized hail and damaging winds in Sampson County Sunday - Raleigh News & Observer 2025-11-09 16:00 · Raleigh News & Observer
- Severe thunderstorm warning active for Abbeville County early Saturday evening - Hilton Head Island Packet 2025-11-09 05:29 · Hilton Head Island Packet
- UPDATE: Thunderstorms with half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds in Midlands Saturday - Hilton Head Island Packet 2025-11-08 16:00 · Hilton Head Island Packet