Verification of severe local storm forecasts issued by the National Severe Storms Forecast Center: 1987

The SELS Unit of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center routinely issues convective outlooks and severe local storm watches to delineate areas that are favorable for development of severe local storms. This report summarizes verification of those forecasts that were issued during 1987. The threat of severe local storms was identified well via the second-day outlooks. Prediction of the location of subsequent events improved in the first-day outlooks. Greater skill was shown in forecasting the more intense tornadoes. High percentages of tornado- related fatalities (89%) and injuries (92%) occurred within valid severe local storm watches. 1988 NWS (National Weather Service) Library Public Domain 1931