STO Spotter Quiz

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STO Spotter Quiz

Online Spotter Exam for Sacramento National Weather Service Forecast Office

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Sacramento NWS Weather Spotter Quiz

Severe thunderstorms contain which of the following threats? *

5 points

Damaging winds

Damaging hail

A possibility of tornadoes

Heavy rain and the possibiliy of flash floods

All of the above

True or False: Never drive into flooded roadways. *

5 points

True

False

The National Weather Service needs weather spotters for all of the following reasons except... *

5 points

To help fill in the gaps between data sources

To provide valuable ground truth and verification

To help forecasters issue better forecasts and timely warnings

To create a storm chasing club

Which of the following describes a funnel cloud? *

5 points

A rotating, funnel-shaped cloud extending from a thunderstorm base in contact with the ground

A rotating, funnel-shaped cloud extending from a thunderstorm base NOT in contact with the ground

A small, relatively weak rotating column of air in contact with the ocean or other large body of water

Weather spotters should report lightning when... *

5 points

There are numerous flashes and loud thunderclaps

Distant thunder is heard

Cloud to ground lightning is observed

Someone is struck or lightning causes serious damage

Which of the following spotter reports would be most useful to forecasters? *

5 points

Hail of 3/4 inch in diameter occuring from 2:35 to 2:45 pm.

Extensive damage to crops and cars

Thunderstorms seen over the mountain to the east

My high and low temperature today were 78 and 52 degrees

Flooding occuring in the area - the worst I've ever seen.

Both B and C

What is the primary goal of the National Weather Service? *

5 points

Update traffic reports

Issue picnic and camping advisories

Protect life and property

Monitor star constellations

True or False: A flood is different from a flash flood in that it occurs when water covers a normally dry area and can last for days or weeks. *

5 points

True

False

In order to protect yourself from damaging hail when you are in a vehicle, which of the following should you NOT do? *

5 points

Stay in your vehicle

Drive to a substantial structure, overpass, tunnel, etc

Get out of your vehicle to measure the size of the hail for your report

Seek shelter immediately

Of the three types of National Weather Service statements, which is the most urgent? *

5 points

Watch

Warning

Advisory

Flash floods can be caused by all of the following except... *

5 points

Gradual light rains that eventually saturate the ground

Slow-moving thunderstorms

A series of thunderstorms tracking over the same area

Heavy rains from the remnants of a hurricane or tropical storm

Broken or breached levees and/or dams

True or False: You should not report hazardous weather conditions if you do not have weather equipment. *

5 points

True

False

When you submit a spotter report by phone, you should do all of the following except... *

5 points

Give your spotter number and location

Chat or inquire excessively about the exciting weather

Be brief and to the point

Be as specific as you can about the location, time, measurement (estimates) and impacts

Which of the following is needed to produce a downburst? *

5 points

A tornado

A thunderstorm

Evaporation of rain to cool the air

Both A and B

Both B and C

True or False: Weather spotters should keep informed of weather events in their area by listening to NOAA weather radio and becoming familiar with our web site. *

5 points

True

False

Weather spotters should report winds when... *

5 points

Wind speeds are 15 mph or less

Wind speeds are 35 mph or greater

Winds cause any damage or injury

All of the above

Both B and C

True or False: Skywarn is an organization whose primary purpose is to learn how to play with radios and chase down severe storms. *

5 points

True

False

Pea sized hail should be reported when... *

5 points

It is observed falling

It makes loud noise on home or car roofs

Both A and C

It accumulates to an inch or more in depth, causing slippery road conditions

Weather spotters should report winter weather when... *

5 points

They observe a change in precipitation from rain to snow or vice versa

Any mountain roads are icy or closed

When snow first begins to fall or accumulating

All of the Above

Ways you can communicate your weather report information include... *

5 points

Post weather photos, videos and reports on Facebook

Post weather photos videos, and reports on Twitter

Call us with check list severe weather criteria information

All of the above

Send me a copy of my responses.

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