Terms like squall line, backsheared anvil, supercell and updraft can seem both daunting and frightening when we hear weather forecasters use them on the news.

But according to National Weather Service meteorolgist Chance Hayes, presenter at Tuesday afternoon’s “Storm Fury on the Plains” presentations at the Crest Theatre in Great Bend, when we educate ourselves on the weather phenomena connected with these terms, it all adds up to a safer and better informed public during storm season in Kansas.

This is because the public is a crucial source for National Weather Service to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information in its reporting. Even though they have extremely advanced technology, it’s eyewittness reports that really help them understand what that technology shows in real time, Hayes said.

“Everybody in this room has the ability to report what you see, I need your help.” Hayes said. “I’ve got the radar data (and) the environmental data (and) the satellite data, but what I can’t see is what’s happening in your backyard.” 

But in order to provide that information, he said, it’s important to be educated and understand what you are observing during a storm.

This is especially important for residents of Barton County. Hayes said. The county is second only to Sherman County in Kansas for the number of tornadoes reported since 1950.

He said the NWS receives 25% or fewer potential reports on storms because often people either do not take the time to report what they see, or do not know how to report it.

So, in order to help better educate those attendance identify what they see on the ground, Tuesday’s interactive presentation took the form of “what we see versus what you see,” giving real-life examples of different types of storms Kansans might encounter, and comparing what they looked like on radar, and comparing them photos and videos of what eyewitnesses saw in real-time.

The presentation was also interactive, with Hayes providing attendees the chance in real-time to identify what they saw in certain segments of the presentation by responding to questions by text.

And it’s these advances in technology, he said, that can also help residents be better prepared in the event of a storm.

“Everybody now has access to radar on their phones,” he said, noting that users often have the same radar at their fingertips on their phones that professionals do.

While getting the information is important, though, he said, one’s safety in the storms is even more important. He directed attendees to always exercise great caution when observing storms, and reminded them never to put themselves in harm’s way in the process of obtaining eyewitness information.

“If you have to bend your neck to see what’s going on, you’re too close and you need to get the heck out of there,” Hayes said. “Never take a risk when reporting weather to (us).”

But knowing how to spot and understand storms is not just important for providing extra information to professionals, it’s crucial as an extra tool to keep yourself and your family safe in the event you see storms approaching.

Hayes stressed being safe during storm season means relying on all the tools at your disposal to identify what’s coming and take proper precautions.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” Hayes said. “Get your information from multiple sources.”

Along with firsthand identification and weather radar apps, he said it is important to monitor TV and radio weather reports. He also strongly recommended individuals have weather radios in their homes, and said home weather stations can also identify ground-level conditions in real time, which he said is especially important if conditions change suddenly. He said communication with others who may be in the path of the storm is also a crucial tool to help individuals keep each other safe in stormy conditions. 

Also, he said, make sure you are able to hear weather alerts on your phone, especially if storms approach at night, and leave your cell phone’s ringer on, siting the recent Nashville tornadoes as a pertinent example.

“It’s worth getting a random text at three in the morning just to be safe,” he said.

Having information from multiple sources is crucial, too, because storms can be difficult to identify and predict in type and intensity, and multiple sources can give a more complete picture of what is happening.

The message Hayes stressed above all, though, is safety and caution.

“If it looks bad, it probably is bad,” Hayes said. 

If the information you have tells you a dangerous storm is approaching, take storm precautions immediately. If you are on the road and see a storm approaching, stop gather information about the storm, and never drive into danger. If the storm is in your path, either stop and wait, or find another way to your destination that does not take you through the storm.

With storms, he said, “Sometimes there’s no perfect answer, so always err on the side of caution.”

“Your best defense is to be informed,” Hayes said.