Since a tornado will always make a thunderstorm severe, tornadoes will not be included in this discussion.
Wind Criteria--
There have been quite a few ideas of new minimum criteria to define a thunderstorm as "severe". Many people want it to stay the same, but a decent number of people also think that the criteria should be raised. Some think it should be raised to the lower end of F1 damage, 73 mph, as described on the Fujita Scale. Others think it should be raised even higher... to perhaps 75 or 80 mph, while yet other people suggest rounding the wind speed minimum criteria to 60 mph.
I would have to vote in favor of rounding off the minimum wind criteria to 60 mph (from the current of 58 mph). 60 mph is easier for the public to understand than 58 mph, which is my reason for this change. To much of the public, 58 mph sounds so much lower than 60 mph.
I would never vote in favor of raising the wind speed criteria to, or over, 70 mph. To much damage can occur before severe thunderstorm winds reach 70-75 mph. Thunderstorm winds of 60-75 mph can overturn unanchored mobile homes (many are unanchored), blow over moving tractor trailers, destroy the average sized shed, and rip some house roofs off. Even worse, these winds are capable of downing trees large enough to easily kill a person. It should be pointed out that the leading cause of severe thunderstorm deaths is from falling trees. Thus, if we raise the criteria to 70 or 75 mph, a thunderstorm may down a tree and kill a person... and a warning would have never been issued!
The only good aspect about raising the wind criteria to 70 or 75 mph is that this ensures most people in the storms path would experience some kind of damage when the warning is in effect. A 60-65 mph wind gust does little or no damage to a very well made house, while other structures can be damaged a bit with these winds. But, very well made houses are hard to come by. Because of this, I still think that it is in the best interest of the public to round off the wind criteria to 60 mph.
Hail Criteria--
As far as the minimum hail criteria of 3/4" (dime size) goes, I vote in favor to raise it. Research shows that dime size hail does not pose a serious threat to life or property. The only major threat is to some crops... which can be destroyed by hail of just dime size (especially if accompianied by strong winds). Nevertheless, I think it would be in the public's best interest to raise the minimum hail size to 1" (the size of a quarter). Hail of this size will start to dent vehicles and even crack some windows if accompianied by strong winds. Quarter or half dollar size hail propelled by 40-50 mph winds can considerably injure a person caught out in the open.
Remember, the reason for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning is to urge the people in the path of the severe thunderstorm to see shelter quickly. If the public doesn't heed these warnings, the purpose of issuing them is defeated. Please, always remember that severe thunderstorms are capable of producing serious threats to life and property. Dozens of people die each year from the direct result of severe thunderstorm winds. However, most could have been prevented, by simply taking shelter inside a strong building. You should never stay outside when severe thunderstorms are occurring. Flying debris, including things from pieces of roofs to trash cans to 2x4's, IS deadly; and very deadly at that. Falling trees and flying tree limbs is one of the biggest killers. Even in you own a well built home, a large tree can easily crash through the roof and walls, killing anybody in its way. Tree limbs can be blown through windows and even walls. Remember, it only takes one tree limb or tree to kill you. Protect the life you have before it's too late! Take shelter when severe thunderstorms approach.
