consequences . Day one of the 2016 Severe Weather Summit was dedicat-ed to building this foundational knowledge , exploring the fundamentals of weather phenomena and forecasting along with the resources available to event producers that can aid in their planning .
Dr . John Scala kicked off the event with an overview of the myths , misconceptions , and funda-mentals of weather forecasting . Scala , a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and past President of the National Weather Association , walked attendees through many common aphorisms about weather , exposing some as partially factual (“ Skies red in morning , sailor take warning ” having a basis in the movement of weather systems ), while others as deadly falsehoods (“ Lighting never strikes the same place twice ”? Tell that to former park ranger Roy Sullivan … he was struck 7 times over his lifetime ). Drawing connections between this folk wisdom and today , Scala provided a fascinating overview of modern meteorological science and how forecasters can predict weather days or even weeks in advance with a reasonable amount of accuracy .
The Pitfalls of “ App ” aturism
With the proliferation of smartphone technology has come an influx of weather “ apps ”, each claiming to provide the user with detailed , up-to-the minute weather information . While having such intelligence in the palm of your hand can be interesting , it may also provide the user with a undue sense of security . Without the knowledge to correctly assess the provided data , you risk making decisions based on what LOOKS dangerous on radar , while ignoring less apparent ( and potentially far greater ) threats . In short , you ’ re guilty what Dr . Kevin Kloesel refers to as “ App ” aturism .
In his presentation , Kloesel , University Meteorologist in the University of Oklahoma ’ s Office of Emergency Preparedness , argued that having access to weather information is not enough . Situational awareness , the ability to interpret data , and a plan to act on that information is critical to responding effectively to severe weather threats . To reinforce this message , he presented several case studies wherein a lack of one or more of these essential components put lives at risk . The most well known of these was the Indiana State Fair stage roof collapse . According to the Investigator ’ s Report by Witt and Associates , authorities were moni-
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