NWS says that a storm is moving east and northeast but from what I see it is moving east???

Question

There is a storm a ways away from me, but it might come here. I see it on the National Weather Service web site and it says that it is moving Northeast and the southern part is moving east. But it is moving southeast (toward me). It is very far away, but I am southeast. Do you think it will dissipate? It is about 250 miles away. Could this just be a messed up message or am I seeing something wrong?

Thank you!!!

Oh- and is there a way that I can report mistakes to the National Weather Service???

Answer 1

Based on the information you gave me, there are two possibilities.

The first one is one that was already mentioned, the movement of each thunderstorms along a line of showers and thunderstorms are moving to the northeast and east.  But the entire line is moving to the east and southeast.  However, if that is the case, it should also be mentioned in the statement or warning.

The second case would be thunderstorms are moving northeast to east, but new thunderstorms are forming at the southern end of the line.  And the thunderstorm in the northern end of line is weakening.  In this case, everything would look like it is moving to southeast, but those southern end of the line are really new storms that are rapidly forming along south end of the boundary or line of storms.

This is very common sight to see on radar.  Another big clue that this maybe happening would be to check the weather observations to the southeast of the storms.  If the winds to the southeast of these thunderstorms are blowing from the southeast, then I would say the second "building new thunderstorm" solution would likely be the reason why (there seems to be a difference from what they are telling you and what you are seeing from your point of view.

If the direct phones lines are not open to the NWS and you think the information is critical for them to look into, upi can contact an emergency community official or one of your local media stations that usually broadcast weather alerts and warnings and request that they relay your concerns to the NWS.  Also, if you know of someone who is an official weather spotter for the NWS or SKYWARN, you can contact that person and request that he pass on your concerns to the NWS.  

  

Answer 2

The NWS are experts.  They can tell which direction a storm is moving.  If you think you are right, then don't go by what they say and just go by what you think will happen.  I don't know where you live or anything so I have no way of predicting if it will fall apart before it gets to you.  

You didn't say how strong the storm was or anything.  I don't mean to sound rude, but you need to put a little more information for anyone to give there opinion on if it will hit your area.  

A lot of times, you have a line of storms heading in a direction, but the actual line can be moving in one direction, but the actual storms in the line can be moving in a different direction. Maybe that is what you heard.