Speed.
A Severe Storm Detector can
alarm faster than any other technology, because it scans for
storms directly. There are no delays, which are common to human-initiated warnings.
A faster warning translates into more time to
get to safety.
Works anywhere.
A Severe Storm Detector operates where
there is no wireless internet or Weather Radio coverage. The
unit is independent; there is no software, computer or cloud
access required. And it continues working on a 9V battery
backup, even if an approaching storm takes down power, cell
service, etc. The internal battery also allows the unit to
go where there is no power (to the park, beach, etc.).
Night.
The Severe Storm Detector is
critical
for notification at night. It has a bright strobe to alert
you if you are awake and includes a 90 dB siren to wake you if
you are asleep.
Most vulnerable.
The device is
critical for someone who is sight or hearing impaired.
Especially useful in manufactured housing or motorhomes,
campgrounds and anywhere people recreate outdoors.
On Wheels.
The Severe Storm Detector
can function in a moving vehicle – via an optional 12V
adapter – without screen distraction.
|
Customer Reviews |
"This Severe
Storm Detector is great. I had warnings of a potential
tornado before the National Weather Service alert.” |
David
Flad, VP
Avon Grove Regional Emergency Management, PA |
* * * |
"I will share
that last night about 7:45 PM my Severe Storm Detector
alarm went off with 'TORNADO RISK' on the display. About
5 minutes later, my Weather Radio Receiver alarmed with
a 'Tornado Warning' for our county. I thought you should
know. The tornado was 14 miles south of us and did not
touch down. But this Detector alerted me a full 5 minutes ahead
of the NOAA Weather Radio warning.” |
Jeff Gill,
Franklin, NC |
* * * |
"The weather
quickly deteriorated after suppertime (about 6 PM
EDT).The Severe Storm Detector began "waking up" and
reporting lightning then severe weather. Then at around
11:10 PM, the tornado warning message was displayed. The
NWS weather radio said nothing about a tornado actually
near us but simply a tornado warning was in effect for a
fairly broad area. After a few minutes of indecision, we
decided to go to the safe room. At 11:20 PM, the safe
room door was closed and locked. Within a minute or so,
we heard the tornado roar by. We sheltered for about 15
minutes before opening the door to check if it was safe
to get back out. As best I can tell, the Severe Storm
Detector gave us 10-15 minutes of early warning in which
we had time to warn other family members and get to
shelter ourselves. I have heard similar timeframes from
others that own this device." |
Gary
Ownsby, AK4ZX, Chattanooga, TN |
|
FAQs
(Mouse over for answers.) |
Is Severe Storm Detector just a Weather Radio receiver or
internet app?
No. Just like a smoke detector triggers on the presence of smoke in your house, the Severe Storm Detector uses direct-detection technology to alert you when it detects the presence of severe storms within 30 miles. That includes lightning, severe thunderstorms and tornados. It does not rely on any commercial infrastructure such as the NOAA Weather Radio Network or a wireless internet signal.
A Severe Storm Detector independently monitors electrical activity in the atmosphere using radio frequencies – much like a smoke detector continuously monitors the air in your house for smoke. There is no service to sign up for or a signal coverage map to reference.
As a result, a Severe Storm Detector can function anywhere in the planet: even in remote areas where there is no Dopplar radar to detect tornados; even where there are no
NOAA Weather Radio or wireless internet services to deliver storm warnings. Sometimes, Weather Radio and wireless services are offline due to the very storms they are supposed to be warning you about; but a Severe Storm Detector continues to protect you, unaffected by outages.
Its battery backup allows it to operate even when the power goes out. Because it senses violent weather directly; there are no “system delays” in the delivery of its warnings. And unlike Weather apps and the NOAA Weather Radio Network, the notifications you receive are pertinent only to your specific location – not an entire region or county.
|
|
How does Severe Storm Detector detect a severe storm or tornado?
The Severe Storm Detector measures the amount and character of electrical energy in the atmosphere within 30 miles of a given location, identifying specific electrical signatures indicative of low intensity lightning storms, non-severe and severe thunderstorms, the immediate risk of tornado formation and tornadoes. From a measurement of electrical signal intensity, it estimates storm distance from your position.
The Severe Storm Detector monitors specific radio frequencies with an internal antenna and keys on electrical patterns emitted when severe storms and tornadoes form, much as the NOAA GOES-R weather satellite does.
When air rotates with dust or water particles, it becomes electrified. Nobel Laureate Philip Lenard, as far back as 1905, studied the phenomenon. More recently NASA has studied and measured these electrical charges extensively.
The Severe Storm Detector is based on 40 years of NASA-validated research into severe storm formation, and became reality as a result of the advent of the microprocessor, on which its design is based.
Inside the Detector is a small computer connected to a receiving antenna that is constantly scanning atmospheric radiation and running thousands of calculations at sub-millisecond rates. It then runs secondary calculations to accurately approximate the distance of the threat in relation to the unit’s precise position.
|
|
Submit your question about the
Severe Storm Detector.
|
|

PLAY 2-MINUTE VIDEO
|
This revolutionary device incorporates
NASA-proven technology to alert you when damaging storms or
tornados approach your location. Severe weather can develop so
suddenly that statistically, the National Weather Service and
internet-based services are only able to issue advance warnings
60% of the time.* But the Severe Storm Detector (SSD.20)
continually monitors atmospheric conditions directly and
notifies you with both visual and aural alarms when violent
storms are close by, providing you valuable time to seek safety.
It includes a proximity read-out, so you can determine how close
a severe storm is to your location in real time. Indications
include tornadic activity, the presence of severe storms and
lightning. Field testing demonstrates a 95% accuracy rate,
making a Severe Storm Detector a natural adjunct to conventional
weather warning systems.
|
|
|
|
Features
|
Onscreen hazard indications. |
- TORNADO
- TORNADO RISK
- SEVERE STORM
- STORM (NOT SEVERE)
- LIGHTNING
- NO THREAT
|
Onboard battery backup to provide up to 24 hours of protection during AC power loss.
|
Strobe and 90 dB siren –
can be defeated for lower level events.
|
LCD screen with backlight for
low-light operation.
|
Ideal for sight- or hearing-impaired individuals.
|
External port to activate ancillary
/ secondary warning devices.
|
AC / DC power.
|
Easily portable. Optional vehicle power adapter kit.
|
|
Specifications |
Enclosure Outer Dimensions |
Height 5”; width 4”; depth 3”. |
Weight |
0.51 lb. |
Ambient Operating Temp Range |
0
to 38 degrees C. |
Ancillary Equipment Port |
3.5mm jack, closed during alarms. |
Power Supply |
120VAC 60 Hz 6W 12VDC. |
Power Consumption |
200
mA / 12 VDC. 9V battery (not included). |
Alarms |
>90dB siren, strobe, multicolor LED. |
Status Indicator |
Backlit, 12-character LCD. |
|
Service
Within 30 days from the order date, you may return to us (in original
condition with original packaging) any new Severe Storm Detector product,
requesting service, replacement or a refund (minus Information Station
Specialists’ original freight and handling). Repairs and labor required to
bring a returned product back to marketable condition may be subtracted from
a requested refund.
You must
contact us
before shipping the product back to receive instructions
and a RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization). |
|
|
Footnotes: |
(*) National Weather Service and internet-based
services like weather apps can only provide warnings to you, if 1) you
have wireless coverage or are within range of their service, 2) your
reception device has power at the time that the warning notification is
issued and 3) the device is near enough for you to hear or see its
alarm..
(**) Free shipping within the contiguous United States. Fast freight or
shipping to Alaska, Hawaii or outside the United States is extra and can
involve a third-party agent.
|