There's a new way to issue severe weather warnings

St. Paul, Minn. — In the coming months, when you hear severe weather warnings on radio or TV, the announcers likely won't be rattling off a list of the affected counties.

Instead, you'll hear storm warnings, specifically for Mankato or Brainerd, or the area just east of the 35W/35E spilt, around Forest Lake.

The National Weather Service is moving to a more geographically specific warning system, using cities and well known landmarks for tornado, thunderstorm and flash flood warnings.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked to Craig Edwards, the former chief meterologist at the Twin Cities National Weather Service office, who says the new system should result in more effective weather warnings.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, 01/18/2007, 7:20 a.m.