Although the National Weather Service does the best job that it can to relay important information regarding severe weather, the reality is that nobody gets it right 100% of the time. There is only so much that one agency can do to reassure that factual and accurate information is pushed up front.
As such, storm spotters play a big role in filling that workload gap, as they aim to reduce the burden by confirming to the National Weather Service that severe weather is in fact ongoing.
This is where, unfortunately, a lot of bad actors emerge, for one reason or another, to falsely report on severe weather and storm damage impacts.
Some may, for example, falsely report to the National Weather Service that a tornado touched down at Dallas County; yet, there are no visuals to confirm that claim. Some may, for example, falsely report to the National Weather Service that two-inch sized hail is occurring at Collin County; yet, they may have implemented AI tools in order to give the impression that hail is occurring at Collin County.
As a result, the public is at the mercy of these inaccurate weather reports, and reluctantly holds them as truth. There is very little that the public can do in order to push back against this, as most individuals attend to other matters throughout the day. Add that on the fact that technology is becoming sophisticated to the point where none of us may fully know whether an image or a video is authentic or not, and that just spells a recipe for distrust across the weather community.
The Weather Manifestation Protocol (WMP) is an independent procedural method, formulated by North Tex Wx, that aims to visually verify severe weather through rigid, yet straightforward, steps that mitigate inaccurate weather information; and, in order to mitigate inaccurate weather information, the most important priority is for storm spotters to be physically located on the ground of an impact zone before proceeding through with any other step.
WMP implements a six-step method required to relay visual verification of severe weather. Doing so encourages authenticity, acknowledges the seriousness of severe weather warnings, and reaffirms the legitimacy of severe weather warnings issued by the National Weather Service in the event that severe weather warnings are issued.
The six steps of the WMP method are as follows:
Step 1: Storm spotter records video depicting an impact zone during the entirety of the six steps.
Example: You are recording video footage of a flooded intersection in McKinney, Texas.
Step 2: Through voice, storm spotter relays the time.
Example: As you are recording video footage of a flooded intersection in McKinney, Texas, you begin relaying with your voice the required information as such:
"It is 6:25 PM."
Step 3: Through voice, storm spotter relays the date.
Example: "It is 6:25 PM, March 9, 2026."
Step 4: Through voice, storm spotter relays the specific location of the impact zone, including streets and/or intersections.
Example: "It is 6:25 PM, March 9, 2026. I'm at the intersection of Custer Road and Highway 380 in McKinney, Texas."
Step 5: Through voice, storm spotter relays that severe weather is confirmed, depending on which type of severe weather the storm spotter is confirming.
Example: "It is 6:25 PM, March 9, 2026. I'm at the intersection of Custer Road and Highway 380 in McKinney, Texas. Flash flooding is confirmed."
Step 6: Through voice, storm spotter relays the Weather Manifestion Protocol reference number, which begins with "WM" (weather manifestation), proceeded by the Universal Geographic Code (UGC) listed for that particular severe weather warning. This step is implemented to reaffirm that the severe weather warning issued by the National Weather Service, if one is issued at all, is warranted.
Example: "It is 6:25 PM, March 9, 2026. I'm at the intersection of Custer Road and Highway 380 in McKinney, Texas. Flash flooding is confirmed. Reference number WM-ABC123-456789."
* NOTE - This is a mock reference number, alongside a mock scenario, to illustrate a broader point. *
The UGC is located nearside the beginning lines of issued severe weather warnings.
Here is an example of how to relay the Weather Manifestation Protocol reference number:
UGC Example:
OKC047-112115
As such, the WMP reference number would be relayed in this manner:
WM-OKC047-112115
* NOTE: If no severe weather warnings are issued by the National Weather Service, and a storm spotter happens to identify severe weather impacts, he or she can disregard Step #6. *
Following each single one of these steps carefully, storm spotters can proceed to upload video footage of severe weather impacts through social media channels while alerting the National Weather Service.
Video shootage cannot exceed over 60 seconds, as the primary motif for implementing the WMP method is to deliver quick and important severe weather information to the public for safety measures.
Implementing the WMP method accomplishes three objectives:
Objective #1: It discourages bad actors, who are less inclined in going through these required steps, to proceed with nefarious means in the future when reporting severe weather; as they are more inclined in haphazardly putting out inaccurate weather information without implementing a direct line of work.
Objective #2: Short-duration videos, particularly when relaying severe weather information, receive abundant traction and engagement through social media channels. Hence, they alert families with busy schedules, and local officials who may not otherwise be available at their work desks. The outcome is a concerted effort for communities to focus their attention and efforts towards impact zones courtesy of viewing the material.
Objective #3: When there is a deficit of weather resources for one reason or another - whether it be through staffing or budgeting issue - while there is a high demand from the public to be reassured that they receive accurate weather information, then on-the-ground video verification of severe weather relieves that uncertainty during uncertain times, and encourages storm preparedness.
Project Effective: July 13, 2026