The National Weather Service has started to add tags to stronger Severe thunderstorms to let the public know of special dangers with certain storms.
We have two tags used which are considerable and destructive.
Considerable tag
Winds 70 to 79 MPH
Hail 1.75 to 2.50 inches.
No wireless Emergency Alert will be sent
Destructive tag
80 MPH plus winds
2.75-inch hail or greater
Wireless Emergency Alert messages will be sent to cell phones to express the risk to the public.
Destructive storms will feature this is a life-threatening situation message on the warning just like a PDS or Particularly dangerous situation warning. These storms need to be treated just like a PDS warning as the risk level is the same and very high. Injury or death is very possible if caught outdoors.
Less than 10 % of all severe thunderstorms will reach destructive level.
Supercells and derechos are the most likely to reach the destructive level.