Mike,

 MP{at}> Here, they do sometimes "abuse" the use of the word
storm.  A heavy
 MP{at}> rainfall might be called a storm, for example.  But "Severe
 MP{at}> Thunderstorms" are usually defined by wind and/or hail potential (and
 MP{at}> sometimes, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning), "Flash Flood (storm)
 MP{at}> Warnings" by the potential for heavy rainfall resulting in rapid
 MP{at}> flooding, and "Tornado (storm) Warnings" are usually severe
 MP{at}> thunderstorms with the potential of very heavy winds and spinning up a
 MP{at}> tornado (a storm with vertical twisting winds usually > 74MPH).

  If you go to www.weather.gov -- you see a whole slew of Warnings, Watches,
and Advisories, for various "weather items". One item they issued
years ago,
but don't anymore, was a "Travelers Advisory for Slippery Roads". 

Daryl

... Bad weather reports are more often right than good ones.
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