[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Special Weather Statement : PHI@ 12/20/2004 4:57:58 AM

[PHI Skywarn]

WWUS81 KPHI 200942
SPSPHI

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
428 AM EST MON DEC 20 2004

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-201700-
ATLANTIC NJ-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY NJ-BERKS PA-BUCKS PA-CAMDEN NJ-
CAPE MAY NJ-CARBON PA-CAROLINE MD-CECIL MD-CHESTER PA-
COASTAL ATLANTIC NJ-COASTAL OCEAN NJ-CUMBERLAND NJ-DELAWARE PA-
DELAWARE BEACHES DE-EASTERN MONMOUTH NJ-GLOUCESTER NJ-HUNTERDON NJ-
INLAND SUSSEX DE-KENT MD-KENT DE-LEHIGH PA-MERCER NJ-MIDDLESEX NJ-
MONROE PA-MONTGOMERY PA-MORRIS NJ-NEW CASTLE DE-NORTHAMPTON PA-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON NJ-OCEAN NJ-PHILADELPHIA PA-QUEEN ANNE'S MD-
SALEM NJ-SOMERSET NJ-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON NJ-SUSSEX NJ-TALBOT MD-
WARREN NJ-WESTERN MONMOUTH NJ-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALLENTOWN...ATLANTIC CITY...BETHLEHEM...
CAMDEN...DOVER...NEW BRUNSWICK...NEWARK...PERTH AMBOY...
PHILADELPHIA...READING...TRENTON...VINELAND AND WILMINGTON
428 AM EST MON DEC 20 2004

...BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS AND SLIPPERY SURFACES TODAY...

AN ABRUPT CHANGE TO WINTER CONDITIONS HAS OCCURRED ACROSS 
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY AND THE DELMARVA PENINSULA
OVERNIGHT. AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT CROSSED THE REGION LAST NIGHT AND
TEMPERATURES HAVE PLUMMETED INTO THE TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS ACROSS
THE ENTIRE REGION. IN ADDITION, WINDS HAVE INCREASED AS THE COLD AIR
HAS ARRIVED AND WIND SPEEDS HAVE BEEN MEASURED AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH
GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. THE BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES AND BLUSTERY WINDS
ARE CREATING WIND CHILL READINGS BELOW ZERO OVER MOST AREAS EARLY
THIS MORNING. 

DURING THE DAY TODAY, TEMPERATURES WILL NOT CHANGE MUCH, AND THE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN BLUSTERY. WINDS CHILL
READINGS WILL RANGE BETWEEN ZERO AND MINUS 15 IN NORTHERN AREAS AND
BETWEEN MINUS 5 AND PLUS 10 DEGREES IN AREAS TO THE SOUTH INCLUDING
PHILADELPHIA METRO. THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA HAVE MUCH COLDER WIND CHILL READINGS AND WIND
CHILL WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT IN THOSE AREAS.  

AN ADDITIONAL HAZARD THAT WILL BE AROUND TODAY IS AREAS OF ICE THAT
HAVE FORMED ON ROADWAYS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER EXPOSED SURFACES. THE
ICE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SPOT, SO IF YOU TRAVEL TOO FAST, AND IF YOU
DON'T RECOGNIZE THE DANGER BEFORE YOU TRAVEL, IT COULD END UP 
RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO DRIVE CAREFULLY 
TODAY SINCE THE ICE WILL NOT GO AWAY DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. 

PEOPLE WHO VENTURE OUTSIDE, INCLUDING CHILDREN ON THEIR WAY TO 
SCHOOL, SHOULD DRESS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE ELEMENTS. HATS, 
GLOVES AND LAYERS OF CLOTHING ARE IMPORTANT IN THIS TYPE OF 
WEATHER.  

ALSO, PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE SURE THEIR PETS ARE PROTECTED
FROM THE WEATHER. IF YOU KEEP YOUR PETS OUTSIDE, THEY SHOULD AT A
MINIMUM HAVE A WELL INSULATED AND STURDY SHELTER FROM THE COLD AND
WIND AND ACCESS TO UNFROZEN WATER. THE MOST HUMANE THING TO DO IS TO
BRING THEM INDOORS. 

$$

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
FURTHER UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, VISIT US ON THE
INTERNET AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/ER/PHI.

$$

PO/MD

$$


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