[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Special Weather Statement : PHI@ 12/19/2009 4:28:25 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

WWUS81 KPHI 190927
SPSPHI

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
427 AM EST SAT DEC 19 2009

DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ015>019-PAZ067>071-191600-
NEW CASTLE-CECIL-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-
PHILADELPHIA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...ELKTON...TRENTON...
PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...
MOUNT HOLLY...WEST CHESTER...NORRISTOWN...DOYLESTOWN...MEDIA...
PHILADELPHIA
427 AM EST SAT DEC 19 2009

...NEAR RECORD BREAKING DECEMBER SNOWFALL FOR THE PHILADELPHIA
REGION WILL BRING HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER TO THE REGION INTO
TONIGHT...

TOTAL STORM SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 12 TO 20 INCHES ARE FORECAST TO
OCCUR IN THE PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREAS BY DAWN SUNDAY. 

THIS MAJOR STORM COULD APPROACH THE 2 DAY DECEMBER RECORD OF 21.0
INCHES SET ON DECEMBER 26 TO 27, 1909. THE NEXT HIGHEST WAS
DECEMBER 12TH, 1960 WHEN 14.6 INCHES FELL AND THE CHRISTMAS STORM
OF DECEMBER 24TH AND 25TH, 1966 WHEN 12.7 INCHES FELL.

THE ALL TIME SNOWFALL RECORD FOR PHILADELPHIA WAS SET JAN 7TH AND
8TH, 1996 WHEN 30.7 INCHES WERE RECORDED. ANOTHER NOTABLE STORM IN
PHILADELPHIA INCLUDES THE FEBRUARY 11TH AND 12TH, 1983 WITH 21.3
INCHES.

SHOULD ACCUMULATIONS EXCEED 14.6 INCHES...THIS STORM WILL MAKE THE
LIST OF THE ALL-TIME TOP 10 SNOWSTORMS ON RECORD.

HERE ARE SOME HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS TIPS...

1. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED ON SATURDAY...AS CONDITIONS WILL
DETERIORATE RAPIDLY AFTER DAYBREAK. IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL SATURDAY IN
AN EMERGENCY...CARRY A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT WHICH INCLUDES A
CHARGED MOBILE PHONE...BLANKETS...FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA
BATTERIES...HIGH CALORIE NON-PERISHABLE FOOD...WATER...AND A SNOW
SHOVEL. KEEP YOUR GAS TANK FULL...AND AVOID TRAVELING ALONE. LET
SOMEONE KNOW YOUR TIMETABLE AND YOUR PRIMARY ROUTE.

2. IF YOU DO GET STRANDED...STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE. ATTEMPTING TO
WALK FOR HELP IN A WINTER STORM COULD BE A DEADLY DECISION. RUN
THE MOTOR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES EVERY HOUR FOR HEAT. OPEN THE
WINDOW A LITTLE FOR FRESH AIR TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
MAKE SURE YOUR EXHAUST PIPE IS NOT BLOCKED FROM ICE AND SNOW.

3. IF YOU NEED TO USE A PORTABLE GENERATOR...FOLLOW MANUFACTURERS
INSTRUCTIONS TO KEEP THE AREA SURROUNDING YOUR GENERATOR WELL
VENTILATED.

4. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SHOVEL SNOW UNLESS YOU ARE PHYSICALLY FIT.
HYDRATE YOURSELF OFTEN WITH WATER WHILE SHOVELING...AND TAKE
FREQUENT BREAKS.

5. MOVE PETS AND FARM ANIMALS TO SHELTERED LOCATIONS AND ENSURE
THEY HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD AND DRINK.

6. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL AND CABLE OUTLETS TO
STAY INFORMED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE STORM.

$$

RNS




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