[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 3/3/2009 7:16:53 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 031212
PNSPHI
PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-040015-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
712 AM EST TUE MAR 3 2009

...PENNSYLVANIA WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...

TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY OF PENNSYLVANIA WEATHER EMERGENCY 
PREPAREDNESS WEEK. THIS WEEK WE WILL COVER VARIOUS TOPICS RELATING 
TO SEVERE WEATHER AND WEATHER SAFETY. 

OUR TOPIC FOR TODAY IS...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. 

WE WILL COVER WHAT CLASSIFIES A THUNDERSTORM AS SEVERE...AND 
WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE BETWEEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING.  WE WILL ALSO GIVE YOU
INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO WHEN A WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED FOR
YOUR AREA.

WHAT IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM?
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT PRODUCES WIND
GUSTS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR OR HIGHER...AND/OR HAIL THREE-QUARTERS
OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR LARGER.  THOSE HAILSTONES ARE ABOUT THE
SIZE OF A PENNY.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...AND FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.
THEY OCCASIONALLY PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE
WARNING.  THE VERY STRONG WINDS IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN
PRODUCE DAMAGE THAT PEOPLE MISTAKE FOR TORNADO DAMAGE.  OVER 500 
SEPARATE DAMAGE EVENTS FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE REPORTED IN
PENNSYLVANIA IN 2008 ALONE.

WHAT IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH?
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  THE WATCH IS ISSUED TO 
ALERT YOU TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING 
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL MAY DEVELOP.  A WATCH DOES NOT MEAN SEVERE 
WEATHER IS OCCURRING.  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MANY COUNTIES AND FOR SEVERAL HOURS 
AT A TIME.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED...
GO ABOUT YOUR NORMAL ACTIVITIES...BUT WATCH THE SKY AROUND YOU
FOR DEVELOPING STORMS.  PERIODICALLY CHECK NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR
OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.  KNOW
WHICH COUNTY YOU LIVE IN...AND WHICH ONES BORDER YOUR COMMUNITY.
PLAN HOW TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE QUICKLY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR
YOUR AREA...OR IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED.

WHAT IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING?
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING MEANS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS
GOING TO MOVE THROUGH YOUR COUNTY SOON...SO YOU NEED TO TAKE
QUICK ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE AND PROPERTY.  SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WHEN METEOROLOGIST DETECT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM USING DOPPLER 
WEATHER RADAR OR WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS BEEN REPORTED 
BY SKYWARN WEATHER SPOTTERS. 

TYPICALLY...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL BE ISSUED 
FOR AN AREA AS BIG AS A COUNTY OR TWO...AND FOR A PERIOD OF UP 
TO ONE HOUR.  WE TRY TO MAKE A SPECIFIC LIST OF LOCATIONS THAT 
MAY EXPERIENCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OR LARGE HAIL.  WHILE NOT ALL 
COMMUNITIES CAN BE LISTED IN THE WARNING TO KEEP THE MESSAGE BRIEF 
AND TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT FAST...YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO HEAR IF 
COMMUNITIES OR LANDMARKS NEAR YOU ARE MENTIONED IN THE WARNING. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED...
IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...GET INSIDE YOUR HOME...A STRONG BUILDING...
OR IN YOUR CAR.  BOATERS SHOULD HEAD TO SHORE IMMEDIATELY.

WHEN INDOORS...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL.  
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS.  DO NOT USE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
ALSO AVOID USING THE TELEPHONE...AS LIGHTNING CAN HARM YOU THROUGH 
LAND-BASED TELEPHONE LINES.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING...SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL 
THE STORM PASSES.  HEAVY RAIN WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM CAN FLOOD ROADS
QUICKLY...SO NEVER TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH AN AREA WHERE WATER
COVERS THE ROAD...EVEN IF YOU THINK IT IS SHALLOW.  THIS WATER MAY
SWEEP YOUR VEHICLE AWAY.

FOR ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WEATHER SAFETY INFORMATION
CHECK OUT OUR WEB PAGE AT:
WEATHER.GOV/PHI...ALL IN LOWER CASE

...WEATHER SAFETY TOPICS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK...
WEDNESDAY...FLASH FLOOD SAFETY.
THURSDAY...RIVER FLOOD SAFETY.
FRIDAY...SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTERS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS YEAR'S SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.

$$
JOE MIKETTA
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
NOAA-NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ