[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 3/5/2009 9:53:31 PM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 060253
PNSPHI
PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-070000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
953 PM EST THU MAR 5 2009

...SKYWARN SPOTTERS RELAY CRITICAL WEATHER INFORMATION...

FRIDAY IS THE FINAL DAY OF PENNSYLVANIA WEATHER EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS WEEK. WE HAVE COVERED VARIOUS TOPICS RELATING TO
SEVERE WEATHER AND WEATHER SAFETY.

OUR FINAL TOPIC IS...SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTERS.

EACH YEAR...A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS...KNOWN 
AS SKYWARN SPOTTERS...PROVIDE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH IMPORTANT...EYEWITNESS...INFORMATION ABOUT 
TORNADOES...FLASH FLOODS AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS.

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE PEOPLE WITH AN INTEREST IN THE WEATHER...AND 
AN INTEREST IN HELPING OTHERS.

THE LARGEST NUMBER OF SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE HAM RADIO OPERATORS.  
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY GROUPS AND AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS RELAY 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TO THE NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE BY RADIO.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES OPERATE A SKYWARN RADIO STATION 
WHENEVER TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE 
IN EFFECT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.  VOLUNTEERS AT THE NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE BROADCAST RADAR INFORMATION ABOUT THE 
LOCATION OF POSSIBLE TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  
AT THE SAME TIME...THEY SOLICIT REPORTS FROM SKYWARN VOLUNTEERS 
AND OTHER CITIZENS IN THE AREAS OF CONCERN.

WHILE DOPPLER WEATHER RADARS CAN HELP METEOROLOGISTS IDENTIFY 
ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS CAN HELP TO PINPOINT 
PLACES WHERE A TORNADO MAY FORM...EVEN BEFORE A TORNADO TOUCHES 
GROUND.  SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL TO CONFIRM THAT 
TORNADOES HAVE TOUCHED DOWN...TO REPORT ON THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE...
AND TO PROVIDE ADDED DETAILS OF A THREAT TO A COMMUNITY.

TO OUR MANY FRIENDS IN THE SKYWARN PROGRAM...WE AT THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE SAY...THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT HELP.

BE PREPARED FOR THE RAVAGES OF THIS SEVERE WEATHER SEASON...AND 
CONSIDER BECOMING A SKYWARN SPOTTER.

$$