[nrv-hams] Fwd: Major Winter Storm Expected Friday into Saturday

[Russ Abbey]

Hello all,

After a quiet December and first half of January, it looks like winter is
roaring to life as we are expecting a major winter storm to affect our
entire forecast region.  With that, the forecasters at the National Weather
Service in Blacksburg are hoping you can help us keep up with the wintry
precipitation falling across our region.

The storm is forecast to track south of our area, meaning that we will
remain on the cold side of the system and are expecting snow for the most
part. The exception will be across the Piedmont of North Carolina into the
Southside of Virginia from late Friday afternoon into early Saturday
morning, when we may see the snow become mixed with sleet as the low
pressure system passes near our area.  This system will also bring bands of
heavy snowfall, and we believe there will be times when the snow/sleet is
piling up quickly, at rates possibly as high as 4 inches per hour.  You can
visit our weather briefing page at http://www.weather.gov/rnk/emer_winter
to get an idea of the amount of snow we are forecasting.

Our greatest priority is your safety, which we value even more than your
reports.  If you feel it is too slippery or dangerous to go outside to take
a snowfall measurement, please stay indoors.  However, if you feel you can
safely take measurements, then could you:
 -let us know how much snow has fallen Friday morning?
 -let us know the time when 4 inches of snow has accumulated east of the
Blue Ridge/5 inches of snow has  accumulated along the Blue Ridge and
points west?
 -let us know if you notice the snow becoming mixed with or change over to
sleet?
 -take a snowfall (and sleet, if any) measurement around dinner time?  If
sleet has fallen on top of the snow, could you tell us how much of each
type has fallen?
 -take a snowfall (and sleet, if any) measurement just before you go to bed
Friday night?
 -take snowfall (and sleet, if any) measurements on Saturday during the
morning, afternoon and in the evening?
 -take a final measurement when precipitation has ended?

These times are only suggested.  We understand that you have your own list
of things you need to take care of and are not asking you to change your
daily routine.  Please take snowfall measurements when you find it
convenient.  We're happy to take whatever reports you are able to give.

For simplicity, you can use the weather reporting form on our website:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/StormReport_new/SubmitReport.php?site=rnk .  If you
experience difficulty using this form, you can also email your report to
rnk.skywarn at noaa.gov or call our toll-free number at 1-800-221-2856.  When
reporting, please be sure to include your name and specific location, and
identify yourself as one of our Skywarn spotters.  We will not release any
information that is identifiable to you outside of our office.

We sincerely appreciate any help you can provide us in keeping up with this
storm.  Please stay safe and warm.

Sincerely,
The forecasters at the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, VA

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