739 NOUS44 KFWD 250023 AAA PNSFWD TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-250300- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 620 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...THE FIRST 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURES OF THE YEAR IN NORTH TEXAS... ALTHOUGH MOST PARTS OF NORTH TEXAS SAW TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S TO LOWER 80S...THE EXTREME WESTERN SECTIONS SAW TEMPERATURES CLIMB ABOVE 90 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON. BRECKENRIDGE IN STEPHENS COUNTY CLIMBED TO 95 DEGREES. A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAD MOVED TO JUST NORTHEAST OF GRAHAM BY MID AFTERNOON WITH AN ACCOMPANYING TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO JUST EAST OF EASTLAND. BEHIND THIS LOW AND TROUGH...WINDS WERE WESTERLY AND THE AIR WAS VERY DRY. ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 80S AND HIGHER ARE WELL ABOVE NORMAL...THEY ARE NOT UNHEARD OF. LAST YEAR...ON FEBRUARY 25TH...MOST OF THE REGION SAW TEMPERATURES IN THE 80S. DALLAS FORT WORTH AIRPORT /DFW/ AND BRECKENRIDGE BOTH REACHED 88 DEGREES AND WACO REACHED 84 DEGREES. BACK IN 1996...WACO REACHED THEIR RECORD HIGH FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WITH 96 DEGREES ON BOTH THE 21ST AND 22ND. ALSO IN 1996...DFW REACHED 95 DEGREES ON FEBRUARY 21ST...THEIR SECOND WARMEST FEBRUARY TEMPERATURES. DFW SET THE RECORD HIGH FOR FEBRUARY OF 96 DEGREES BACK ON FEBRUARY 25 1904. $$  089 NOUS43 KLOT 250120 PNSLOT PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 700 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 SNOWFALL AND SNOW DEPTH REPORTS. DATA PROVIDED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO AREA AND ROCKFORD AREA SNOWFALL TEAM. 12 HR SNOWFALL 12 HR SNOWFALL TOTAL LOCATION ENDING 6PM ENDING 6AM SNOW TODAY TODAY DEPTH AT 6PM ILLINOIS BATAVIA / 0.0 / LA GRANGE / 0.0 / MELROSE PARK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 OAK BROOK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 PLAINFIELD 4SW 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 RICHTON PARK / 0.0 / SCHAUMBURG 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 WILLOWBROOK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 YORKVILLE 2SE 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 NORTHWEST INDIANA HIGHLAND 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 VALPARAISO 3SE 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 $$  864 NOUS43 KFGF 250147 PNSFGF NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026-027-054-251400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 747 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL RELAYS THAT HIGHWAY 2 AND INTERSTATE 29 TRAFFIC SPEEDS ARE REDUCED BECAUSE OF THE ICY CONDITIONS. CAUTION IS ADVISED. $$ HOPKINS  396 NOUS43 KBIS 250150 PNSBIS NDZ013-025-036-037-251400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 750 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE GRAND FORKS HIGHWAY PATROL DISTRICT IS ADVISING NO TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 2 IN PIERCE COUNTY AND THE JAMESTOWN HIGHWAY PATROL DISTRICT IS ADVISING NO TRAVEL ON INTERSTATE 94 FROM STEELE IN KIDDER COUNTY TO JAMESTOWN IN STUTSMAN COUNTY. $$ HW  035 NOUS43 KLOT 250233 PNSLOT PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 800 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 SNOWFALL AND SNOW DEPTH REPORTS. DATA PROVIDED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO AREA AND ROCKFORD AREA SNOWFALL TEAM. 12 HR SNOWFALL 12 HR SNOWFALL TOTAL LOCATION ENDING 6PM ENDING 6AM SNOW TODAY TODAY DEPTH AT 6PM ILLINOIS BATAVIA / 0.0 / DOWNERS GROVE 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 LA GRANGE / 0.0 / MELROSE PARK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 OAK BROOK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 PLAINFIELD 4SW 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 RICHTON PARK / 0.0 / SCHAUMBURG 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 WILLOWBROOK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 YORKVILLE 2SE 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 NORTHWEST INDIANA HIGHLAND 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 VALPARAISO 3SE 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 $$  293 NOUS43 KFGF 250250 PNSFGF NDZ038-251500- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 850 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE BARNES COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTS NO TRAVEL IS ADVISED...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 94...DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS FROM FREEZING RAIN. $$ HOPKINS  628 NOUS43 KFGF 250251 PNSFGF NDZ030-251500- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 851 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTS NO TRAVEL IS ADVISED FOR TRAILL COUNTY DUE TO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. $$ HOPKINS  244 NOUS43 KFGF 250349 PNSFGF NDZ039-053-251600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 949 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL HAS ISSUED A TRAVEL ALERT FOR CASS COUNTY AND INTERSTATE 29 FROM FARGO SOUTH TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. ROADS ARE ICY DUE TO FREEZING RAIN. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION. $$ HOPKINS  149 NOUS43 KFGF 250445 PNSFGF NDZ049-251645- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 1045 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE RANSOM COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE ADVISES NO TRAVEL IN RANSOM COUNTY DUE TO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS FROM FREEZING RAIN. $$ HOPKINS  818 NOUS44 KCRP 250638 PNSCRP PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 1230 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 PRELIMINARY CLIMATE DATA FOR CORPUS CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Tuesday February 24 2009 HIGH TEMPERATURE : 83 LOW TEMPERATURE : 45 RAINFALL (INCHES) : 0.00 2009 RAINFALL: 0.17 HIGHEST WIND GUST : 35 MPH DIRECTION OF GUST : SOUTHEAST NORMAL AND RECORD TEMPERATURES FOR TODAY... NORMAL RECORD YEAR HIGH 72 91 2008 LOW 51 27 1960 SUNRISE THIS MORNING : 658 AM CST SUNSET THIS EVENING : 628 PM CST ============================================================= PRELIMINARY CLIMATE DATA FOR VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT Tuesday February 24 2009 HIGH TEMPERATURE : 80 LOW TEMPERATURE : 43 RAINFALL (INCHES) : 0.00 2009 RAINFALL: 0.32 HIGHEST WIND GUST : 30 MPH DIRECTION OF GUST : SOUTH NORMAL AND RECORD TEMPERATURES FOR TODAY... NORMAL RECORD YEAR HIGH 69 93 1926 LOW 49 24 1960 SUNRISE THIS MORNING : 657 AM CST SUNSET THIS EVENING : 625 PM CST Notice to users! This is an experimental abbreviated climate message. A full climate summary will be issued under the header CLICRP...WMO Header CDUS44 KCRP...by 700 AM this morning. Please address any comments on this product to John Metz (john.metz@noaa.gov). $$  595 NOUS45 KBOU 250959 PNSBOU COZ030>051-252300- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 259 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TODAY IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY... 22-29 IN 1960...HEAVY SNOWFALL OF 6.1 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT ON THE 22ND AND 23RD MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A PROTRACTED COLD SPELL WHICH LASTED UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH. THE CLOUDY... COLD WEATHER WAS ACCOMPANIED BY OCCASIONAL LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES AND FOG. NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR THE DATES WERE SET ON THE 24TH THRU THE 29TH WITH THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF 11 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ON THE 28TH. THE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF LOW TEMPERATURES OF ZERO OR BELOW HAD BEEN EXCEEDED IN DURATION ONLY 4 TIMES PREVIOUSLY. NEW LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR THE DATES WERE SET ON THE 23RD... 24TH...AND THE 26TH THRU THE 29TH WITH THE LOWEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 8 DEGREES RECORDED ON THE 26TH. 23-25 IN 1912...A SEVERE WINTER STORM DUMPED 14.2 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER. SNOW FELL CONTINUOUSLY FROM 9:40 AM ON THE 23RD UNTIL 9:15 PM ON THE 25TH WITH MOST OF THE SNOW... 9.2 INCHES...ON THE 24TH. TEMPERATURES WERE MOSTLY IN THE 20'S. NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 20 MPH ON THE 24TH. 25 IN 1887...NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 47 MPH. IN 1904...THE LOW TEMPERATURE COOLED TO ONLY 49 DEGREES...THE ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR FEBRUARY. IN 1957...NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 49 MPH AT STAPLETON AIRPORT. IN 1998...A BORA WIND STORM DEVELOPED IN THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND ADJACENT PLAINS AS WINDS GUSTED BETWEEN 60 AND 75 MPH. PEAK WIND GUSTS DURING THE STORM INCLUDED: 75 MPH ATOP BLUE MOUNTAIN NEAR WONDERVU...60 MPH IN SOUTH BOULDER AND AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT NEAR BROOMFIELD. WEST WINDS GUSTED TO 32 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IN 2000...HIGH WINDS OCCURRED IN AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS. WINDS GUSTED TO 84 MPH AT THE ROCKY FLATS ENVIRONMENTAL TEST FACILITY SOUTH OF BOULDER AND TO 71 MPH ATOP NIWOT RIDGE IN THE MOUNTAINS WEST OF BOULDER. WEST WINDS GUSTED TO ONLY 36 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 25-26 IN 1971...A WIND GUST TO 100 MPH WAS RECORDED IN BOULDER AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH. THE COLD WEST WINDS GUSTED TO 53 MPH IN DOWNTOWN BOULDER. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 31 MPH ON THE 25TH AND TO 38 MPH ON THE 26TH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IN 1984...A HEAVY SNOW STORM LEFT 1 TO 2 FEET OF NEW SNOW IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER. I-70 WAS CLOSED...STRANDING SKIERS RETURNING FROM THE MOUNTAINS. MOST HAD TO SPEND SEVERAL HOURS IN IDAHO SPRINGS. THE SNOW SPREAD OVER METRO DENVER WITH 9 INCHES AT LITTLETON...CASTLE ROCK...AND BOULDER AND UP TO 5 INCHES IN AURORA AND DENVER. SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 3.6 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 31 MPH. $$  433 NOUS44 KMOB 251000 PNSMOB ALZ051>064-261532- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 400 AM CST WED FEB 26 2009 ...THIS WEEK IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA... ...TODAY IS TORNADO AWARENESS DAY... ...A SPECIAL NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALARM TEST WILL OCCUR AT 930 AM... THIS WEEK HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA BY GOVERNOR BOB RILEY. DURING THIS SPECIAL WEEK, ALABAMIANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN AND OR REVIEW THE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY FOR PROTECTING THEIR LIVES DURING SEVERE WEATHER. A SPECIAL NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TEST WILL BE CONDUCTED TODAY AROUND 930 AM CST. THIS SPECIAL TEST WILL OCCUR IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO OUR NORMAL WEEKLY RADIO TEST, HOWEVER IT WILL BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SPECIAL TORNADO DRILL IN ALABAMA. THE INFORMATION MESSAGE GOING ALONG WITH THIS WEEKLY RADIO TEST WILL HIGHLIGHT APPROPRIATE PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS CONCERNING TORNADOES. PLEASE USE THIS SPECIAL TEST TO CHECK THE OPERATION OF YOUR NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO AND RUN THROUGH YOUR SAFETY PLANS. IF INCLEMENT WEATHER DEVELOPS UNEXPECTEDLY, THIS SPECIAL WEEKLY RADIO TEST WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 AROUND 930 AM CST. SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT TORNADOES AND TORNADO SAFETY. THE MONTHS OF MARCH THROUGH MAY ARE KNOWN AS THE SPRING TORNADO SEASON. A FALL TORNADO SEASON ALSO EXISTS FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH MID DECEMBER. ALABAMA IS ONE OF THE FEW LOCATIONS IN THE WORLD THAT HAS TWO DISTINCT SEVERE WEATHER SEASONS. A TORNADO IS DEFINED AS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. IF THE CIRCULATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND, THEN IT IS DEFINED AS A FUNNEL CLOUD. TORNADOES USUALLY DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS. WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES CAN RANGE FROM 65 MILES AN HOUR TO OVER 300 MILES AN HOUR. THE HIGHEST TORNADO WIND SPEED EVER RECORDED WAS 318 MILES AN HOUR. YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. A WATCH IS NORMALLY ISSUED FOR A LARGE AREA COVERING NUMEROUS COUNTIES. THE WATCH IS INTENDED TO GIVE YOU TIME TO REVIEW YOUR SAFETY PLANS IN THE EVENT A WARNING BECOMES NECESSARY. THE SKY MAY BE SUNNY, BUT WEATHER CHANGES CAN TAKE PLACE QUITE RAPIDLY. A TORNADO WARNING MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN DETECTED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OR HAS BEEN REPORTED BY RELIABLE SOURCES. A TORNADO WARNING IS TYPICALLY ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF COUNTIES AT A TIME AND USUALLY LASTS NO MORE THAN 45 MINUTES. IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY, YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU SEE A TORNADO OR FEEL THREATENED, MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY AS PRECIOUS SECONDS CAN LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE. HERE IS SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING TORNADO SAFETY... IF YOU ARE IN A HOME OR SMALL BUSINESS, GO TO THE LOWEST FLOOR. TAKE REFUGE IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM OR CLOSET. STAY AWAY FROM EXTERIOR WALLS OR WINDOWS. IN FACT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. IF POSSIBLE, GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY, SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE, OR USE A MATTRESS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS. MOST INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH WINDS ARE FROM FLYING DEBRIS, SO REMEMBER TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD. IF HANDY, USE A BICYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE HELMET TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES. IF YOU ARE IN A LARGE BUSINESS, SCHOOL, HOSPITAL, SHOPPING CENTER OR FACTORY, GO TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. IF A SHELTER IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. STAY AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURALLY WEAKER PORTIONS OF THE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS WINDOWS AND ROOMS WITH EXPANSIVE ROOFS, WHICH ARE MORE LIKELY TO COLLAPSE WHEN TORNADOES STRIKE. DO NOT WASTE TIME OPENING WINDOWS THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO A BUILDING. THE OLD BELIEF THAT DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM RAPID PRESSURE CHANGES DURING A TORNADO IS NOT FACTUAL. IT WILL NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IN A TORNADO IF THE WINDOW IS OPEN OR NOT. YOUR SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE, GET OUT AND TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING OR STORM SHELTER. IF THERE IS NOT AN ADEQUATE BUILDING NEARBY, GET TO A LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD FROM FLYING DEBRIS. DO NOT TAKE COVER UNDER AN OVERPASS AS THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELTER DURING A TORNADO AND CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE INCREASED WIND SPEEDS DUE TO A TUNNELING EFFECT OF THE AIR FLOW. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING, WHICH ARE THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLERS IN THE UNITED STATES. NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SAFETY TIPS THIS WEEK. YOU CAN UTILIZE THESE SAFETY RULES TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THE DANGERS OF SEVERE WEATHER. FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND INFORMATION, VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/MOB. YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT DAVID MCSHANE...METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE...OR JEFF GARMON...WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST...AT YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN MOBILE AT 251-633-6443. $$  126 NOUS44 KTSA 251017 PNSTSA PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 430 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-251500- BENTON-CARROLL-WASHINGTON AR-MADISON-CRAWFORD-FRANKLIN- SEBASTIAN-PUSHMATAHA-CHOCTAW-OSAGE-WASHINGTON OK-NOWATA- CRAIG-OTTAWA-PAWNEE-TULSA-ROGERS-MAYES-DELAWARE-CREEK- OKFUSKEE-OKMULGEE-WAGONER-CHEROKEE-ADAIR-MUSKOGEE- MCINTOSH-SEQUOYAH-PITTSBURG-HASKELL-LATIMER-LE FLORE- 430 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TODAYS TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS TORNADOES... OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR BRAD HENRY AND ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE HAVE PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23RD THROUGH 27TH AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN THEIR RESPECTIVE STATES. A DIFFERENT TOPIC WILL BE DISCUSSED EACH DAY...AND TODAYS TOPIC IS TORNADOES. A TORNADO IS DEFINED AS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND PENDANT FROM A THUNDERSTORM. AN AVERAGE OF 1000 TORNADOES DEVELOP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY. THESE TORNADOES KILL MORE THAN 60 AMERICANS AND INJURE ANOTHER 1500 IN A TYPICAL YEAR. THERE WERE 126 TORNADO RELATED FATALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 2008. ON AVERAGE...26 TORNADOES TOUCH DOWN IN ARKANSAS WITH OKLAHOMA AVERAGING 53 TORNADOES A YEAR. IN 2008...80 TORNADOES STRUCK ARKANSAS WHILE 77 TORNADOES STRUCK OKLAHOMA. THESE TORNADOES RESULTED IN 21 FATALITIES IN ARKANSAS AND SIX FATALITIES IN OKLAHOMA. NEARLY 400 INJURIES RESULTED FROM THESE STORMS ACROSS THESE TWO STATES. ONE FIFTH OF THE NATION/S TORNADO RELATED FATALITIES OCCURRED IN ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA LAST YEAR. BOTH STATES EXPERIENCED VIOLENT EF-4 TORNADOES LAST YEAR. A TORNADO OUTBREAK HAS ALREADY IMPACTED THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THIS YEAR. ON FEBRUARY 10TH...A VIOLENT EF-4 TORNADO STRUCK LONE GROVE KILLING EIGHT PEOPLE AND INJURING MANY MORE. SEVERAL OTHER TORNADOES OCCURRED THAT DAY INCLUDING ONE THAT MOVED ACROSS PORTIONS OF PAWNEE COUNTY IN OKLAHOMA. TORNADOES ARE MOST LIKELY TO DEVELOP ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS DURING THE SPRING MONTHS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. HOWEVER...AS LONG AS THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS ARE PRESENT... TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP DURING ANY MONTH OF THE YEAR AND AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. IN 2008...TORNADOES OCCURRED IN 7 MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS...INCLUDING SEVERAL TORNADOES THAT TOUCHED DOWN IN JANUARY AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHERS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. TORNADOES ARE CLASSIFIED BY THE DAMAGE THEY PRODUCE...WHICH IS DETERMINED BY SURVEYING IMPACTED STRUCTURES WITHIN THEIR PATHS. THE NWS IMPLEMENTED THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE ON FEBRUARY 1ST 2007 AND THIS WILL BE USED TO MORE ACCURATELY DETERMINE WIND SPEEDS WITHIN THE TORNADO THAN WHAT WE USED IN THE PAST. THE THREE CLASSIFICATION CATEGORIES ARE WEAK...STRONG... AND VIOLENT. TORNADOES MAY MOVE FORWARD AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 75 MPH BUT SOME MAY REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY. REGARDLESS OF THEIR STRENGTH...APPEARANCE...OR FORWARD SPEED...ALL TORNADOES ARE DANGEROUS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF SURVIVING A TORNADO DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE WHEN SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS. IF AT HOME...TAKE SHELTER IN A PREDETERMINED SAFE PLACE SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR STORM CELLAR. GET UNDER SOMETHING HEAVY. IF NO SUCH PLACE IS AVAILABLE...THEN MOVE INTO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER STRUCTURE. IF IN YOUR VEHICLE...GO TO A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING. IF THERE IS NO BUILDING NEARBY AND YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER FROM THE TORNADO THEN LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE FOR A LOW SPOT SUCH AS A DITCH OR RAVINE. LIE LOW AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS. DO NOT STOP AT OVERPASSES AND ATTEMPT TO WAIT OUT THE TORNADO. MOST IMPORTANTLY...STAY INFORMED OF DEVELOPING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHEN TO EXPECT IT. A WEATHER RADIO WITH TONE ALERT FEATURE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS VITAL INFORMATION 24 HOURS A DAY. ONE WITH A BATTERY BACKUP IS SUGGESTED IN THE CASE OF A POWER OUTAGE. HAVE A PREDETERMINED PLAN OF ACTION THAT EVERYONE IN YOUR HOME KNOWS AND PRACTICE THIS PLAN AS SEVERE WEATHER SEASON APPROACHES. YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TULSA OR AMERICAN RED CROSS CHAPTER CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DEVELOP SUCH A PLAN. $$  715 NOUS44 KBRO 251021 PNSBRO TXZ248>257-251400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 421 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS... ...TORNADOES AND TORNADO SAFETY... TORNADOES ARE ONE OF NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS. IN AN AVERAGE YEAR...ABOUT 1000 TORNADOES ARE REPORTED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ...RESULTING IN 85 DEATHS AND OVER 1500 INJURIES. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR EXTENDING FROM A THUNDERSTORM TO THE GROUND. THE MOST VIOLENT TORNADOES ARE CAPABLE OF TREMENDOUS DESTRUCTION WITH WIND SPEEDS OF 250 MPH OR MORE. DAMAGE PATHS CAN EXCEED A MILE IN WIDTH AND 50 MILES IN LENGTH. TORNADOES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER IN TEXAS... PEAK TORNADO SEASON IS DURING THE MONTHS OF MARCH THROUGH JUNE WITH NEARLY 70 PERCENT OF ALL TEXAS TORNADOES OCCURRING DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THE MONTH OF MAY IS THE SINGLE MOST ACTIVE TORNADO PRODUCING MONTH IN TEXAS. TEXAS RANKS FIRST IN THE COUNTRY IN THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTED TORNADOES WITH MORE THAN 130 OCCURRING EACH YEAR ACROSS THE STATE. TORNADOES ARE NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS...BUT ARE NOT RARE. IN FACT...THE GREATEST SINGLE OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES IN TEXAS WEATHER HISTORY OCCURRED WITH THE LANDFALL OF HURRICANE BEULAH WHICH CAME INLAND NEAR BROWNSVILLE ON SEPTEMBER 20TH 1967. BEFORE... DURING AND AFTER THE LANDFALL OF BEULAH...AT LEAST 115 TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF TEXAS. TORNADOES THAT HAVE AFFECTED DEEP SOUTH TEXAS SINCE 1950 HAVE RANGED FROM EF0 TO EF3 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA TORNADO SCALE. NO EF4 OR EF5 TORNADOES HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. DEEP SOUTH TEXAS TORNADOES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PRODUCE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND INJURIES. HOWEVER...NO KNOWN FATALITIES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO DEEP SOUTH TEXAS TORNADOES SINCE 1950. AFTER A TORNADO OCCURS...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE AND CLASSIFY THE STORM IN ONE OF THREE MAIN CATEGORIES...WEAK...STRONG...OR VIOLENT. THIS DETERMINATION IS MADE BY SURVEYING THE IMPACTED STRUCTURES ALONG THE STORM PATH. IF A TORNADO HAS OCCURRED IN YOUR AREA...PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO...SO IT CAN BE PROPERLY DOCUMENTED. ...TORNADO SAFETY... TORNADOES CAN DESTROY A BUILDING IN A FEW SHORT SECONDS. THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SAFETY RULES FOR SURVIVING A TORNADO. IN HOMES AND SMALL BUILDINGS...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET...BATHROOM...OR AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH THICK BLANKETS..SLEEPING BAGS OR MATTRESSES. AT SCHOOLS...AS WELL AS HOSPITALS...FACTORIES AND SHOPPING MALLS... GO TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREAS...USUALLY AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR WITHOUT WINDOWS. KNEEL ON THE FLOOR AGAINST THE WALL AND PLACE HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD TO PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR YOUR HEAD. FOR MOBILE HOMES...PORTABLE CLASSROOMS...OR VEHICLES...LEAVE THEM AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING FOR SHELTER. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY...GET INTO THE NEAREST DITCH OR DEPRESSION. LIE FLAT WITH YOUR HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. PLANNING AHEAD AND KNOWING THE SAFETY RULES IS ESSENTIAL IN BEING PREPARED WHEN A TORNADO STRIKES. $$  273 NOUS43 KIND 251024 PNSIND INZ047-251230- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 515 AM EST WED FEB 25 2009 ...ON THIS DATE IN INDIANA WEATHER HISTORY... 1965 INDIANAPOLIS...A LARGE SNOW STORM DUMPS 12.5 INCHES ON THE 24-25TH. 1993 HEAVY SNOW FELL OVER THE SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF INDIANA. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WERE COMMON. UP TO 11 INCHES FELL IN EVANSVILLE AND WASHINGTON. $$  257 NOUS42 KTAE 251034 PNSTAE ALZ065>069-261100- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 534 AM EST WED FEB 25 2009 TODAY'S TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA IS TORNADOES. TORNADOES ARE VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMNS OF AIR THAT DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THEY VARY IN SIZE...SHAPE AND INTENSITY. MOST TORNADOES ARE WEAK...LASTING A FEW MINUTES AND PRODUCING WINDS OF 100 MPH OR LESS. HOWEVER...A FEW ARE STRONG OR VIOLENT...CAN LAST OVER AN HOUR...AND PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 200 MPH. TORNADOES CAN MOVE VERY SLOWLY...OR AS FAST AS 70 MPH. MOST FORM DURING THE SPRING AND FALL MONTHS...BETWEEN NOON AND 8 PM...BUT CAN DEVELOP ANYTIME. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES TO FORM. A TORNADO WARNING MEANS A TORNADO HAS SEEN SIGHTED OR DETECTED BY DOPPLER RADAR. TORNADOES CAN FORM QUICKLY. YOU MAY HAVE ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO REACT AND FIND SHELTER. WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS...YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO... IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS...DOORS AND OUTSIDE WALLS. IN SCHOOLS...NURSING HOMES...HOSPITALS...FACTORIES AND SHOPPING CENTERS...GO TO A PRE-DESIGNATED SHELTER LIKE AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES FOR A STRONG BUILDING. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR DEPRESSION... AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/BMX...OR CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. THURSDAY'S TOPICS FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WILL BE FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING. $$  291 NOUS44 KMRX 251109 PNSMRX NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-252315- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 609 AM EST WED FEB 25 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... ...TORNADO AWARENESS DAY... SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH TORNADO AWARENESS DAY. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. IF THE CIRCULATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND...THEN IT IS TERMED A FUNNEL CLOUD. TORNADOES USUALLY DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS. WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES ARE USUALLY AROUND 100 MILES AN HOUR...BUT CAN APPROACH OR EXCEED 300 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MOST VIOLENT OF STORMS. 2008 WAS A VERY ACTIVE TORNADO YEAR ACROSS TENNESSEE WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. 34 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND ANOTHER 250 INJURED BY TORNADOES DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. MOST OF THE DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCURRED DURING THE FEBRUARY 5TH "SUPER TUESDAY" OUTBREAK. YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT APPROACH YOU. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING TORNADO WATCHES. A CAREFUL LOOKOUT SHOULD BE KEPT DURING ANY PERIOD OF SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY. PLAN IN ADVANCE WHERE YOU WILL GO AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IF A TORNADO THREATENS YOU. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE...SO WATCH THE SKY FOR DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS AND ALL THE HAZARDS THEY BRING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR WEATHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS. THE WATCH GIVES YOU TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF A TORNADO APPROACHES AND ALERTS YOU TO THE FACT THAT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS MIGHT FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES. A WATCH MIGHT COVER SEVERAL THOUSAND SQUARE MILES OVER PARTS OF ONE OR MORE STATES. A TORNADO WARNING, USUALLY ISSUED FOR 1 OR 2 COUNTIES AT A TIME, MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED OR INDICATED BY WEATHER RADAR. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM NEED TO IMMEDIATELY FIND SHELTER, PREFERABLY IN A STURDY BUILDING, BELOW GROUND IF POSSIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TORNADOES CAN SOMETIMES DEVELOP RAPIDLY...AND THERE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE TIME FOR A WARNING TO BE ISSUED. IF YOU SEE OR HEAR A TORNADO...OR IF YOU FEEL THREATENED ...MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO SHELTER. SECONDS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. TORNADO SAFETY RULES 1. IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN INTERIOR ROOM, SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM, ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR A BED. 2. IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES, ABANDON THEM AND GO TO A STURDY STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY, LIE FLAT IN A DITCH, RAVINE, GULLY, CULVERT OR LOW SPOT WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. 3. IN LARGE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND SHOPPING CENTERS, GO TO THE PREDESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE USUALLY BEST. STAY AWAY FROM ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS. 4. IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR HALLWAY. 5. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON'T BOTHER OPENING OR CLOSING THEM. IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE AND YOU'LL JUST WASTE TIME OR PUT YOURSELF AT RISK SHOULD GLASS BREAK AS YOU ARE NEAR. NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL CARRY INFORMATION AND SAFETY TIPS ALL THIS WEEK CONTAINING IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES THAT YOU CAN USE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THE DANGERS OF SEVERE WEATHER. $$  177 NOUS44 KOHX 251134 PNSOHX PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 534 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-260000- STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-BENTON- HOUSTON-HUMPHREYS-DICKSON-CHEATHAM-DAVIDSON-WILSON-TROUSDALE- SMITH-JACKSON-PUTNAM-OVERTON-FENTRESS-PERRY-HICKMAN-LEWIS- WILLIAMSON-MAURY-MARSHALL-RUTHERFORD-CANNON-DEKALB-WHITE- CUMBERLAND-BEDFORD-COFFEE-WARREN-GRUNDY-VAN BUREN-WAYNE-LAWRENCE- GILES- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DOVER...CLARKSVILLE...SPRINGFIELD... GALLATIN...LAFAYETTE...CELINA...BYRDSTOWN...CAMDEN...ERIN... WAVERLY...DICKSON...ASHLAND CITY...KINGSTON SPRINGS...NASHVILLE... LEBANON...MOUNT JULIET...HARTSVILLE...CARTHAGE...GAINESBORO... COOKEVILLE...LIVINGSTON...JAMESTOWN...ALLARDT...LINDEN... LOBELVILLE...CENTERVILLE...HOHENWALD...FRANKLIN...BRENTWOOD... COLUMBIA...LEWISBURG...MURFREESBORO...WOODBURY...SMITHVILLE... SPARTA...CROSSVILLE...FAIRFIELD GLADE...SHELBYVILLE...TULLAHOMA... MANCHESTER...MCMINNVILLE...TRACY CITY...ALTAMONT...COALMONT... SPENCER...WAYNESBORO...LAWRENCEBURG...PULASKI 534 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TORNADO AWARENESS DAY... SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH TORNADO AWARENESS DAY. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. IF THE CIRCULATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND...THEN IT IS TERMED A FUNNEL CLOUD. TORNADOES USUALLY DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS. WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES ARE USUALLY AROUND 100 MILES AN HOUR...BUT CAN APPROACH OR EXCEED 300 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MOST VIOLENT OF STORMS. 2008 WAS A VERY ACTIVE TORNADO YEAR ACROSS TENNESSEE WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. 34 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND ANOTHER 250 INJURED BY TORNADOES DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. MOST OF THE DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCURRED DURING THE FEBRUARY 5TH "SUPER TUESDAY" OUTBREAK. YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT APPROACH YOU. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING TORNADO WATCHES. A CAREFUL LOOKOUT SHOULD BE KEPT DURING ANY PERIOD OF SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY. PLAN IN ADVANCE WHERE YOU WILL GO AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IF A TORNADO THREATENS YOU. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE...SO WATCH THE SKY FOR DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS AND ALL THE HAZARDS THEY BRING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR WEATHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS. THE WATCH GIVES YOU TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF A TORNADO APPROACHES AND ALERTS YOU TO THE FACT THAT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS MIGHT FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES. A WATCH MIGHT COVER SEVERAL THOUSAND SQUARE MILES OVER PARTS OF ONE OR MORE STATES. A TORNADO WARNING, USUALLY ISSUED FOR 1 OR 2 COUNTIES AT A TIME, MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED OR INDICATED BY WEATHER RADAR. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM NEED TO IMMEDIATELY FIND SHELTER, PREFERABLY IN A STURDY BUILDING, BELOW GROUND IF POSSIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TORNADOES CAN SOMETIMES DEVELOP RAPIDLY...AND THERE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE TIME FOR A WARNING TO BE ISSUED. IF YOU SEE OR HEAR A TORNADO...OR IF YOU FEEL THREATENED ...MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO SHELTER. SECONDS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. TORNADO SAFETY RULES 1. IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN INTERIOR ROOM, SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM, ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR A BED. 2. IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES, ABANDON THEM AND GO TO A STURDY STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY, LIE FLAT IN A DITCH, RAVINE, GULLY, CULVERT OR LOW SPOT WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. 3. IN LARGE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND SHOPPING CENTERS, GO TO THE PREDESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE USUALLY BEST. STAY AWAY FROM ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS. 4. IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR HALLWAY. 5. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON'T BOTHER OPENING OR CLOSING THEM. IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE AND YOU'LL JUST WASTE TIME OR PUT YOURSELF AT RISK SHOULD GLASS BREAK AS YOU ARE NEAR. NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL CARRY INFORMATION AND SAFETY TIPS ALL THIS WEEK CONTAINING IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES THAT YOU CAN USE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THE DANGERS OF SEVERE WEATHER. $$ TJ  840 NOUS44 KMEG 251158 PNSMEG ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-TNZ001>004-019>021- 048>055-088>092-260600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 600 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TORNADO AWARENESS DAY... YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT APPROACH YOU. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING TORNADO WATCHES. A CAREFUL LOOKOUT SHOULD BE KEPT DURING ANY PERIOD OF SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY. PLAN IN ADVANCE WHERE YOU WILL GO AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IF A TORNADO THREATENS YOU. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE...SO WATCH THE SKY FOR DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS AND ALL THE HAZARDS THEY BRING. STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR WEATHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS. A TORNADO WARNING...USUALLY ISSUED FOR 1 OR 2 COUNTIES AT A TIME... MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED...OR INDICATED BY WEATHER RADAR. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM NEED TO IMMEDIATELY FIND SHELTER...PREFERABLY IN A STURDY BUILDING...BELOW GROUND IF POSSIBLE. HERE ARE SOME TORNADO SAFETY RULES. IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER... OR TO AN INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM...ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY...SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR A BED. IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES...ABANDON THEM AND GO TO A STORM SHELTER OR STURDY STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY...LIE FLAT IN A DITCH RAVINE...GULLY...CULVERT...OR A LOW SPOT WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. IN LARGE BUILDINGS SUCH AS SCHOOLS...FACTORIES...HOSPITALS...NURSING HOMES...AND SHOPPING CENTERS...GO TO THE PREDESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE USUALLY BEST. STAY AWAY FROM ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. $$  348 NOUS43 KGLD 251200 PNSGLD PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS 500 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009 ...ON THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY... IN 1998...HIGH WINDS DAMAGED ROOFS...BUILDINGS...AND TREES ACROSS THE TRI STATE AREA. GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WERE COMMON. A MOBILE HOME AT THE NORTH SHORE MARINA WEST OF TRENTON NEBRASKA WAS DESTROYED BY ESTIMATED 80 MPH WIND GUST. $$  644 NOUS43 KICT 251201 PNSICT KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-251600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 601 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...ON THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY... IN 1998...A BLIZZARD RAGED FOR SEVERAL DAYS ACROSS THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. LEAD SOUTH DAKOTA UNOFFICIALLY RECEIVED 70 INCHES OF SNOW. IN 1977...DUST REDUCED VISIBILITIES FROM EASTERN VIRGINIA TO FLORIDA FROM THE 24TH TO THE 28TH. THE DUST ORIGINATED FROM THE WESTERN GREAT PLAINS ON THE 22ND AND 23RD...WHERE GUSTS EXCEEDED 100 MPH IN GUADALUPE PASS TEXAS...WHITE SANDS NEW MEXICO...AND SHERMAN COUNTY KANSAS. $$ AUTO  053 NOUS44 KBMX 251204 PNSBMX ALZ011>015-017>050-261200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 600 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...THIS WEEK IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA... ...TODAY IS TORNADO AWARENESS DAY.... ...SPECIAL WEEKLY RADIO TEST MESSAGE TODAY AT 9:30 AM... THIS WEEK HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA BY GOVERNOR BOB RILEY. DURING THIS SPECIAL WEEK, ALABAMIANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN AND OR REVIEW THE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY FOR PROTECTING THEIR LIVES DURING SEVERE WEATHER. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM WILL CONDUCT THE WEEKLY NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS TEST AT THE SPECIAL TIME OF AROUND 9:30 AM TODAY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH. THIS TIME WILL REPLACE THE WEEKLY RADIO TEST NORMALLY PERFORMED BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON EACH WEDNESDAY. THE INFORMATION MESSAGE GOING ALONG WITH THIS WEEKLY RADIO TEST WILL HIGHLIGHT APPROPRIATE PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS CONCERNING TORNADOES. IF INCLEMENT WEATHER DEVELOPS TODAY, THIS SPECIAL WEEKLY RADIO TEST WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, AT 9:30 AM. SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT TORNADOES AND TORNADO SAFETY. THE MONTHS OF MARCH THROUGH MAY ARE KNOWN AS THE SPRING TORNADO SEASON. A FALL TORNADO SEASON ALSO EXISTS FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH MID DECEMBER. ALABAMA IS ONE OF THE FEW LOCATIONS IN THE WORLD THAT HAS TWO DISTINCT SEVERE WEATHER SEASONS. A TORNADO IS DEFINED AS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR THAT IS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. IF THE CIRCULATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND, THEN IT IS DEFINED AS A FUNNEL CLOUD. TORNADOES USUALLY DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS. WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES CAN RANGE FROM 65 MILES PER HOUR TO 318 MILES PER HOUR, THE HIGHEST TORNADO WIND SPEED EVER RECORDED. YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. A WATCH IS NORMALLY ISSUED FOR A LARGE AREA COVERING NUMEROUS COUNTIES. THE WATCH IS INTENDED TO GIVE YOU TIME TO REVIEW YOUR SAFETY RULES. THE SKY MAY BE SUNNY, BUT WEATHER CHANGES CAN TAKE PLACE QUITE RAPIDLY. A TORNADO WARNING MEANS THAT A DEVELOPING TORNADO HAS BEEN DETECTED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OR HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE GROUND BY RELIABLE SOURCES. A TORNADO WARNING IS TYPICALLY ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF COUNTIES AT A TIME AND USUALLY LASTS NO MORE THAN 45 MINUTES. IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR COUNTY, YOU SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU SEE A TORNADO OR FEEL THREATENED, MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY, AS PRECIOUS SECONDS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. HERE IS SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING TORNADO SAFETY... IF YOU ARE IN A HOME OR SMALL BUSINESS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET, BATHROOM OR INTERIOR HALLWAY WITHOUT WINDOWS ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. IF POSSIBLE, GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY, SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE, OR USE A MATTRESS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS. MOST INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH WINDS ARE FROM FLYING DEBRIS, SO REMEMBER TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD. IF AVAILABLE, PUT ON A BICYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE HELMET TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HEAD INJURIES. IF YOU ARE IN A LARGE BUSINESS, SCHOOL, HOSPITAL, SHOPPING CENTER OR FACTORY, GO TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. IF A SHELTER AREA IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. STAY AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURALLY WEAKER PORTIONS OF BUILDINGS, SUCH AS WINDOWS AND ROOMS WITH EXPANSIVE ROOFS, WHICH ARE MORE LIKELY TO COLLAPSE WHEN TORNADOES STRIKE. DO NOT WASTE TIME OPENING WINDOWS IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO A BUILDING. THE OLD BELIEF THAT DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM RAPID PRESSURE CHANGES DURING A TORNADO IS NOT TRUE. IT WILL NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IN A TORNADO IF THE WINDOW IS OPEN OR NOT. YOUR SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE, GET OUT AND TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING OR STORM SHELTER. IF THERE IS NOT AN ADEQUATE BUILDING NEARBY, GET TO A LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD FROM FLYING DEBRIS. DO NOT TAKE COVER UNDER AN OVERPASS AS THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELTER DURING A TORNADO AND CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE INCREASED WIND SPEEDS DUE TO A TUNNELING EFFECT. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING, WHICH ARE THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER KILLERS IN THE UNITED STATES. FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS, VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV AND THEN CLICK ON CENTRAL ALABAMA, OR CONTACT JIM STEFKOVICH, METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AT 205-664-3010, EXTENSION 222, OR JOHN DE BLOCK, WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST, AT EXTENSION 223. $$  146 NOUS44 KLZK 251204 PNSLZK ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-252000- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 600 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TODAYS TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS TORNADOES... ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE HAS PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23TH THROUGH 27TH AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ARKANSAS. A DIFFERENT TOPIC WILL BE DISCUSSED EACH DAY...AND TODAYS TOPIC IS TORNADOES. ARKANSAS RECORDED 80 TORNADOES IN 2008. THIS MADE IT THE SECOND MOST ACTIVE TORNADO YEAR EVER RECRORDED IN ARKANSAS. THE RECORD NUMBER OF TORNADOES IS 107 IN 1999. IN 2008...ONE SIXTH OF THE TORNADO FATALITIES IN THE NATION OCCURRED IN ARKANSAS. LAST YEAR...21 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES TO TORNADOES IN THE STATE...AND 225 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. IT WAS THE DEADLIEST YEAR FOR TORNADOES SINCE 1997...THE YEAR OF THE ARKADELPHIA TORNADO... WHEN 26 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. THE STRONGEST TORNADO IN THE STATE LAST YEAR WAS RATED AS EF4 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE. THIS TORNADO STAYED ON THE GROUND FOR 121.84 MILES /2 HOURS AND 7 MINUTES/...SETTING A RECORD FOR THE LONGEST TORNADO PATH EVER RECORDED IN ARKANSAS. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 112 MILES ON FEBRUARY 20 1951. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT SPRINGTIME IS THE ONLY TORNADO SEASON IN ARKANSAS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE...AS WAS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN RECENT YEARS. IN 2001...2002...2004 AND 2005...THE GREATEST TORNADO OUTBREAKS OCCURRED IN THE FALL. TORNADOES CLEARLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TAKE LIVES AND CAUSE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE...BUT PRECAUTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO LESSEN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES. ...OUTDOOR TORNADO SIRENS... MANY TOWNS AND COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS HAVE ACQUIRED OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC WHEN TORNADOES THREATEN. WHEN THESE SIRENS ARE KEPT IN PROPER WORKING ORDER...THEY DO THEIR JOB AS EXPECTED AND HELP WARN THE PUBLIC. BUT...MANY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THESE SIRENS AND HAVE FALSE EXPECTATIONS OF THEM. THE COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE THE SIRENS CLEARLY STATE IN THEIR SALES BROCHURES THAT THE SIRENS ARE INTENDED FOR OUTDOOR WARNING PURPOSES. NOTE ESPECIALLY THE WORD -OUTDOOR-. THE SIRENS ARE THUS INTENDED TO ALERT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUTDOOR SPORTS...YARDWORK...RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES...AND SO FORTH. THE SIRENS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO... WAKE UP PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE SLEEPING ALERT MOTORISTS WHO HAVE THEIR WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND THE RADIO PLAYING ALERT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEIR HOUSES WITH APPLIANCES ON OR RADIOS OR TELEVISIONS PLAYING ALERT PEOPLE INDOORS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS EACH SIREN HAS A DESIGNATED RANGE OVER WHICH IT CAN BE HEARD... AND THIS RANGE DIFFERS FROM ONE TYPE OF SIREN TO ANOTHER. IN ARKANSAS...THE DECISIONS TO BLOW THE SIRENS ARE MADE BY DESIGNATED CITY OR COUNTY OFFICIALS...NOT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SIREN MANUFACTURERS ALSO MAKE SIRENS DESIGNED FOR INDOOR COMMERICAL USES. FOR EXAMPLE...A LARGE NOISY FACTORY MIGHT NEED BOTH AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALERTS. ...WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF - TORNADO SAFETY RULES... ONE OF THE NEWER SAFETY RULES IS THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO TAKE SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. A WIND TUNNEL EFFECT...CAUSED BY WIND BEING CHANNELED UNDER THE OVERPASS...CAN EASILY CAUSE A PERSON TO BE BLOWN OUT FROM BENEATH THE OVERPASS. IN ADDITION... THE CHANNELING EFFECT CAUSES WINDS TO BE STRONGER UNDER THE OVERPASS. FLYING DEBRIS CAN ALSO BE A SEVERE HAZARD. BE SURE YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WATCH AND A WARNING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A TORNADO WATCH WHEN TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN INDICATED ON DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR OR HAS BEEN SIGHTED. COUNTIES AND CITIES ARE MENTIONED IN TORNADO WARNINGS...SO KNOW THE COUNTIES AND CITIES NEAR WHERE YOU ARE. IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE AREA...KEEP A MAP HANDY FOR REFERENCE. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A RELIABLE WAY TO RECEIVE WEATHER INFORMATION. BATTERY-POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIOS ARE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE WEATHER...EVEN IF YOUR POWER HAS GONE OUT. A BATTERY-POWERED RADIO IS ALSO A NECESSITY IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BE OUTDOORS. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AT A LARGE GATHERING...SUCH AS AT A SCHOOL...STADIUM OR PLACE OF WORSHIP...MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND TO LISTEN FOR THE LATEST WATCHES AND WARNINGS. A TORNADO SHELTER...TORNADO CELLAR...OR A SAFE ROOM IS THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE...BUT MOST HOMES DO NOT HAVE THESE. THE NEXT SAFEST PLACE IS USUALLY A BASEMENT...BUT THESE ARE NOT COMMON IN ARKANSAS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A HOUSE OR BUILDING. YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF FURTHER BY GETTING UNDER A MATTRESS OR A HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE. MANY BUSINESSES...SUCH AS LARGE STORES...SHOPPING MALLS... HOSPITALS...NURSING HOMES...AND SCHOOLS HAVE PRE-ARRANGED SAFETY PLANS AND DESIGNATED SAFE AREAS. IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THESE PLACES...FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN INSIDE THESE BUILDINGS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE IN A VEHICLE...YOUR BEST OPTION IS TO MOVE TO A STURDY BUILDING. HOWEVER...IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN IN YOUR VEHICLE...LIE FLAT IN A NEARBY DITCH OR DEPRESSION. MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION DURING A TORNADO...AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED. REMEMBER THAT FLYING DEBRIS CAUSES THE MOST CASUALTIES IN A TORNADO. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ELDERLY...THE VERY YOUNG...AND PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CHALLENGES WILL OFTEN NEED MORE TIME TO GET TO SAFETY. MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS IF YOU ARE A CARE-GIVER FOR THESE PEOPLE. METEOROLOGISTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DO INTERVIEWS DURING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK. PLEASE CALL 501-834-0308. && FOR A LIST OF ALL THE TORNADOES AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN 2008... WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK/HTML/STORMSOF2008.PDF THE ANNUAL SEVERE WEATHER BROCHURE PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK IS ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK/HTML/SVR.HTM $$ 28  471 NOUS44 KSHV 251222 PNSSHV ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126- 136>138-149>153-165>167-251830- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 621 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES IN ARKANSAS... OKLAHOMA...AND TEXAS... TODAYS TOPICS ARE LIGHTNING FACTS AND THE 30 30 RULE. THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 25 MILLION CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES EACH YEAR. WHILE LIGHTNING CAN BE FASCINATING TO WATCH...IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY. DURING THE PAST 30 YEARS THROUGH 2006...LIGHTNING HAS KILLED AN AVERAGE OF 66 AMERICANS AND INJURED ANOTHER 300. THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS KILLED BY LIGHTNING TYPICALLY EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF DEATHS RESULTING FROM BOTH TORNADOES AND HURRICANES. MOST LIGHTNING CAUSED DEATHS OCCUR DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS...WHEN THE FREQUENCY OF THUNDERSTORMS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PEAK. DURING THE PAST 40 YEARS...FLORIDA AND TEXAS WERE RANKED FIRST AND SECOND IN THE COUNTRY IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LIGHTNING FATALITIES. BY DEFINITION...ALL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING. DURING A THUNDERSTORM...EACH FLASH OF CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS A POTENTIAL KILLER. ALTHOUGH SOME VICTIMS ARE STRUCK DIRECTLY BY THE MAIN VISIBLE LIGHTNING STRIKE...MOST VICTIMS ARE AFFECTED BY NEARBY STRIKES AS THE CURRENT MOVES IN...AND ALONG THE GROUND. BECAUSE OF THESE INDIRECT STRIKES...MOST VICTIMS SURVIVE...THOUGH OFTEN WITH LIFELONG PAINFUL EFFECTS. WHILE VIRTUALLY ALL PEOPLE TAKE SOME PROTECTIVE ACTION DURING A THUNDERSTORM...MANY UNKNOWINGLY LEAVE THEMSELVES VULNERABLE. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AS FAR AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA IN A THUNDERSTORM...WHICH IS ABOUT THE DISTANCE FROM A STORM THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR THE THUNDER...THEN YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THAT STORM. ALSO...WHEN YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR THUNDER IN AN URBAN SETTING ABOVE THE CITY NOISE...IT IS TIME TO ABANDON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. FOLLOW THE 30 30 LIGHTNING SAFETY RULE WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN YOUR AREA. GO INDOORS IF YOU CANNOT COUNT TO 30 BEFORE HEARING THUNDER...AFTER SEEING LIGHTNING. THIS METHOD MAY BE TOO DIFFICULT IF LIGHTNING FROM AN APPROACHING STORM IS VERY FREQUENT...AND THUNDER IS NEARLY CONSTANT. JUST GO INDOORS. THEN STAY INSIDE UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER HEARING THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER. DO NOT PREMATURELY RESUME OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES...AS THE STORM MOVES AWAY. FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO YOUR SAFETY FROM THE DEADLY BEAUTY OF LIGHTNING. $$  044 NOUS44 KCRP 251227 PNSCRP TXZ229>234-239>247-260030- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 627 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS... ...THE TOPIC FOR TODAY IS TORNADOES AND TORNADO SAFETY... TORNADOES ARE SOME OF NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS. IN AN AVERAGE YEAR ABOUT 1000 TORNADOES ARE REPORTED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES...RESULTING IN 85 DEATHS AND OVER 1500 INJURIES. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR EXTENDING FROM A THUNDERSTORM TO THE GROUND. THE MOST VIOLENT TORNADOES ARE CAPABLE OF TREMENDOUS DESTRUCTION WITH WIND SPEEDS OF 250 MPH OR MORE. DAMAGE PATHS CAN EXCEED A MILE IN WIDTH AND 50 MILES IN LENGTH. MAKING UP THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS TORNADO ALLEY...TEXAS RANKS FIRST IN THE COUNTRY IN THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF REPORTED TORNADOES WITH MORE THAN 130 SUCH EVENTS OCCURRING IN AN AVERAGE YEAR. EIGHT TEXANS ARE KILLED BY TORNADOES ANNUALLY. PEAK TORNADO SEASON IS DURING THE MONTHS OF MARCH THROUGH JUNE WITH NEARLY 70 PERCENT OF ALL TEXAS TORNADOES OCCURRING DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THE MONTH OF MAY IS THE SINGLE MOST ACTIVE TORNADO PRODUCING MONTH IN TEXAS. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR TORNADOES TO DEVELOP ACROSS TEXAS IS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THAT IS TYPICALLY THE TIME OF DAY WHEN THE ATMOSPHERE IS MOST UNSTABLE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT AS LONG AS THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS ARE PRESENT...TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP DURING ANY MONTH OF THE YEAR AND AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT. ...TORNADO SAFETY... TORNADOES CAN DESTROY A BUILDING IN A FEW SHORT SECONDS...THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SAFETY RULES FOR SURVIVING A TORNADO. IN HOMES AND SMALL BUILDINGS...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET...BATHROOM...OR AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH THICK BLANKETS...SLEEPING BAGS OR MATTRESSES. AT SCHOOLS...AS WELL AS HOSPITALS...FACTORIES AND SHOPPING MALLS...GO TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREAS...USUALLY AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR WITHOUT WINDOWS. KNEEL ON THE FLOOR AGAINST THE WALL AND PLACE YOUR HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD TO PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR YOUR HEAD. GET OUT OF MOBILE HOMES...PORTABLE CLASSROOMS...OR VEHICLES AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING FOR SHELTER. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY...GET INTO THE NEAREST DITCH OR DEPRESSION. LIE FLAT WITH YOUR HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. PLANNING AHEAD AND KNOWING THE SAFETY RULES IS ESSENTIAL IN BEING PREPARED WHEN A TORNADO STRIKES. YOUR LOCAL NWS OFFICE IN CORPUS CHRISTI WILL CONDUCT A TORNADO DRILL AT 10 AM CST TODAY...SO YOU CAN EXERCISE YOUR PLANS IN THE EVENT A TORNADO THREATENS YOUR LOCATION. THIS DRILL WILL CONSIST OF A TEST ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO USING THE REQUIRED WEEKLY TEST EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS) CODE. $$  719 NOUS43 KGLD 251230 PNSGLD FIVE HOUR PRECIPITATION SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS 530 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009 .BR GLD 0225 M DH05/PP : : VALUES REPRESENT PRECIPITATION OVER THE LAST : 5 HOURS SINCE MIDNIGHT MST (1 AM CST) : : : PCPN : GLD : GOODLAND KS AIRPORT : 0.00 HLC : HILL CITY KS AIRPORT : 0.00 MCK : MCCOOK NE AIRPORT : 0.00 ITR : BURLINGTON CO AIRPORT : 0.00 .END $$  226 NOUS45 KCYS 251248 PNSCYS NEZ001>003-019>021-054-055-WYZ059>070-260100- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHEYENNE WY 548 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... ...AVERAGE 2009 TEMPERATURE IN CHEYENNE IS THE 17TH WARMEST OF THE PAST 138 YEARS... THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN CHEYENNE FROM JANUARY 1ST THROUGH FEBRUARY 24TH OF 2009 WAS 31.4 DEGREES...MAKING THIS PERIOD THE 17TH WARMEST SUCH PERIOD IN CHEYENNE SINCE 1872. HERE IS A TABLE OF THE TWENTY WARMEST JANUARY 1ST THROUGH FEBRUARY 24TH PERIODS IN CHEYENNE WITH RESPECT TO AVERAGE TEMPERATURE. THIS IS OUT OF THE 138 SUCH PERIODS IN CHEYENNE SINCE 1872. AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (DEGREES FAHRENHEIT)...YEAR 35.9...1954 34.0...1934 33.7...1935 33.1...1986 32.6...1992 32.6...1983 32.4...1981 32.2...2005 32.1...1999 31.8...1907 31.8...2000 31.7...1931 31.5...1969 31.5...1958 31.5...1953 31.5...1920 31.4...2009 31.2...1970 31.1...1998 THROUGH FEBRUARY 24TH...THE AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IN CHEYENNE HAS BEEN 41.9 DEGREES...MAKING THIS YEAR THE 26TH WARMEST OUT OF THE PAST 138 YEARS IN TERMS OF AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE. THROUGH FEBRUARY 24TH...THE AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN CHEYENNE HAS BEEN 21.0 DEGREES...MAKING THIS YEAR THE 10TH WARMEST OUT OF THE PAST 138 YEARS IN TERMS OF AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE. $$ RUBIN  857 NOUS43 KLOT 251305 PNSLOT PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 700 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 SNOWFALL AND SNOW DEPTH REPORTS. DATA PROVIDED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO AREA AND ROCKFORD AREA SNOWFALL TEAM. 12 HR SNOWFALL 12 HR SNOWFALL TOTAL LOCATION ENDING 6AM ENDING 6PM SNOW TODAY YESTERDAY DEPTH AT 6AM ILLINOIS BATAVIA 0.0 / / 0 BEECHER 0.0 / / T DOWNERS GROVE 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 LA GRANGE 0.0 / / 1 MELROSE PARK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 OAK BROOK / 0.0 / PLAINFIELD 4SW 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 SCHAUMBURG 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 WILLOWBROOK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 YORKVILLE 2SE / 0.0 / NORTHWEST INDIANA HIGHLAND 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 SCHERERVILLE 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 VALPARAISO 3SE 0.0 / 0.0 / T $$  477 NOUS44 KTSA 251317 PNSTSA PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 717 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ARZ001-002-010-011-019-020-029-OKZ049-053>076-251500- BENTON-CARROLL-WASHINGTON AR-MADISON-CRAWFORD-FRANKLIN- SEBASTIAN-PUSHMATAHA-CHOCTAW-OSAGE-WASHINGTON OK-NOWATA- CRAIG-OTTAWA-PAWNEE-TULSA-ROGERS-MAYES-DELAWARE-CREEK- OKFUSKEE-OKMULGEE-WAGONER-CHEROKEE-ADAIR-MUSKOGEE- MCINTOSH-SEQUOYAH-PITTSBURG-HASKELL-LATIMER-LE FLORE- 430 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TODAYS TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS TORNADOES... OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR BRAD HENRY AND ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE HAVE PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23RD THROUGH 27TH AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN THEIR RESPECTIVE STATES. A DIFFERENT TOPIC WILL BE DISCUSSED EACH DAY...AND TODAYS TOPIC IS TORNADOES. A TORNADO IS DEFINED AS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND PENDANT FROM A THUNDERSTORM. AN AVERAGE OF 1000 TORNADOES DEVELOP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY. THESE TORNADOES KILL MORE THAN 60 AMERICANS AND INJURE ANOTHER 1500 IN A TYPICAL YEAR. THERE WERE 126 TORNADO RELATED FATALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 2008. ON AVERAGE...26 TORNADOES TOUCH DOWN IN ARKANSAS WITH OKLAHOMA AVERAGING 53 TORNADOES A YEAR. IN 2008...80 TORNADOES STRUCK ARKANSAS WHILE 77 TORNADOES STRUCK OKLAHOMA. THESE TORNADOES RESULTED IN 21 FATALITIES IN ARKANSAS AND SIX FATALITIES IN OKLAHOMA. NEARLY 400 INJURIES RESULTED FROM THESE STORMS ACROSS THESE TWO STATES. ONE FIFTH OF THE NATION/S TORNADO RELATED FATALITIES OCCURRED IN ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA LAST YEAR. BOTH STATES EXPERIENCED VIOLENT EF-4 TORNADOES LAST YEAR. A TORNADO OUTBREAK HAS ALREADY IMPACTED THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THIS YEAR. ON FEBRUARY 10TH...A VIOLENT EF-4 TORNADO STRUCK LONE GROVE KILLING EIGHT PEOPLE AND INJURING MANY MORE. SEVERAL OTHER TORNADOES OCCURRED THAT DAY INCLUDING ONE THAT MOVED ACROSS PORTIONS OF PAWNEE COUNTY IN OKLAHOMA. TORNADOES ARE MOST LIKELY TO DEVELOP ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS DURING THE SPRING MONTHS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. HOWEVER...AS LONG AS THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS ARE PRESENT... TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP DURING ANY MONTH OF THE YEAR AND AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. IN 2008...TORNADOES OCCURRED IN 7 MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWESTERN ARKANSAS...INCLUDING SEVERAL TORNADOES THAT TOUCHED DOWN IN JANUARY AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHERS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. TORNADOES ARE CLASSIFIED BY THE DAMAGE THEY PRODUCE...WHICH IS DETERMINED BY SURVEYING IMPACTED STRUCTURES WITHIN THEIR PATHS. THE NWS IMPLEMENTED THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE ON FEBRUARY 1ST 2007 AND THIS WILL BE USED TO MORE ACCURATELY DETERMINE WIND SPEEDS WITHIN THE TORNADO THAN WHAT WE USED IN THE PAST. THE THREE CLASSIFICATION CATEGORIES ARE WEAK...STRONG... AND VIOLENT. TORNADOES MAY MOVE FORWARD AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 75 MPH BUT SOME MAY REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY. REGARDLESS OF THEIR STRENGTH...APPEARANCE...OR FORWARD SPEED...ALL TORNADOES ARE DANGEROUS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF SURVIVING A TORNADO DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE WHEN SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS. IF AT HOME...TAKE SHELTER IN A PREDETERMINED SAFE PLACE SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR STORM CELLAR. GET UNDER SOMETHING HEAVY. IF NO SUCH PLACE IS AVAILABLE...THEN MOVE INTO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDIER STRUCTURE. IF IN YOUR VEHICLE...GO TO A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING. IF THERE IS NO BUILDING NEARBY AND YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER FROM THE TORNADO THEN LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE FOR A LOW SPOT SUCH AS A DITCH OR RAVINE. LIE LOW AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS. DO NOT STOP AT OVERPASSES AND ATTEMPT TO WAIT OUT THE TORNADO. MOST IMPORTANTLY...STAY INFORMED OF DEVELOPING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHEN TO EXPECT IT. A WEATHER RADIO WITH TONE ALERT FEATURE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS VITAL INFORMATION 24 HOURS A DAY. ONE WITH A BATTERY BACKUP IS SUGGESTED IN THE CASE OF A POWER OUTAGE. HAVE A PREDETERMINED PLAN OF ACTION THAT EVERYONE IN YOUR HOME KNOWS AND PRACTICE THIS PLAN AS SEVERE WEATHER SEASON APPROACHES. YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TULSA OR AMERICAN RED CROSS CHAPTER CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DEVELOP SUCH A PLAN. $$  367 NOUS44 KHUN 251347 PNSHUN ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-260000- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 750 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TODAY IS TORNADO AWARENESS DAY... SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A LOOK AT TORNADO SAFETY. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. IF THE CIRCULATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND...THEN IT IS TERMED A FUNNEL CLOUD. TORNADOES USUALLY DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS. WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES ARE USUALLY AROUND 100 MILES AN HOUR...BUT CAN APPROACH SPEEDS GREATER THAN 200 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MOST VIOLENT STORMS. YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT APPROACH YOUR LOCATION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING TORNADO WATCHES. A CAREFUL LOOKOUT SHOULD BE KEPT DURING ANY PERIOD OF SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY. PLAN IN ADVANCE WHERE YOU WILL GO AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IF A TORNADO THREATENS YOU. REMEMBER...WHEN A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED...IT MEANS THAT TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE...SO WATCH THE SKY FOR DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS AND ALL THE HAZARDS THEY BRING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR WEATHER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS. A TORNADO WATCH GIVES YOU THE TIME TO ACT INVOLVING WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF A TORNADO APPROACHES AND ALERTS YOU TO THE FACT THAT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS MIGHT FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES. A WATCH MIGHT COVER SEVERAL THOUSAND SQUARE MILES OVER PARTS OF ONE OR MORE STATES AND WILL BE IN EFFECT USUALLY AROUND SIX HOURS. A TORNADO WARNING...IS USUALLY ISSUED FOR ONE OR TWO COUNTIES AT A TIME AND IS IN EFFECT GENERALLY FOR A 45 MINUTE TIME PERIOD. A TORNADO WARNING MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED OR INDICATED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM SHOULD IMMEDIATELY FIND SHELTER...PREFERABLY IN A STURDY BUILDING...BELOW GROUND IF POSSIBLE. IF YOU SEE OR HEAR A TORNADO...OR IF YOUR FEEL THREATENED...MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A STRONG BUILDING. SECONDS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT TORNADO SAFETY RULES. IF YOU ARE IN A HOME OR A SMALL BUILDING...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM...ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR BED. COVER YOUR HEAD. MOST INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH DAMAGING WIND ARE HEAD INJURIES DUE TO FLYING DEBRIS. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...ABANDON THEM AND GO TO THE NEAREST STURDY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY...GO TO A LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS. IF YOU ARE IN A LARGE BUILDING...SUCH AS A SCHOOL...FACTORY... HOSPITAL...NURSING HOME...OR SHOPPING CENTER...GO TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE USUALLY THE BEST LOCATION TO GO TO IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO OCCURRING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS. IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS...GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR HALLWAY. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN OR CLOSE WINDOWS IF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CONTAINING A TORNADO IS APPROACHING. IT WILL NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE IF YOU OPEN THE WINDOW...AND YOU WILL JUST WASTE TIME OR PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER SHOULD THE GLASS BREAK DUE TO FLYING DEBRIS. PLEASE USE THESE IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THE DANGERS OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER HAZARDS. $$ TROUTMAN  725 NOUS43 KMKX 251350 PNSMKX WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-251800- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI 750 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 INFORMATION BELOW IS FROM AMATEUR RADIO LEAGUE WEATHER OBSERVERS AROUND THE U.S. AND CANADA WITH HOME WEATHER STATIONS. THIS INFORMATION IS RELAYED TO THE WISCONSIN BADGER WEATHER NET EACH MORNING. DATA IS FOR THE 24 HOURS ENDING AROUND 6 AM. DATA IS NOT QUALITY CONTROLLED. TEMP. AT NEW SNOW MAX. MIN. OBS. PCPN SNOW DEPTH ID TEMP TEMP TIME (IN.) (IN.) (IN.) LOCATION KQ8R 31 / 9 / 30 / 0.00 /0.0 /3 : LITCHFIELD MI NGS 32 / 5 / 27 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : OWOSSO MI C'D 39 / 16 / 34 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : HOMEWOOD IL IGB 39 / 15 / 34 / 0.00 /0.0 /M : ROCKFORD IL HEQ 44 / 25 / 40 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : OLNEY IL SOI 46 / 25 / 36 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : WASHINGTON IL WR9G 43 / 20 / 35 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : AUSTIN IN VTT 49 / 34 / 34 / 0.00 /0.0 /2 : OELWEIN IA AUX 62 / 31 / 31 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : EARLHAM IA OM 70 / 29 / 49 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : STUTTGART KS GOR 61 / 31 / 38 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : LINCOLN NE CXV 61 / 39 / 39 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : SHELBY NE HAT 33 / 24 / 24 / 0.00 /0.0 /T : MARION OH BOX 35 / 13 / 24 / 0.00 /0.0 /T : MARION OH LS 52 / 39 / 41 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : CLEVELAND TN NXV 44 / 21 / 36 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : MORRISTOWN TN VPI 51 / 17 / 41 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : CROSSVILLE TN GMW 49 / 31 / 48 / 0.01 /0.0 /0 : JACKSON TN IMI 55 / 17 / 45 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : MURFREESBORO TN HNI 52 / 41 / 42 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : LEWISBURG KY BIK 33 / 16 / 20 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : VERNON NJ PPQ 40 / 21 / 22 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : CHATHAM NJ WGE 35 / 18 / 20 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : SAUGERTIES NY BUZ 39 / 14 / 14 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : HARPERS FERRY WV JRA 50 / 37 / 37 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : COLUMBIA SC HJ 51 / 28 / 41 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : BUFORD GA MZE 66 / 57 / 57 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : GULF SHORES AL GQJ 73 / 48 / 48 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : VILLAGES FL DGU 69 / 35 / 56 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : THIBODAUX LA WM 84 / 44 / 65 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : CENTERVILLE TX MYL 84 / 47 / 55 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : SAN ANTONIO TX SKE 78 / 51 / 51 / 0.00 /0.0 /0 : ORGAN NM GD 26 / 3 / 7 / 0.26 /3.0 /18 : PINAWA CANADA .END $$  523 NOUS43 KLOT 251404 PNSLOT PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL 800 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 SNOWFALL AND SNOW DEPTH REPORTS. DATA PROVIDED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO AREA AND ROCKFORD AREA SNOWFALL TEAM. 12 HR SNOWFALL 12 HR SNOWFALL TOTAL LOCATION ENDING 6AM ENDING 6PM SNOW TODAY YESTERDAY DEPTH AT 6AM ILLINOIS BATAVIA 0.0 / / 0 BEACH PARK 0.0 / 0.0 / 3 BEECHER 0.0 / / T DOWNERS GROVE 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 LA GRANGE 0.0 / / 1 MELROSE PARK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 OAK BROOK / 0.0 / PLAINFIELD 4SW 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 SCHAUMBURG 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 WILLOWBROOK 0.0 / 0.0 / 1 YORKVILLE 2SE / 0.0 / 0 NORTHWEST INDIANA HIGHLAND 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 SCHERERVILLE 0.0 / 0.0 / 0 VALPARAISO 3SE 0.0 / 0.0 / T $$  242 NOUS44 KSHV 251422 PNSSHV ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126- 136>138-149>153-165>167-251500- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 815 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...AREA SCHOOL TORNADO DRILL TO BE CONDUCTED THIS MORNING FOR THE SHREVEPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COUNTY WARNING AREA... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH AREA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS WILL CONDUCT A TORNADO DRILL EXERCISE THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR OKLAHOMA...TEXAS...AND ARKANSAS AREA SCHOOLS. THIS ANNUAL SPRING EXERCISE IS PRIMARILY FOR ALL OKLAHOMA... TEXAS...AND ARKANSAS SCHOOLS WITHIN THE WARNING AREA OF THE SHREVEPORT N W S OFFICE...TO CHECK THEIR MEANS OF RECEIVING A STORM WARNING ON A REAL TIME BASIS...AND UPON RECEIPT OF THE TEST WARNING MESSAGE...CONDUCT A DRILL TO CHECK THEIR PRIOR PREPAREDNESS PLANS. BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 900 AM AND 930 AM CST...A TEST TORNADO WARNING MESSAGE WILL BE ISSUED AS A ROUTINE WEEKLY TEST BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN SHREVEPORT FOR THE OKLAHOMA...TEXAS... AND ARKANSAS COUNTY AREA. THIS MESSAGE WILL BE AIRED ON THE N O A A WEATHER RADIO STATIONS IN BROKEN BOW...TEXARKANA...SHREVEPORT... TYLER...LUFKIN...CENTER...GILMER...MARIETTA...AND EL DORADO... PRECEDED BY THE WARNING ALARM TONE. THIS MESSAGE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A TERMINATION MESSAGE ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER. IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR ALL SEGMENTS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS IN THE AREA TO RESPOND TO THIS SIMULATED TORNADO WARNING DRILL. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ALSO ACTIVATE THE SPECIFIC AREA MESSAGE ENCODER SYSTEM ALSO KNOWN AS...S A M E. THE...S A M E... SYSTEM UTILIZES DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO ALERT USERS IN SPECIFIC COUNTIES. USERS THAT HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED...OR ARE PLANNING TO PURCHASE...THE N O A A WEATHER RADIOS WITH THE SPECIFIC AREA MESSAGE ENCODING TECHNOLOGY ARE ABLE TO PROGRAM THEIR WEATHER RADIOS TO ALARM FOR SPECIFIC COUNTIES WHILE IGNORING WARNINGS FOR OTHER COUNTIES. $$ 03  275 NOUS44 KTSA 251505 PNSTSA PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 905 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 OKZ060-251800- TULSA- 905 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...OUTDOOR SIRENS TO BE TESTED IN TULSA TODAY... THE TULSA AREA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WILL CONDUCT A TEST OF THE OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS AT NOON TODAY. $$  022 NOUS42 KRAH 251514 PNSRAH NCZ026-027-041>043-077-078-252100- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1014 AM EST WED FEB 25 2009 ...GARNER NOAA WEATHER RADIO TEMPORARILY OFF THE AIR... NOAA WEATHER RADIO WNG-706 BROADCASTING ON A FREQUENCY 162.450 IS EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. A TECHNICIAN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. $$  268 NOUS44 KSHV 251526 PNSSHV ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138- 149>153-165>167-251600- TORNADO DRILL 2008 TERMINATION BULLETIN NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 925 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...OKLAHOMA...TEXAS...AND ARKANSAS TORNADO DRILL EXERCISE TERMINATION MESSAGE... AT 915 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN SHREVEPORT INITIATED A TORNADO DRILL EXERCISE FOR OKLAHOMA...TEXAS...AND ARKANSAS...BY ISSUING A MESSAGE ON THE N O A A WEATHER RADIO STATIONS IN BROKEN BOW...TEXARKANA...GILMER...TYLER...LUFKIN...CENTER... MARIETTA...SHREVEPORT...AND EL DORADO... PRECEDED BY THE WARNING ALARM TONE. AS OF 925 AM CST...THE TORNADO DRILL IS TERMINATED. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DRILL WAS TO CHECK THE VALIDITY OF THREE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN A SEVERE STORM WARNING SYSTEM: 1. TO RECEIVE A STORM WARNING ON A REAL TIME BASIS. 2. THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT PRIOR PREPAREDNESS PLANS IN A VERY SHORT TIME...ESPECIALLY AT SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS. 3. THE RESPONSE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. THE MESSAGE ON THE N O A A WEATHER RADIO WAS PRECEDED BY AN ALARM TONE. ALL PERSONS THAT HAVE AN ALARMABLE WEATHER RADIO SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE SIGNAL AT 915 AM THIS MORNING...FOLLOWED BY THE TORNADO DRILL EXERCISE MESSAGE. IN ADDITION...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ACTIVATED THE SPECIFIC AREA MESSAGE ENCODER OR S A M E. THE SAME TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS USERS THAT HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED OR ARE CONSIDERING PURCHASING N O A A WEATHER RADIOS WITH SPECIFIC AREA MESSAGE ENCODERS...TO PROGRAM THEIR WEATHER RADIOS TO ALERT FOR SPECIFIC COUNTIES AND PARISHES IN THEIR LISTENING AREA. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK YOUR SYSTEM WEEKLY. EACH WEDNESDAY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 AM AND 12 NOON...WEATHER PERMITTING...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TESTS THE N O A A WEATHER RADIO SYSTEMS IN SHREVEPORT...MONROE...NATCHITOCHES...TEXARKANA... LUFKIN...TYLER...GILMER...CENTER...MARIETTA...BROKEN BOW...AND EL DORADO. THIS CONCLUDES THE TORNADO DRILL EXERCISE FOR SPRING 2009. SCHOOLS AND OTHER AGENCIES MAY RESUME NORMAL ACTIVITIES. THIS HAS BEEN A TEST...NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS INDICATED ACROSS THE AREA. $$ 03  539 NOUS43 KMPX 251528 PNSMPX MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 251800- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 930 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 CHANHASSEN DOPPLER RADAR WILL BE DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE TODAY BETWEEN 10 AND 11 AM. $$ AZ  900 NOUS44 KBMX 251529 PNSBMX ALZ011>015-017>050-251544- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 929 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...THIS WEEK IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA... ...SPECIAL WEEKLY NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS TEST ISSUANCE... A SPECIAL WEEKLY NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS TEST IS BEING CONDUCTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK. THIS TEST REPLACES THE WEEKLY NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS TEST THAT IS NORMALLY PERFORMED BETWEEN 11 AM AND NOON EACH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE USE THIS SPECIAL TEST TO CHECK THE OPERATION OF YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS AND RUN THROUGH YOUR SAFETY PLANS. REMEMBER, TORNADOES FORM QUICKLY. YOU MAY HAVE ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO REACT AND FIND SHELTER. WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS, YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTIONS CAN SAVE LIVES, INCLUDING YOUR OWN. KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME TORNADO SAFETY RULES... IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET, BATHROOM OR AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY LIKE A HEAVY TABLE, IF AVAILABLE. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH PILLOWS, HEAVY COATS, BLANKETS OR QUILTS. USE BICYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS, DOORS AND OUTSIDE WALLS. DO NOT BOTHER OPENING OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND DOORS AS THIS WILL NOT PROTECT THE STRUCTURE. THIS WILL ONLY CAUSE YOU TO WASTE VALUABLE TIME WHICH MAY PUT YOURSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS AT GREATER RISK. USE THOSE VALUABLE SECONDS TO FIND A PLACE OF SAFETY. REMEMBER TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD. IN SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, FACTORIES AND SHOPPING CENTERS, GO TO A PRE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. BASEMENTS ARE THE BEST, BUT INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR USUALLY OFFER PROTECTION AS WELL. CLOSE ALL DOORS TO THE HALLWAY TO ENSURE THE BEST PROTECTION. IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES, LEAVE THEM AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY, GET INTO THE NEAREST DITCH, DEPRESSION OR UNDERGROUND CULVERT AND LIE FLAT WITH YOUR HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. BUT PLEASE BE WARY OF THE POTENTIAL OF FLASH FLOODING IN THESE LOW LYING AREAS. FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS, PLEASE REFER BACK TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUED EARLIER THIS MORNING OR VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV AND THEN CLICK ON CENTRAL ALABAMA. $$  688 NOUS43 KSGF 251545 PNSSGF KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-261544- VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVATION REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 944 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 MAX MIN COUNTY LOCATION TEMP TEMP PRECIP SIGNIFICANT WEATHER BARRY ROARING RIVER SP 54 33 0.00 BENTON EDWARDS 6W 54 33 0.00 DOUGLAS AVA 53 36 T HICKORY CROSS TIMBERS 2N 54 34 0.08 HOWELL WEST PLAINS 5SW 58 39 T JASPER SARCOXIE 1W 53 39 0.00 LACLEDE 1 SE MORGAN 56 34 T LAWRENCE MILLER 51 38 0.00 LAWRENCE 3 NE MONETT 47 40 0.00 MORGAN GRAVOIS MILLS 46 29 T NEWTON NEOSHO 5W 57 39 0.00 OZARK NOBLE 1S 54 31 0.00 OZARK DORA 54 40 T STONE CRANE 4N 56 33 0.00 TANEY RIDGEDALE 4W 53 33 T TEXAS ROBY 57 40 0.00 WEBSTER NIANGUA 57 33 0.00  697 NOUS45 KBOU 251611 AAA PNSBOU PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO 910 AM MST WED FEB 25 2009 ...DENVER METRO AREA SNOWFALL REPORTS... NOTE: ALL REPORTS ARE IN INCHES NOTE: T = TRACE (LESS THAN 0.1 INCH) NOTE: 24 HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS SNOWFALL SNOWFALL SNOWFALL 24 HOUR TOTAL MONTHLY TOTAL SEASONAL TOTAL (FEBRUARY) (7/1/08-6/30/09) DENVER INTL AIRPORT 0.0 T 16.9 THROUGH 5AM DENVER-STAPLETON 0.0 0.8 13.9 THROUGH 6AM EVERGREEN 0.0 2.1 29.4 THROUGH 8AM NORTH LONGMONT 0.0 5.8 22.4 THROUGH 8AM RALSTON RESERVOIR 0.0 3.0 28.0 THROUGH 8AM WHEAT RIDGE 0.0 4.7 38.3 THROUGH 7AM $$ JK  873 NOUS44 KHGX 251615 PNSHGX TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-251715- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1015 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 THE TEST OR MOCK TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS HAS EXPIRED. THIS DRILL WAS PART OF SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS. IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE MOCK TORNADO WARNING DRILL...PLEASE TAKE TIME TO EVALUATE YOUR PERFORMANCE AND IDENTIFY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. IF YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS RADIO DID NOT WORK PROPERLY...PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF THE HOUSTON GALVESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 281-337-5074 FOR ASSISTANCE. $$  401 NOUS43 KFSD 251709 PNSFSD IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089- 090-097-098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-261708- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD 1108 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...SIOUX FALLS CLIMATE DATA... HIGH TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY.... 48 LOW TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY.... 27 PRECIPITATION SINCE MIDNIGHT..... 0.00 SNOWFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT.......... 0.0 CURRENT SNOWDEPTH................ 0 ...HURON CLIMATE DATA... HIGH TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY.... 32 LOW TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY.... 23 PRECIPITATION SINCE MIDNIGHT..... 0.00 SNOWFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT.......... 0.0 CURRENT SNOWDEPTH................ 0 ...SIOUX CITY CLIMATE DATA... HIGH TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY.... 43 LOW TEMPERATURE SO FAR TODAY.... 33 PRECIPITATION SINCE MIDNIGHT..... 0.00 SNOWFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT.......... 0.0 CURRENT SNOWDEPTH................ 0 MISSOURI RIVER STAGE............. 10.18 $$  046 NOUS44 KMOB 251745 PNSMOB ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-251800- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 1145 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...MOBILE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER OUT OF SERVICE... THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER AT MOBILE, ALABAMA...OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.55 MHZ. WILL BE OFF THE AIR FOR MAINTENANCE UNTIL 1215 PM CST. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE...AND ARE WORKING TO RETURN THE MOBILE NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER TO SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. $$  366 NOUS42 KRAH 251747 PNSRAH NCZ026-027-041>043-077-078-251900- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 1247 PM EST WED FEB 25 2009 ...GARNER NOAA WEATHER RADIO BACK ON THE AIR... NOAA WEATHER RADIO WNG-706 BROADCASTING ON A FREQUENCY 162.450 HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATIONS. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. $$  060 NOUS44 KMOB 251817 PNSMOB ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-251800- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 1215 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...MOBILE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER HAS RETURNED TO SERVICE... THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER AT MOBILE ALABAMA...OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.55 MHZ HAS RETURNED RETURNED TO SERVICE. $$  771 NOUS44 KSHV 251821 PNSSHV ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126- 136>138-149>153-165>167-260300- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 1220 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...CONTINUING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ARKANSAS...OKLAHOMA... AND TEXAS... THIS AFTERNOONS TOPIC IS SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY FOR BOATERS. AS THE SUN RISES HIGH IN THE SKY...THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES ACTIVE BY ABSORBING MORE HEAT ENERGY. THIS STARTS THE RECIPE FOR THUNDERSTORM PRODUCTION. KNOWING WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR AND WHERE TO FIND WEATHER ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS COULD MAKE YOUR TIME SPENT ON THE WATER MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. WHEN SPRING AND SUMMER COME AROUND...OUTSIDE BOATING AND FISHING ACTIVITIES INCREASE. THE FREQUENCY OF THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE AS WELL. BOATERS ARE CAUGHT OFF GUARD TOO FREQUENTLY WHEN STORMS ROLL OVER THE HORIZON. USUALLY WHEN YOU OBSERVE DARK FAST MOVING CLOUDS HEADED YOUR WAY...IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE TO HEAD FOR A SAFE LOCATION...IF YOU ARE ON THE OPEN WATER. HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LARGER WEATHER PICTURE AND KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WHEN THESE SUDDEN STORMS APPEAR...COULD HELP YOU ENJOY A SAFER AND MORE PLEASANT JOURNEY. FORTUNATELY...BOATS EQUIPPED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIOS WILL BE ABLE TO TUNE INTO THE WARNINGS AND WEATHER STATEMENTS BEING ISSUED BY THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. THESE STATEMENTS WILL GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE THE STORMS ARE HEADING...AND HOW SEVERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE. IF YOUR VESSEL IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO...GET WEATHER INFORMATION FROM YOUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND TRUSTED WEB SITES ON THE INTERNET BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT FOR THE LAKE. KNOWING THE LARGER WEATHER PICTURE BEFORE VENTURING OUT INTO THE OPEN WATERS COULD SAVE NOT ONLY AGGRAVATION...BUT YOUR LIFE AS WELL. GET TO KNOW THE WEATHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO YOU IN YOUR AREA AND CHART A COURSE TOWARD BOATING SAFETY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WEATHER SAFETY FOR BOATERS...CALL YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE...OR VISIT THEM ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV. $$  118 NOUS45 KMSO 251827 PNSMSO PRECIPITATION TOTALS FOR THE PAST 36 HOURS FOR WESTERN MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO ARE LISTED BELOW. LOCATION ELEVATION PRECIP COMMENTS (FEET) (INCHES) (TIME OF OBSERVATION) ...IDZ005 - NORTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS... COOL CREEK 6279 0.60 1000 AM CRATER MEADOWS 5960 1.50 1000 AM HEMLOCK BUTTE 5810 1.50 1000 AM ELK BUTTE 5420 1.10 1000 AM SHANGHAI SUMMIT 4600 1.00 1000 AM HEADQUARTERS 3165 0.80 1030 AM PIERCE 3085 0.89 1000 AM ELK RIVER 2918 1.10 1000 AM ...IDZ006 - SOUTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS... SAVAGE PASS 6171 1.30 1000 AM POWELL 3409 0.51 1030 AM FENN 1520 0.90 1000 AM LOWELL 1480 0.69 1000 AM ...MTZ001 - KOOTENAI/CABINET REGION... HAWKINS LAKE 6450 0.50 1000 AM YAAK 9 NNE 3075 0.52 1100 PM BULL LAKE 2325 2.01 800 AM LIBBY 2070 0.53 1000 AM TROY 1950 1.02 1000 AM ...MTZ002 - WEST GLACIER REGION... BADGER PASS 6900 1.00 1000 AM MOSS PEAK 6781 0.90 1000 AM FLATTOP MOUNTAIN 6299 2.00 1000 AM MORRISEY RIDGE 6100 0.80 800 AM MARIAS PASS SUMMIT 5233 0.89 930 AM GRAVE CREEK 4301 1.30 1000 AM ESSEX 3870 0.60 830 AM HUNGRY HORSE DAM 3560 0.51 1030 AM POLEBRIDGE 1 N 3540 0.54 800 AM ...MTZ004 - LOWER CLARK FORK REGION... SLEEPING WOMAN 6152 0.90 1000 AM HOODOO BASIN 6050 1.90 1000 AM MULLAN PASS 6026 0.98 1030 AM LOOKOUT 5121 1.50 1000 AM NINE MILE 3267 0.60 1000 AM SUPERIOR 2710 0.70 400 PM ST. REGIS 2680 0.80 1000 AM THOMPSON FALLS A/P 2460 0.53 1000 AM HERON 2 NW 2240 0.80 600 PM ...MTZ005 - MISSOULA/BITTERROOT VALLEYS... HAMILTON 3545 0.63 700 AM STEVI 3365 0.66 1000 AM ...MTZ006 - BITTERROOT/SAPPHIRE MOUNTAINS... SKALKAHO SUMMIT 7251 0.90 1000 AM TWIN LAKES 6401 0.60 1000 AM DALY CREEK 5781 0.50 1000 AM NEZ PERCE CAMP 5640 0.50 1000 AM TWELVEMILE CREEK 5600 1.20 1000 AM COMBINATION 5600 0.50 1000 AM LOLO PASS 5239 1.40 1000 AM LOLO HOT SPRINGS 4055 0.60 1000 AM ...MTZ007 - BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION... BARKER LAKES 8251 0.50 1000 AM WARM SPRINGS 7798 0.70 1000 AM PETERSON MEADOWS 7200 0.50 1000 AM ...MTZ043 - POTOMAC/SEELEY LAKE REGION... KRAFT CREEK 4751 0.90 1000 AM STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FOR THE PAST 36 HOURS FOR WESTERN MONTANA AND NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO ARE LISTED BELOW. LOCATION ELEVATION SNOWFALL COMMENTS (FEET) (INCHES) (TIME OF OBSERVATION) ...IDZ060 - SOUTHERN CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS... LOLO PASS 5240 24.0 0900 AM ...MTZ002 - WEST GLACIER REGION... MORRISEY RIDGE 6100 6.5 800 AM STAHL PEAK 6030 9.0 1000 AM MARIAS PASS SUMMIT 5233 6.0 700 AM ...MTZ004 - LOWER CLARK FORK REGION... LOOKOUT PASS 4725 12.0 1000 AM ...MTZ007 - BUTTE/BLACKFOOT REGION... GEORGETOWN LAKE 6410 5.5 900 AM weather.gov/missoula  494 NOUS41 KWBC 251848 PNSWSH TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE 09-11 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC 148 PM EST WED FEB 25 2009 TO: SUBSCRIBERS: -FAMILY OF SERVICES -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES FROM: JOSEPH FACUNDO CHIEF...OBSERVING SYSTEMS BRANCH OFFICE OF OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS SUBJECT: AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM /ASOS/ COMMUNICATIONS TRANSFER FROM NWS TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ FOR LAS VEGAS NEVADA: EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 24 2009 NOTE: THE FOLLOWING CHANGES HAVE NO IMPACT ON NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE SUBSCRIBERS. THIS IS THE LATEST MESSAGE IN A SERIES OF TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICES /TIN/. THE LAST TIN ON THIS SUBJECT WAS TIN 09-07 DATED FEBRUARY 12 2009. THIS MESSAGE LISTS THE EFFECTIVE DATE THE NWS ADVANCED WEATHER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM /AWIPS/ TRANSMISSION PATH HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED AT SPECIFIC ASOS LOCATIONS. ADDITIONAL MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THE AWIPS TRANSMISSION PATH HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED AT SUCCEEDING LOCATIONS. LONG-LINE TRANSMISSION OF OBSERVATIONS FROM A SELECT GROUP OF ASOS LOCATIONS IS MOVING FROM NWS AWIPS NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS PATHWAY TO FAA AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM /AWOS/-ASOS DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM /ADAS/ NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS PATHWAY. THIS TRANSITION...SCHEDULED THROUGH 2010...INVOLVES CONNECTION OF THESE ASOSES TO THE FAA ADAS TRANSMISSION PATH FOLLOWED BY DISCONNECTION FROM THE NWS AWIPS TRANSMISSION PATH. WHEN THE CHANGE OCCURS...SELECT OBSERVATIONS FROM THESE ASOS LOCATIONS WILL BE TRANSMITTED LONG-LINE ONLY THROUGH THE FAA ADAS NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMISSION PATH. ON FEBRUARY 24 2009 THE FOLLOWING ASOS LOCATION TRANSITIONED NETWORK COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS FROM NWS AWIPS TO FAA ADAS: SID LOCATION STATE NWS AWIPS TERMINATED KLAS LAS VEGAS NV 02/24/09 WHEN NWS AWIPS TRANSMISSION PATH CONNECTION ENDS AT THIS LOCATION...SELECT OBSERVATIONS WILL BE TRANSMITTED LONG-LINE FROM FAA TO NWS AND DISSEMINATED UNDER NEW WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION /WMO/ HEADINGS/COLLECTIVES AND WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE UNDER FORMER WMO HEADINGS/COLLECTIVES. THIS CHANGE WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING ASOS OBSERVATIONS: ASOS AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORTS /METAR/...AVIATION SELECTED SPECIAL WEATHER REPORTS /SPECI/...STANDARD HYDRO METEOROLOGICAL EXCHANGE FORMAT /SHEF/ PRECIPITATION CRITERIA...SHEF HOURLY ACCUMULATION MESSAGES...DAILY SUMMARY MESSAGES /DSM/ AND MONTHLY SUMMARY MESSAGES /MSM/. THE FOLLOWING ARE WMO BULLETIN HEADINGS/COLLECTIVES CHANGES FOR LAS VEGAS NEVADA: METAR MESSAGES ASOS WMO HEADING WMO COLLECTIVE WMO COLLECTIVE SID OLD OLD NEW KLAS SAUS45 KVEF SAUS80 KWBC SAUS70 KWBC SPECI MESSAGES ASOS WMO HEADING WMO COLLECTIVE WMO COLLECTIVE SID OLD OLD NEW KLAS SPUS45 KVEF SPUS80 KWBC SPUS70 KWBC ASOS SHEF PRECIPITATION CRITERIA MESSAGE ASOS WMO HEADING WMO HEADING FAA HUB SID OLD NEW KLAS SRUS65 KVEF SRUS27 KZLA LOS ANGELES ASOS SHEF HOURLY ROUTINE MESSAGE ASOS WMO HEADING WMO HEADING FAA HUB SID OLD NEW KLAS SRUS75 KVEF SRUS27 KZLA LOS ANGELES ASOS DAILY SUMMARY MESSAGE ASOS WMO HEADING WMO HEADING FAA HUB SID OLD NEW KLAS CXUS45 KVEF CDUS27 KZLA LOS ANGELES ASOS MONTHLY SUMMARY MESSAGE ASOS WMO HEADING WMO HEADING FAA HUB SID OLD NEW KLAS CSUS45 KVEF CSUS27 KZLA LOS ANGELES USERS WITH AUTOMATIC DECODERS SHOULD REPROGRAM THEIR SYSTEMS NOW TO RECOGNIZE THE NEW BULLETIN HEADINGS FOR THESE ASOS OBSERVATIONS. DELIVERY OF THESE REPORTS AND MESSAGES TO NWS USERS MAY BE DELAYED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES DUE TO INCREASED COMMUNICATIONS HANDLING BETWEEN FAA AND NWS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE CHANGES...PLEASE CONTACT: DAVE MANNARANO OFFICE OF OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS W/OPS22 SILVER SPRING MARYLAND 20910 PHONE: 301-713-2093 EXT. 103 E-MAIL: DAVID.MANNARANO@NOAA.GOV OR ANTHONY ROBINSON OFFICE OF CLIMATE WATER AND WEATHER SERVICES W/OS12 SILVER SPRING MARYLAND 20910 PHONE: 301-713-1373 EXT. 165 E-MAIL: ANTHONY.ROBINSON@NOAA.GOV NATIONAL TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM $$ NNNN  621 NOUS43 KEAX 251923 PNSEAX KSZ025-057-060-102>105-MOZ001>008-011>017-020>025-028>033-037>040- 043>046-053-054-252200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO 122 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO WSR-88D (KEAX) RADAR WILL BE DOWN FROM 1925Z UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 2200Z THIS AFTERNOON FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS OUTAGE MAY CAUSE OUR CUSTOMERS. ADJACENT/BACK-UP WSR-88D RADARS: KDMX - DES MOINES, IA KTWX - TOPEKA, KS KLSX - ST LOUIS, MO KOAX - OMAHA, NE KSGF - SPRINGFIELD, MO KICT - WICHITA, KS $$ 19  093 NOUS44 KLIX 251941 PNSLIX LAZ038>040-057>064-067>070-261600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 140 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO IN BURAS TEMPORARILY OFF THE AIR... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL WILL BE TAKING THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO STATION IN NEW ORLEANS...OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.550 MHZ...OFF THE AIR TEMPORARILY FOR MAINTENANCE AROUND 1000 AM CST THURSDAY. THE RADIO WILL BE OFF AIR FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX HOURS. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE. $$  579 NOUS44 KLIX 251949 CCA PNSLIX LAZ038>040-057>064-067>070-261600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 140 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO IN NEW ORLEANS TEMPORARILY OFF THE AIR... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL WILL BE TAKING THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO STATION IN NEW ORLEANS...OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.550 MHZ...OFF THE AIR TEMPORARILY FOR MAINTENANCE AROUND 1000 AM CST THURSDAY. THE RADIO WILL BE OFF AIR FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX HOURS. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE. $$  581 NOUS41 KWBC 252001 PNSWSH SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 09-16 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC 300 PM WED FEB 25 2009 TO: SUBSCRIBERS: - FAMILY OF SERVICES - NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE - EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK - OTHER NWS PARTNERS AND USERS - NWS EMPLOYEES - USERS OF TSUNAMI PRODUCTS FROM: THERESE Z. PIERCE CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH SUBJECT: OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VALID TIME EVENT CODE /VTEC/ IN NWS TSUNAMI /TSU/ PRODUCTS EFFECTIVE TUESDAY JUNE 30 2009 EFFECTIVE TUESDAY JUNE 30 2009 AT 1900 UNIVERSAL COORDINATED TIME /UTC/...9 AM HAWAII STANDARD TIME... 11 AM ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME... 3 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME ON...NWS WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER /WC/ATWC/ IN PALMER ALASKA /AK/ AND NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER /PTWC/ IN EWA BEACH HAWAII /HI/ WILL OPERATIONALLY IMPLEMENT THE VALID TIME EVENT CODE /VTEC/ FOR SEVERAL DOMESTIC TSUNAMI /TSU/ PRODUCTS. IF JUNE 30 2009 IS DECLARED A NATIONAL CRITICAL WEATHER DAY...IMPLEMENTATION WILL OCCUR ON THE NEXT WEEKDAY NOT DECLARED A CRITICAL WEATHER DAY. VTEC ALWAYS IS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH...AND PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION TO...THE UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE /UGC/ TO FURTHER AID IN THE AUTOMATED DELIVERY OF NWS TEXT PRODUCTS TO USERS. THE UGC CODE DESCRIBES THE AFFECTED GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND INCLUDES A PRODUCT EXPIRATION TIME. THE VTEC CODE PROVIDES FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EVENT SUCH AS THE HAZARD... ITS STATUS...EVENT TRACKING NUMBER... AND STARTING/ENDING TIMES OF THE HAZARD. THE VTEC LINE OCCURS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE UGC LINE. TABLE 1 DESCRIBES THE NWS TSUNAMI /TSU/ PRODUCTS THAT WILL CONTAIN THE VTEC LINE. UGC AND VTEC CODES ARE PROVIDED FOR UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES ONLY. THE WEPA41 AND WEXX20 TSUNAMI /TSU/ PRODUCTS INCLUDE CANADA ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO ASSOCIATED UGC CODES. TABLE 2 DESCRIBES THE VTEC EVENT CODES THAT WILL BE USED IN THE PRODUCTS LISTED IN TABLE 1. TABLE 1. NWS TSUNAMI /TSU/ PRODUCTS THAT WILL CONTAIN THE VTEC LINE EFFECTIVE JUNE 30 2009. PRODUCT NAME WMO HEADING AWIPS ID ISSUING CENTER TSUNAMI MESSAGE WEHW40 PHEB TSUHWX PTWC TSUNAMI MESSAGE WEPA41 PAAQ TSUWCA WC/ATWC TSUNAMI MESSAGE WEXX20 PAAQ TSUAT1 WC/ATWC TABLE 2. VTEC EVENT CODES THAT WILL BE USED IN THE PRODUCTS LISTED IN TABLE 1. PHENOMENA NAME/CODE EVENT NAME/CODE TSUNAMI/TS TSUNAMI WATCH/TS.A TSUNAMI/TS TSUNAMI WARNING/TS.W TSUNAMI/TS TSUNAMI ADVISORY/TS.Y VTEC IS DESCRIBED IN FURTHER DETAIL IN NWS INSTRUCTION 10-1703...ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/DIRECTIVES/SYM/PD01017003CURR.PDF MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON VTEC CAN BE FOUND AT THE VTEC WEB SITE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/VTEC VTEC IN TSUNAMI PRODUCTS WILL FOLLOW THE RULES IN THE DOCUMENTS MENTIONED ABOVE EXCEPT FOR THE EVENT TRACKING NUMBER /ETN/ ELEMENT. ETNS WILL INCREMENT GLOBALLY AT EACH CENTER BY TSUNAMI EVENT /WHETHER WARNING... WATCH... OR ADVISORY/... WITH THE ETNS FOR ANY LEVEL OF HAZARD BEING THE SAME FOR THAT EVENT. THE TWO TSUNAMI WARNING CENTERS WILL HAVE SEPARATE ETNS. VTEC EXAMPLES IN TSUNAMI PRODUCTS ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: WC/ATWC PRODUCTS HTTP://WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV/EXAMPLES PTWC PRODUCTS - HTTP://WWW.PRH.NOAA.GOV/PTWC/ABOUT_MESSAGES.PHP?REGION=1 CUSTOMERS RECEIVING THE PRODUCTS IN TABLE 1 SHOULD REPROGRAM THEIR SOFTWARE TO EFFECTIVELY USE NEW VTEC CODES LISTED IN TABLE 2. ANY REQUIRED OPERATIONAL TESTING OF VTEC WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER JUNE 30 2009 AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE TESTING. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...PLEASE CONTACT: PAUL WHITMORE DIRECTOR WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER ALASKA PHONE: 907-745-4212 PAUL.WHITMORE@NOAA.GOV CHARLES MCCREERY DIRECTOR PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HAWAII PHONE: 808-792-4301 CHARLES.MCCREERY@NOAA.GOV RICHARD MAY MARINE METEOROLOGIST SILVER SPRING MARYLAND PHONE: 301-713-1677 X 127 RICHARD.MAY@NOAA.GOV NATIONAL SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF/HTM $$  153 NOUS44 KLZK 252004 PNSLZK ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-260400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 200 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...TODAYS TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS TORNADOES... ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE HAS PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23TH THROUGH 27TH AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ARKANSAS. A DIFFERENT TOPIC WILL BE DISCUSSED EACH DAY...AND TODAYS TOPIC IS TORNADOES. ARKANSAS RECORDED 80 TORNADOES IN 2008. THIS MADE IT THE SECOND MOST ACTIVE TORNADO YEAR EVER RECRORDED IN ARKANSAS. THE RECORD NUMBER OF TORNADOES IS 107 IN 1999. IN 2008...ONE SIXTH OF THE TORNADO FATALITIES IN THE NATION OCCURRED IN ARKANSAS. LAST YEAR...21 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES TO TORNADOES IN THE STATE...AND 225 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. IT WAS THE DEADLIEST YEAR FOR TORNADOES SINCE 1997...THE YEAR OF THE ARKADELPHIA TORNADO... WHEN 26 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. THE STRONGEST TORNADO IN THE STATE LAST YEAR WAS RATED AS EF4 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE. THIS TORNADO STAYED ON THE GROUND FOR 121.84 MILES /2 HOURS AND 7 MINUTES/...SETTING A RECORD FOR THE LONGEST TORNADO PATH EVER RECORDED IN ARKANSAS. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 112 MILES ON FEBRUARY 20 1951. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT SPRINGTIME IS THE ONLY TORNADO SEASON IN ARKANSAS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE...AS WAS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN RECENT YEARS. IN 2001...2002...2004 AND 2005...THE GREATEST TORNADO OUTBREAKS OCCURRED IN THE FALL. TORNADOES CLEARLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TAKE LIVES AND CAUSE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE...BUT PRECAUTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO LESSEN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES. ...OUTDOOR TORNADO SIRENS... MANY TOWNS AND COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS HAVE ACQUIRED OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC WHEN TORNADOES THREATEN. WHEN THESE SIRENS ARE KEPT IN PROPER WORKING ORDER...THEY DO THEIR JOB AS EXPECTED AND HELP WARN THE PUBLIC. BUT...MANY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THESE SIRENS AND HAVE FALSE EXPECTATIONS OF THEM. THE COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE THE SIRENS CLEARLY STATE IN THEIR SALES BROCHURES THAT THE SIRENS ARE INTENDED FOR OUTDOOR WARNING PURPOSES. NOTE ESPECIALLY THE WORD -OUTDOOR-. THE SIRENS ARE THUS INTENDED TO ALERT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUTDOOR SPORTS...YARDWORK...RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES...AND SO FORTH. THE SIRENS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO... WAKE UP PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE SLEEPING ALERT MOTORISTS WHO HAVE THEIR WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND THE RADIO PLAYING ALERT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEIR HOUSES WITH APPLIANCES ON OR RADIOS OR TELEVISIONS PLAYING ALERT PEOPLE INDOORS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS EACH SIREN HAS A DESIGNATED RANGE OVER WHICH IT CAN BE HEARD... AND THIS RANGE DIFFERS FROM ONE TYPE OF SIREN TO ANOTHER. IN ARKANSAS...THE DECISIONS TO BLOW THE SIRENS ARE MADE BY DESIGNATED CITY OR COUNTY OFFICIALS...NOT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SIREN MANUFACTURERS ALSO MAKE SIRENS DESIGNED FOR INDOOR COMMERICAL USES. FOR EXAMPLE...A LARGE NOISY FACTORY MIGHT NEED BOTH AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALERTS. ...WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF - TORNADO SAFETY RULES... ONE OF THE NEWER SAFETY RULES IS THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO TAKE SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. A WIND TUNNEL EFFECT...CAUSED BY WIND BEING CHANNELED UNDER THE OVERPASS...CAN EASILY CAUSE A PERSON TO BE BLOWN OUT FROM BENEATH THE OVERPASS. IN ADDITION... THE CHANNELING EFFECT CAUSES WINDS TO BE STRONGER UNDER THE OVERPASS. FLYING DEBRIS CAN ALSO BE A SEVERE HAZARD. BE SURE YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WATCH AND A WARNING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A TORNADO WATCH WHEN TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN INDICATED ON DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR OR HAS BEEN SIGHTED. COUNTIES AND CITIES ARE MENTIONED IN TORNADO WARNINGS...SO KNOW THE COUNTIES AND CITIES NEAR WHERE YOU ARE. IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE AREA...KEEP A MAP HANDY FOR REFERENCE. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A RELIABLE WAY TO RECEIVE WEATHER INFORMATION. BATTERY-POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIOS ARE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE WEATHER...EVEN IF YOUR POWER HAS GONE OUT. A BATTERY-POWERED RADIO IS ALSO A NECESSITY IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BE OUTDOORS. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AT A LARGE GATHERING...SUCH AS AT A SCHOOL...STADIUM OR PLACE OF WORSHIP...MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND TO LISTEN FOR THE LATEST WATCHES AND WARNINGS. A TORNADO SHELTER...TORNADO CELLAR...OR A SAFE ROOM IS THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE...BUT MOST HOMES DO NOT HAVE THESE. THE NEXT SAFEST PLACE IS USUALLY A BASEMENT...BUT THESE ARE NOT COMMON IN ARKANSAS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A HOUSE OR BUILDING. YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF FURTHER BY GETTING UNDER A MATTRESS OR A HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE. MANY BUSINESSES...SUCH AS LARGE STORES...SHOPPING MALLS... HOSPITALS...NURSING HOMES...AND SCHOOLS HAVE PRE-ARRANGED SAFETY PLANS AND DESIGNATED SAFE AREAS. IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THESE PLACES...FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN INSIDE THESE BUILDINGS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE IN A VEHICLE...YOUR BEST OPTION IS TO MOVE TO A STURDY BUILDING. HOWEVER...IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN IN YOUR VEHICLE...LIE FLAT IN A NEARBY DITCH OR DEPRESSION. MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION DURING A TORNADO...AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED. REMEMBER THAT FLYING DEBRIS CAUSES THE MOST CASUALTIES IN A TORNADO. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ELDERLY...THE VERY YOUNG...AND PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CHALLENGES WILL OFTEN NEED MORE TIME TO GET TO SAFETY. MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS IF YOU ARE A CARE-GIVER FOR THESE PEOPLE. METEOROLOGISTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DO INTERVIEWS DURING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK. PLEASE CALL 501-834-0308. && FOR A LIST OF ALL THE TORNADOES AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN 2008... WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK/HTML/STORMSOF2008.PDF THE ANNUAL SEVERE WEATHER BROCHURE PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK IS ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LZK/HTML/SVR.HTM $$ 28  027 NOUS43 KLBF 252012 PNSLBF NEZ006>010-026>028-252115- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE 211 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...NOAA WEATHER RADIO AT BASSETT TEMPORARILY OFF THE AIR... THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO AT BASSETT NEBRASKA...WXL 73... WILL BE TEMPORARILY OFF THE AIR UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 315 PM CST. THIS IS DUE TO A TECHNICIAN REPLACING CABLES ON SITE. THE BASSETT NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITS ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.475 MEGAHERTZ. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. $$ SJC  496 NOUS44 KMOB 252022 PNSMOB ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-252230- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 220 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...MOBILE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER OUT OF SERVICE... THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER AT MOBILE, ALABAMA...OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.55 MHZ WILL BE OFF THE AIR FOR ONGOING MAINTENANCE UNTIL 415 PM CST. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE...AND ARE WORKING TO RETURN THE MOBILE NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER TO SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. $$  644 NOUS43 KIND 252042 PNSIND INZ028-035-043-044-252341- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 341 PM EST WED FEB 25 2009 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRANSMITTER AT NEWPORT BROADCASTING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.425 MEGAHERTZ IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AND MAY BE INTERMITTANTLY OFF THE AIR. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL OTHER TRANSMITTERS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. TO REPORT OUTAGES IN YOUR AREA THAT ARE NOT LISTED HERE, PLEASE VISIT US AT www.crh.noaa.gov/ind TO FILL OUT THE NWR OUTAGE FORM. $$  443 NOUS43 KIND 252100 PNSIND INZ028-035-043-044-252159- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 359 PM EST WED FEB 25 2009 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRANSMITTER AT NEWPORT BROADCASTING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.425 MEGAHERTZ IS OPERATING ON NORMAL POWER. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL OTHER TRANSMITTERS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. TO REPORT OUTAGES IN YOUR AREA THAT ARE NOT LISTED HERE, PLEASE VISIT US AT www.crh.noaa.gov/ind TO FILL OUT THE NWR OUTAGE FORM. $$  597 NOUS44 KMOB 252138 PNSMOB ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-252200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 338 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 ...MOBILE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER HAS RETURNED TO SERVICE... THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER AT MOBILE ALABAMA...OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.55 MHZ HAS RETURNED RETURNED TO SERVICE. $$  873 NOUS43 KDLH 252147 PNSDLH PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 347 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009 NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER AT BOGUS LAKE/GUNFLINT (KZZ-45) WILL BE OFF THE AIR DUE TO UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. IT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE OPERATIONAL AGAIN BY LATE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH. $$ LILES  704 NOUS46 KMFR 252157 PNSMFR TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE 09-01 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC 150 PM PST WED FEB 25 2009 TO: FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS... NOAAPORT SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS...NWS EMPLOYEES FROM: JOHN LOVEGROVE WFO MEDFORD OREGON SUBJECT: MICROART SYSTEM DECOMMISSIONING EFFECTIVE MARCH 2009 NOTE: THE FOLLOWING CHANGES HAVE NO IMPACT ON NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE SUBSCRIBERS. THIS IS THE FIRST MESSAGE IN A SERIES ON THE TRANSITION FROM THE CURRENT UPPER AIR SYSTEM, MICROART, TO THE RADIOSONDE REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS /RRS/. THE LAST MESSAGE ON THIS SUBJECT WILL BE TRANSMITTED AFTER THE COMMISSIONING OF RRS HAS OCCURRED. THE DECOMMISSIONING WILL OCCUR AFTER THE 1200 UTC SOUNDING FROM THIS LOCATION ON THE FOLLOWING DATE 03/06/09. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY INTERMEDIATE SOUNDING TAKEN UNTIL RRS IS INSTALLED AND OPERATING. ANOTHER MESSAGE WILL BE ISSUED INDICATING THE FIRST OFFICIAL SOUNDING WITH THE RRS. THE HEADER FOR MEDFORD...OREGON...KMFR /STATION ID 72597/ HAS NOT CHANGED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE RRS. THE OFFICIAL HEADER OF THE MEDFORD OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR TRANSMISSION OF OFFICIAL PRODUCTS. IF YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TEST OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE CHANGES, PLEASE CONTACT: OFFICE CONTACT: ADDRESS: 4003 CIRRUS DRIVE MEDFORD, OR 97504 PHONE: (541) 776-4303 E-MAIL JOHN.LOVEGROVE@NOAA.GOV THIS AND OTHER NWS TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/: HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM $$ NNNN  763 NOUS45 KPUB 252341 PNSPUB COZ070-085-086-260041 PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 441 PM MST WED FEB 25 2009 PUEBLO HIGH TODAY................. 71 LOW THIS MORNING........... 30 PCPN PAST 24 HRS........... 0.0 PK WIND OF 30 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 2:19 PM. COLORADO SPRGS HIGH TODAY................. 61 LOW THIS MORNING........... 34 PCPN PAST 24 HRS........... 0.0 PK WIND OF 35 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 3:35 PM. ALAMOSA HIGH TODAY................. 59 LOW THIS MORNING........... 13 PCPN PAST 24 HRS........... 0.0 PK WIND OF 38 MPH FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 4:13 PM. $$