Transcript PEMA Briefing 01/30/2011

Weather Briefing
for Pennsylvania
January 21-22, 2014
Prepared 01/21/14 (10:30 AM EST)
Prepared by:
National Weather Service
State College, PA
([email protected])
Pennsylvania Weather Overview
• Weather Synopsis:
– A storm system moving through the Mid-Atlantic region will
bring snow to the Commonwealth today
• Snowfall will be heaviest across the southeast and south-central
counties...with lesser amounts as one travels north and west
• Heaviest period of snow will be during the day today, with the snow
ending around midnight
…IN ADDITION…
– Another blast of arctic air will move into the region
• Cold temperatures will be not be as extreme as the previous event
we experienced during the first week of the New Year
• BUT…the cold air will be more persistent, lasting at least through
the end of the week
• Wind chills will be an issue
Current Warnings and Advisories
Current Radar
L
Storm Total Snowfall Forecasts
Axis of Heaviest Snow
Snow Impacts
• Snow covered roads will make travel hazardous
• Snowfall rates at times will be 1 to 2 inches per hour
– This is very heavy snow, and will reduce visibilities at times to
near zero
• Heaviest period of snow is occurring now, and will
continue through the day
– Heaviest bands of snow will affect areas in the southeast
– Snow will taper off from west to east
• Increasing North winds will cause blowing and drifting
snow
– This will be especially true this evening and overnight in the
southeast as winds pick up (some gusts of 30 mph in the
southeast)
Cold Temperatures / Wind Chills Impacts
• Strong north winds on the heels of this storm
system will again usher in extremely cold air
– Cold air temperatures combined with strong
winds will produce bitterly cold wind chills
• Wind chills of 10 to 20 below zero for tonight into
Wednesday
• Wind Chill Advisories posted for all of Pennsylvania
tonight through mid day Wednesday
• Cold temperatures will persist through the
week
Forecast Temperatures
Low Tonight (Tuesday)
High Wednesday
Forecast Temperatures
Low Wednesday Night
High Thursday
Forecast Temperatures
Low Thursday Night
High Friday
WINDS and WIND CHILL
Wind Chills Tonight (Tuesday Night)
Wind Speeds Tonight (Tuesday Night)
WINDS and WIND CHILL
Wind Chills Wednesday
Wind Speeds Wednesday
Specific Snowfall Forecasts For
Central Pennsylvania Counties
NWS Wind Chill Advisory Criteria
NWS Wind Chill Warning Criteria
Cold Weather Safety
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm
clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate
you. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water
repellent, and hooded.
• Wear a hat, because 40% of your body heat can be
lost from your head.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from
extreme cold.
• Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
• Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
• Don’t forget your pets!
Home/Heating Safety
•
USE SPACE HEATERS WISELY. ALLOW A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HOT SURFACES OF THE HEATER AND
ANY OTHER MATERIALS SUCH AS CURTAINS...BEDDING AND CLOTHING.
•
NEVER USE THE COOKING OVEN TO HEAT YOUR HOME. MAKE SURE TO KEEP CHIMNEYS SWEPT AND
VENT PIPES CLEANED AND FREE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS.
•
WHEN USING HEATERS AND FIREPLACES WHICH BURN FUEL LIKE NATURAL GAS...PROPANE...KEROSENE...
WOOD OR COAL...A COLORLESS ODORLESS GAS CALLED CARBON MONOXIDE MAY BUILD UP IN YOUR
HOME. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING OR EVEN DEATH IS POSSIBLE IF THERE IS NOT ADEQUATE
VENTILATION TO ALLOW THIS GAS TO ESCAPE.
•
IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR IN ROOMS WHERE YOU SLEEP OR SPEND
LONG HOURS IN THE WINTER. LIKE A SMOKE ALARM...IT CAN SOUND AN ALARM TO LET YOU KNOW IF
THIS DANGEROUS GAS IS BUILDING UP TO UNHEALTHY LEVELS.
•
WRAP PIPES IN INSULATION WHICH WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE AIR OR IN UNHEATED CRAWL SPACES. YOU
MAY ALSO ALLOW FAUCETS TO DRIP...ALLOWING THE WATER TO CONTINUE FLOWING. BOTH OF THESE
MEASURES WILL HELP TO PREVENT THE PIPES FROM FREEZING AND BURSTING.
•
TAKE CARE IN USING CANDLES DURING ANY POWER OUTAGES. KEEP ALL FLAMMABLE MATERIAL A SAFE
DISTANCE FROM THE OPEN FLAMES.
•
CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS...ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY...AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY
AS WELL.
Links to local NWS offices that cover Pennsylvania
(Get the latest forecasts and updates!)
• NWS Cleveland
– weather.gov/cleveland
• NWS Pittsburgh
– weather.gov/pittsburgh
• NWS State College
– weather.gov/statecollege
• NWS Binghamton
– weather.gov/binghamton
• NWS Mount Holly
– weather.gov/philadelphia
Web Links
• Emergency Managers’ Briefing Page:
– http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ctp/pema/briefing.php
• PA Snow Accumulation Reports Display
– http://www.erh.noaa.gov/hydromet/erEventDisplay.php?e
vent=stormTotal_12&element=snow&centeron=CTP