Hornell, New York

... Pennsylvania winter weather awareness week continues...

The National Weather Service will feature a different educational
topic each week day during winter weather awareness week. Today/S
topic:

History of winter weather and sources of weather information.

As we move into late fall... it is once again time to refresh your
memory about winter weather hazards and how you can plan for the
life threatening situations that winter weather can bring.

Each year... many people take winter weather too lightly... which
often results in serious injury or even death.

Many people still remember the blizzards that struck the state in
March of 1993 and January of 1996. These storms were deadly
reminders of how dangerous winter storms can be.

On an average year... snowfall in the northeastern portion of the
state ranges from 40 to 80 inches... with the highest amounts from
Susquehanna County down into the Pocono Mountains.

During this week... please take some time to read and listen to
information about winter storms and winter weather terminology.

More importantly... please review how you can protect yourself from
extreme cold... snow and other winter hazards.

Heavy snow can be produced by noreasters and overrunning situations.
Lesser amounts of snow are often produced by Alberta clippers and
lake effect.

Noreasters are intense areas of low pressure that typically develop
along the eastern Seaboard most often during late fall... winter and
early Spring. They usually bring strong northeast winds to areas
near the coast as they move north along it. Some memorable
noreasters in recent years included the presidents day snowstorm of
2003... the February 11th and 12th storm of 2006 and the Valentines
day snowstorm of 2007. Snowfall rates in noreasters can reach 2 to 4
inches per hour and these rates can last for several hours. True
nor'easters occur only once every 3 to 5 years and can produce 1 to
3 feet of snow in eastern Pennsylvania.

Overrunning can also produce heavy snow. This occurs when warm
air aloft flows over cold air near the surface. Overrunning happens
mostly during the winter when the contrast in airmasses is greatest.
Overrunning occurs most often when a large dome of high pressure
is located in southeastern Canada and a warm front is approaching
our region from the south or Southwest.

Lake effect snows often occur in the late autumn and winter downwind
of the Great Lakes when cold Arctic air sweeps across the relatively
warmer waters of the lakes. Although not especially common over
northeast Pennsylvania... lake effect snows can occur in counties
near the New York state border.

An Alberta clipper is an area of low pressure that usually forms
over the province of Alberta in Canada... east of the Rocky
Mountains. Alberta clippers usually move very quickly southeast from
their Point of origin and usually bring only light snow as they
cross our region unless they intensify off the East Coast. They also
allow colder air from Canada to move into our region in their wake.

The National Weather Service operates over 900 NOAA Weather Radio
stations nationwide. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven
frequencies nationwide. These frequencies are 162.400 mhz... 162.425
mhz... 162.450 mhz... 162.475 mhz... 162.500 mhz... 162.525 mhz and
162.550 mhz. In northeast Pennsylvania... 3 NOAA Weather Radio
transmitters broadcast continuous weather information originating
from the National Weather Service office in Binghamton.

Weather radio monitors are inexpensive and guarantee you the latest
weather whenever you have the need. Our broadcasts will help you
plan for outdoor activities... get travel information... make
business decisions... or decide on the proper clothing to wear.
Most importantly... you will be ready when a winter storm strikes.

We issue frequent updates during active winter weather... that
serve to give you the most up to the minute... and detailed... weather
information available. In addition... we issue statements that
follow up on the issuance of watches... warnings... or advisories.

For those of you with internet access... all of our weather
information is available online. Simply go to www.Weather.Gov
and then click on northeast Pennsylvania. This will take you to
the main webpage of the National Weather Service in
Binghamton... NY.

You can also contact Dave nicosia warning coordination
meteorologist for noaa's National Weather Service in
Binghamton at 607-770-9531 x 223 or via email at
David.Nicosia@noaa.Gov

For additional information on winter weather safety... check out
the NWS Binghamton NY internet web site at:

Http://www.Weather.Gov/bgm/preparedness/preparedness_winter.Shtml
(all lower case)