Circleville, Ohio

The week of November 15 through November 21 is winter weather
preparedness week in Ohio... Indiana... and Kentucky.

The National Weather Service... working with our partners... emergency
management agencies... the State Police... the departments of Homeland
security... transportation and education... and the Red Cross will
provide information on winter weather safety. The media will
continue their important role by carrying these messages in
newspapers... on the radio... television... and the internet.

The goal of winter weather preparedness week is to help you
understand The Hazards of winter weather. Knowing winter weather
terms and winter weather safety tips will reduce weather related
problems. Remember... when watches and warnings are issued... you
need to enact your plans to remain safe from the dangers winter
may bring.

Persons in Ohio and Indiana along and north of the I-70 corridor
need to be aware that winter weather watches and warnings issued by
the Wilmington National Weather Service will have a different
criteria than in years past. The 12 hour criteria for issuing a
Winter Storm Watch or warning has been increased from 4 inches to
6 inches. The 24 hour criteria has been raised from 6 inches to 8
inches. The criteria for advisories in this area has also been
raised from 2 inches to 4 inches.

The area affected by the new criteria in Indiana includes Fayette...
Union... and Wayne counties. In Ohio the area affected includes...
Preble... Montgomery... Greene... Madison... Franklin... and Licking
counties... as well as counties to the north.

The National Weather Service office in Wilmington will issue a
different public information statement each day of the week.

This winter weather information will be relayed on NOAA Weather
Radio broadcasts and on National Weather Service websites.