Narvon, Pennsylvania

... Public information statement...

... Winter information week 2009: November 16th through November 20th...

The National Weather Service will feature a different educational
topic each weekday during winter information week. Today's topic:

history of winter weather and sources of weather information.

As we move into late fall... it is again time to refresh your memory
about winter weather hazards and safety. This review can help you 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... and the snow and ice storm of
Valentines day 2007. These storms are reminders of how dangerous and
deadly winter storms can be.

In an average year... snowfall in the northwestern portion of the state
and the Laurel Highlands ranges from 70 to 100 inches.

Snowfall over the remainder of central Pennsylvania ranges from 30
to 50 inches with the higher elevations receiving over 60 inches of
snow.

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.

The most significant snow storms across Pennsylvania generally occur in
these two ways:

First... in the eastern portion of the state... coastal nor'easters move up
the eastern Seaboard gathering moisture. As these systems collide with
cold air over the northeast United States... heavy snowfall occurs.
True nor'easters occur only once every 3 to 5 years and can produce
1 to 3 feet of snow in eastern Pennsylvania.

Second... Lake effect snow occurs when very cold air flows across the
Great Lakes during the winter months and absorbs moisture from the lakes.
The moisture is then condensed as it flows east and south of the lake.
The result is cloudiness and snow showers. This lake effect snow adds
substantially to the winter snowfall across portions of northwest
Pennsylvania and the Laurel Highlands.

Weather information is available 24 hours a day from the National Weather
Service. Forecasts for Pennsylvania are regularly issued twice a day and
updated as often as necessary.

NOAA Weather Radio is produced and generated at weather offices across
Pennsylvania and around the nation. Weather information is distributed
on one of seven special FM frequencies.

Specially designed weather radios are automatically alarmed and activated
by the local National Weather Service office when a severe weather warning
is issued. In this way... you can be alerted to severe weather warnings
almost immediately.

These weather radios are available at local electronics retailers or as
a special frequency or band on certain radios.

Forecasts and NOAA weather information can also be found on the internet
at... weather.Gov/statecollege (all lower case)