PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU MAINE 800 AM EDT MON OCT 27 2008 ...MAINE WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK 2008: OCTOBER 27 THROUGH OCTOBER 31... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH DAY DURING THE AWARENESS WEEK. TODAY'S TOPIC: CLIMATOLOGY OF NORTHERN AND EASTERN MAINE'S WINTER WEATHER AND SOURCES OF WEATHER INFORMATION. AS WE MOVE INTO LATE FALL, IT IS ONCE AGAIN TIME TO REFRESH OUR MEMORIES CONCERNING 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. SNOWFALL SETTLED IN ACROSS OUR REGION EARLY IN THE 2007-2008 SNOW SEASON...AND THEN KEPT RIGHT ON GOING INTO APRIL OF 2008. IT WAS LITERALLY ONE STORM SYSTEM AFTER ANOTHER...WITH VERY LITTLE RELIEF. WHEN ALL SAID AND DONE...RECORD...OR NEAR RECORD...SNOWFALL WAS OBSERVED IN PARTS OF THE AREA. BETWEEN 160 AND 200 INCHES OF SNOW WAS RECORDED IN NORTHERN MAINE...ROUGHLY 120 TO 140 INCHES CENTRAL SECTIONS...AND 80 TO 120 INCHES PARTS OF DOWNEAST MAINE. PERHAPS NOT ONLY WILL THE HISTORIC...OR NEAR HISTORIC...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS BE REMEMBERED FOR THE WINTER OF 2007-2008...BUT ALSO THE FREQUENCY OF THE STORM EPISODES. IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE A SEQUENCE OF WEATHER EVENTS WHERE A WRAP-UP OF ONE STORM WAS OCCURRING...WHILE ANOTHER WAS BEARING DOWN ON THE REGION. UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE HUGE SNOWPACK THAT DEVELOPED DURING THE COURSE OF LAST YEAR'S SNOW SEASON...WE ENTERED THE SPRING THAW WITH FLOODING CONCERNS. THOSE CONCERNS WERE REALIZED WHEN HEAVY RAIN FELL ON A RIPE SNOWPACK...WHERE MELTING COMMENCED. THIS RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE FLOOD ISSUES AROUND THE REGION... WITH SOME OF THE WORST FLOODING OBSERVED IN THE FORT KENT AREA. IN THE TEMPERATURE DEPARTMENT...WE DID NOT FAIR SO BADLY. THE TEMPERATURES...WHEN AVERAGED OVER THE ENTIRE WINTER...RAN CLOSE TO NORMAL. 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. SNOW ACROSS MAINE GENERALLY OCCURS IN TWO WAYS: 1...FROM LARGE ORGANIZED WEATHER SYSTEMS THAT MOVE UP THE EAST COAST ...TYPICALLY CALLED NOREASTERS OR NORTHEASTERS. DURING A TYPICAL WINTER...THESE WEATHER SYSTEMS BRING NORTHERN AND EASTERN MAINE SEVERAL MODERATE TO LARGE PRECIPITATION EVENTS. OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS THE PRECIPITATION USUALLY FALLS AS SNOW, WITH SNOW OR MIXED PRECIPITATION OVER DOWNEAST MAINE. THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS SOMETIMES EVOLVE INTO BLIZZARDS. THESE STORM SYSTEMS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AT TIMES. A SMALL SHIFT IN THE STORM TRACK CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHOVELING AND PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. 2...ALBERTA CLIPPER TYPE SNOW OCCURS WHEN A FAST MOVING SMALL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE RACES EAST FROM ITS NAMESAKE ORIGIN REGION AND CROSSES NEW ENGLAND. THESE SYSTEMS USUALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MOISTURE TO WORK WITH AND THUS PRODUCE SMALL SNOWFALLS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES. ONCE IN A WHILE ONE OF THESE CLIPPERS REDEVELOPS AS IT REACHES THE COAST RESULTING IN A MORE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL. DUE TO MAINE'S DIVERSE GEOGRAPHY AND PROXIMITY TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS VARY GREATLY BY REGION. IN GENERAL, SEASONAL SNOWFALL DECREASES NEAR THE COAST AND INCREASES THE FARTHER NORTH ONE IS. HOWEVER, "NORMAL" SNOWFALL IS AN AVERAGE OF EXTREMES MEANING THAT IN ANY GIVEN SNOW SEASON LARGE DEPARTURES FROM THE NORM IS POSSIBLE. NORTHERN AND EASTERN MAINE SNOWFALL BY GEOGRAPHICAL REGION (INCHES): AVERAGE DOWNEAST COAST ................................ 60 TO 70 ........ DOWNEAST INTERIOR ............................. 70 TO 90 ........ EAST CENTRAL .................................. 90 TO 110........ NORTHERN ...................................... 100 TO 120 ...... CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ............................. 110 TO 130 ...... DAILY WEATHER INFORMATION FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN MAINE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THESE FORECASTS ARE REGULARLY ISSUED TWICE A DAY AND UPDATED AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY. NOAA WEATHER ALL HAZARDS RADIO IS PRODUCED AND GENERATED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THE CARIBOU OFFICE DOES THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE FOLLOWING TRANSMITTERS: FRENCHVILLE, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.475 MHZ... MARS HILL, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.525 MHZ... SPRINGFIELD, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.500 MHZ... MILO, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.550 MHZ... GREENVILLE, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.425 MHZ... MEDDYBEMPS, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.425 MHZ... ELLSWORTH, ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.400 MHZ AND JONESBORO ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.450 MHZ. 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 ON CERTAIN AM/FM RADIOS. IN ADDITION...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET. FORECASTS FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN MAINE CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEB-SITE AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CAR ON OUR INTERNET SITE...SITE SPECIFIC...GRAPHICAL SNOW FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR NORTHERN AND DOWNEAST MAINE. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU MAINE 800 AM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008 ...MAINE WINTER AWARENESS WEEK 2008: OCTOBER 27 THROUGH OCTOBER 31... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH WEEK DAY DURING SAFETY WEEK. TODAY'S TOPIC: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WINTER FORECAST TERMINOLOGY. FREEZING RAIN: RAIN THAT FREEZES UPON CONTACT WITH A COLD SURFACE. SLEET: SOLID GRAINS OF ICE THAT FORM FROM RAIN THAT FREEZES BEFORE REACHING THE GROUND. THESE PELLETS OF ICE TEND TO BOUNCE UPON CONTACT AND MAY ACCUMULATE ENOUGH TO COVER THE GROUND...EVEN TO A DEPTH OF SEVERAL INCHES. SNOW SQUALL: AN INTENSE FALL OF ACCUMULATING SNOW... REDUCING VISIBILITY SIGNIFICANTLY AND OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY INCREASED WINDS. HEAVY SNOW: 7 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW IN 12 HOURS...OR 10 INCHES OR MORE IN 24 HOURS. JUST AS WITH SUMMER WEATHER, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATTEMPTS TO ISSUE A WATCH TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. WINTER STORM WATCH: CONDITIONS EXIST FOR THE POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE WINTER WEATHER SUCH AS HEAVY SNOW... SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN...OR HEAVY SLEET. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS USUALLY ISSUED 12 TO 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE WINTER STORM. A WARNING IS ISSUED TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OF IMMINENT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. NORMALLY A WARNING IS ISSUED AFTER A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN IN EFFECT. IF A WINTER STORM DEVELOPS QUICKLY THEN THE WARNING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRECEDED BY A WATCH. WINTER STORM WARNING: ISSUED WHEN HEAVY SNOW...SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN...OR HEAVY SLEET IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR. THESE WEATHER ELEMENTS MAY BE IN COMBINATION, OR THERE COULD BE A WIND ELEMENT WITH THE STORM. THIS PRODUCT IS USUALLY ISSUED UP TO 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE WINTER STORM. SPECIFIC FREEZING RAIN OR ICE STORM WARNING: ISSUED WHEN ONE HALF INCH OR MORE OF ICE IS EXPECTED. SPECIFIC BLIZZARD WARNING: ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED OR GUSTY WINDS OF 35 MPH OR MORE ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE VISIBILITY AT OR BELOW A QUARTER OF A MILE DUE TO FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS. WIND CHILL WARNING: ISSUED FOR WIND CHILLS OF -35 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LOWER OVER EASTERN AND NORTHERN MAINE ALONG WITH WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO 10 MPH. A LESS SEVERE "WINTER WEATHER EVENT" WILL PROMPT THE ISSUANCE OF AN ADVISORY. AN ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN THE WEATHER EVENT IS EXPECTED TO BE WIDESPREAD...BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO REACH WINTER STORM CRITERIA. REGARDLESS...TRAVEL COULD STILL BE DIFFICULT... OR EVEN DANGEROUS. SOME EXAMPLES OF ADVISORIES: WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES: SNOWFALL WITHIN 24 HOURS GREATER THAN 4 INCHES BUT LESS THEN THE 7 INCH WARNING CRITERIA...AND/OR BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE...WITH SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING IN OPEN AREAS. SPECIFIC FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY: A GLAZE OF ICE EXPECTED FROM FREEZING RAIN WHICH MAY HAMPER TRAVEL. ICE ACCUMULATION OF LESS THAN ONE HALF INCH IS EXPECTED. WIND CHILL ADVISORY: ISSUED FOR WIND CHILLS OF -20 TO -34 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OVER EASTERN AND NORTHERN MAINE ALONG WITH WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO 10 MPH. DENSE FOG ADVISORY: DENSE FOG THAT REDUCES VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 1/4 OF A MILE. NOTE...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MAY ALSO BE ISSUED WHEN TWO OR MORE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ADVISORY ELEMENTS ARE EXPECTED/ COMBINED (INCLUDING SLEET). IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ON WINTER WEATHER FORECAST TERMINOLOGY PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT (207) 492-0180 EXT. 223. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU MAINE 800 AM EDT WED OCT 29 2008 ...MAINE WINTER AWARENESS WEEK 2008: OCTOBER 27 THROUGH OCTOBER 31... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH WEEK DAY DURING SAFETY WEEK. TODAY'S TOPIC: BE PREPARED...BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES! NORMALLY...WHEN A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A WINTER STORM WATCH 12 TO 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE. A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS EXIST FOR THE POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE WINTER WEATHER SUCH AS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS... HEAVY SNOW...SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN...OR HEAVY SLEET. THE ISSUANCE OF THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS YOUR SIGNAL TO PREPARE FOR THE STORM NOW. ONCE THE STORM BEGINS, TRAVEL MAY BE TOO DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. PREPARING AT HOME (AND AT WORK)... REMAINING INDOORS PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS IS THE SAFEST PLACE DURING A WINTER STORM. THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF INDOOR SHELTER IS THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF HEAT...POWER...TELEPHONE SERVICE AND A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES IF THE STORM PERSISTS FOR MORE THAN A DAY. HAVE AVAILABLE: -FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES; -BATTERY POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND PORTABLE RADIO; -EXTRA FOOD AND WATER, ESPECIALLY HIGH ENERGY FOOD THAT REQUIRES NO COOKING OR REFRIGERATION SUCH AS DRIED FRUIT AND CANNED GOODS (DON'T FORGET THE NON-ELECTRIC CAN OPENER); -MEDICINE, FIRST AID SUPPLIES, AND AMPLE BABY SUPPLIES; -EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE, SUCH AS A STOCKED FIREPLACE, WOOD STOVE, OR SPACE HEATER. -SMOKE DETECTOR AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE CHANCE OF FIRE INCREASES DRAMATICALLY USING ALTERNATIVE HEATING! DON'T FORGET...YOU MAY NOT BE AT HOME WHEN THE STORM STRIKES! HAVE EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AT YOUR PLACE OF WORK. PREPARING THE CAR OR TRUCK... ABOUT 70% OF DEATHS DURING AN ICE OR SNOW STORM OCCUR IN A VEHICLE! IF YOU WONDER IF YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL...THEN DON'T! IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...THEN ALLOW EXTRA TIME. REDUCE YOUR SPEED AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE SUDDEN TURNS OR STOPS. WINTERIZE THE VEHICLE SO IT WILL BE RELIABLE. THIS INCLUDES A GOOD SET OF TIRES. OTHER ITEMS NECESSARY FOR THE CAR OR TRUCK INCLUDE: -DRY BLANKET(S) OR SLEEPING BAG; -EXTRA DRY CLOTHING; -FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES; -HIGH CALORIE NON-PERISHABLE FOOD; -SNOW SHOVEL, WINDSHIELD SCRAPER, AND BRUSH; -SACK OF SAND, ROCK SALT, OR KITTY LITTER FOR TRACTION; -BOOSTER CABLES; -FIRST AID KIT AND A SMALL CONTAINER FOR WATER; -MAPS, COMPASS, KNIFE, AND WATER PROOF MATCHES. ON THE FARM: ANIMALS MUST BE MOVED TO SHELTERED AREAS. EXTRA FEED SHOULD BE HAULED NEARBY FOR EASY ACCESS. HAVE PLENTY OF WATER AVAILABLE AND MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT FREEZE. MOST ANIMAL DEATHS DURING WINTER STORMS OCCUR FROM DEHYDRATION. KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST NWS WEATHER FORECAST. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS FOR UPDATED STORM INFORMATION. BEING PREPARED BEFORE THE STORM HITS WILL KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM UNNECESSARY RISK! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU MAINE 800 AM EDT THU OCT 30 2008 ...MAINE WINTER AWARENESS WEEK 2008: OCTOBER 27 THROUGH OCTOBER 31... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH WEEK DAY DURING SAFETY WEEK. TODAY'S TOPIC: BE SAFE...DURING (AND AFTER) THE STORM. NORMALLY...WHEN A WINTER STORM IS IMMINENT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A WINTER STORM WARNING OR BLIZZARD WARNING UP TO 24 HOURS BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES. A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS THAT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER SUCH AS HEAVY SNOW...SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN...OR HEAVY SLEET IS EXPECTED. A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS THAT SUSTAINED OR GUSTY WINDS OF 35 MPH OR MORE ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE VISIBILITY AT OR BELOW A QUARTER OF A MILE DUE TO FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS. THE ISSUANCE OF THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS YOUR SIGNAL TO TAKE STEPS NECESSARY TO KEEP YOU...YOUR FAMILY AND ASSOCIATED PETS OR ANIMALS SAFE DURING THE STORM. ALL UNNECESSARY TRAVEL SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL THE STORM IS OVER. SEVENTY PERCENT OF ALL DEATHS DURING SNOW AND ICE STORMS OCCUR IN VEHICLES! IF YOU GET STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE AND SHELTER IS NOT VISIBLE NEARBY THEN STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. -RUN THE MOTOR FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES EACH HOUR FOR HEAT. KEEP THE TAILPIPE FREE FROM SNOW AND OPEN THE WINDOW SLIGHTLY FROM TIME TO TIME TO LET IN FRESH AIR. -MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE BY TURNING ON THE DOME LIGHT WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND TIE A COLORED (RED) CLOTH TO YOUR ANTENNA OR DOOR. -EXERCISE OCCASIONALLY BY VIGOROUSLY MOVING ARMS, LEGS, FINGERS, AND TOES TO KEEP YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATING. THE SAFEST PLACE DURING A WINTER STORM IS INDOORS. IF YOUR REGULAR HEAT SOURCE FAILS... -USE ALTERNATIVE HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS WOOD STOVES OR SPACE HEATERS BUT BE VERY CAREFUL. THE INCIDENCE OF FIRE INCREASES WHEN USING ALTERNATIVE HEAT. HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER CLOSE BY. -CLOSE OFF UNNEEDED ROOMS AND STUFF TOWELS OR RAGS IN CRACKS UNDER DOORS. -COVER WINDOWS AT NIGHT. -EAT AND DRINK REGULARLY TO KEEP YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE UP AND PREVENT DEHYDRATION. PROVIDE FOR PETS AND FARM ANIMALS BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE SHELTER AND PLENTY OF FOOD AND FRESH WATER AVAILABLE. MOST DEATHS AND INJURIES DURING WINTER STORMS CAN BE PREVENTED! OVEREXERTION IN THE COLD KILLS MANY PEOPLE. AVOID OVEREXERTION...SUCH AS SHOVELING HEAVY SNOW, PUSHING A CAR, OR WALKING IN DEEP SNOW. THE STRAIN FROM THE COLD AND THE HARD LABOR MAY CAUSE A HEART ATTACK. DRESS TO FIT THE SEASON. WEAR LOOSE-FITTING, LIGHT-WEIGHT, WARM CLOTHING IN SEVERAL LAYERS. TRAPPED AIR INSULATES. LAYERS CAN BE REMOVED TO AVOID PERSPIRATION AND SUBSEQUENT CHILL. OUTER GARMENTS SHOULD BE TIGHTLY WOVEN, WATER REPELLENT, AND HOODED. WEAR A HAT. HALF YOUR BODY HEAT LOSS CAN BE FROM THE HEAD. COVER YOUR MOUTH TO PROTECT YOUR LUNGS FROM EXTREME COLD. MITTENS, SNUG AT THE WRIST, ARE BETTER THAN GLOVES. TRY TO STAY DRY. BE PREPARED...BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES AT HOME AND AT WORK... PRIMARY CONCERNS ARE THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF HEAT, POWER, TELEPHONE SERVICE, AND A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES IF STORM CONDITIONS CONTINUE FOR MORE THAN A DAY. HAVE AVAILABLE: -FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES. -BATTERY-POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND A PORTABLE RADIO. EMERGENCY INFORMATION. THESE MAY BE YOUR ONLY LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE. -EXTRA FOOD AND WATER. HIGH ENERGY FOOD, SUCH AS DRIED FRUIT OR CANDY, AND FOOD REQUIRING NO COOKING OR REFRIGERATION IS BEST. -EXTRA MEDICINE AND BABY ITEMS. -FIRST-AID SUPPLIES. -HEATING FUEL. FUEL CARRIERS MAY NOT REACH YOU FOR DAYS AFTER A SEVERE WINTER STORM. -EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE, SUCH AS A FIREPLACE, WOOD STOVE, SPACE HEATER. -LEARN TO USE PROPERLY TO PREVENT A FIRE. -HAVE PROPER VENTILATION. -FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SMOKE DETECTOR. -TEST UNITS REGULARLY TO ENSURE THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY. IN CARS AND TRUCKS... -PLAN YOUR TRAVEL AND CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER REPORTS TO AVOID THE STORM! -FULLY CHECK AND WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE THE WINTER SEASON BEGINS. -CARRY A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT: -BLANKETS/SLEEPING BAGS. -FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES. -FIRST-AID KIT. -KNIFE. -HIGH-CALORIE, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD. -EXTRA CLOTHING TO KEEP DRY. -A LARGE EMPTY CAN AND PLASTIC COVER WITH TISSUES AND PAPER TOWELS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES. -A SMALLER CAN AND WATER-PROOF MATCHES TO MELT SNOW FOR DRINKING WATER. -SACK OF SAND (OR CAT LITTER). -SHOVEL. -WINDSHIELD SCRAPER AND BRUSH. -TOOL KIT. -TOW ROPE. -BOOSTER CABLES. -WATER CONTAINER. -COMPASS AND ROAD MAPS. -KEEP YOUR GAS TANK NEAR FULL TO AVOID ICE IN THE TANK AND FUEL LINES. -TRY NOT TO TRAVEL ALONE. -LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR TIMETABLE AND PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE ROUTES. ON THE FARM... -MOVE ANIMALS TO SHELTERED AREAS. -HAUL EXTRA FEED TO NEARBY FEEDING AREAS. -HAVE A WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE. MOST ANIMAL DEATHS IN WINTER STORMS ARE FROM DEHYDRATION. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU MAINE 800 AM EDT FRI OCT 31 2008 ...MAINE WINTER AWARENESS WEEK 2008: OCTOBER 22 THROUGH OCTOBER 31... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOPIC EACH WEEK DAY DURING SAFETY WEEK. TODAY'S TOPIC: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLOOD FORECAST TERMINOLOGY. WITH THE APPROACH OF WINTER COMES NOT ONLY THE THREAT OF WINTER STORMS...BUT ALSO THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD FLOODING. WINTER FLOODING CAN BE SIGNIFICANT AND WIDESPREAD. A THICK SNOW-PACK...FROZEN GROUND AND TEMPERATURES WARMING ABOVE FREEZING...IN COMBINATION WITH HEAVY RAIN CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ALONG STREAMS AND RIVERS. FLOODING DUE TO ICE JAMS ALSO OCCURS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ICE ON A RIVER OR STREAM BREAKS UP AND BECOMES LODGED THEREBY CREATING AN ARTIFICIAL DAM. THE WATER BEHIND THE ICE DAM RISES AND FLOODS AREAS UPSTREAM. IF THE ICE DAM BREAKS...A FLOODING WALL OF WATER AND ICE WILL RUSH DOWNSTREAM. FLOOD TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS: FLOOD WATCH: ISSUED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING, TYPICALLY WITHIN A 6 TO 48 HOUR TIME FRAME BEFORE THE EVENT. FLOOD WATCHES MAY COVER STATES, COUNTIES, OR PORTIONS OF STATES AND COUNTIES. FLASH FLOOD WARNING: ISSUED WHEN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF RAIN FALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. RIVERS AND STREAMS RISE QUICKLY WITH THE POTENTIAL TO WASH AWAY CARS... BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE. FLASH FLOODING IS MOST COMMON IN THE SUMMER...BUT AN ICE JAM BREAK CAN CAUSE A FLASH FLOOD. RIVER FLOOD WARNING: ISSUED FOR SPECIFIC POINTS ON INDIVIDUAL RIVERS, WHEN THE WATER LEVEL IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO OR ABOVE A PREDETERMINED STAGE...WHICH IN THE PAST HAS CAUSED FLOODING. WARNINGS ARE GENERALLY ISSUED 3 TO 6 HOURS OR MORE IN ADVANCE. AREAL FLOOD WARNING: ISSUED FOR ANY HIGH FLOW, OVERFLOW, OR INUNDATION IN A DEFINED AREA SUCH AS A PORTION OF A STATE, A GROUP OF COUNTIES, OR AN AREA ALONG A RIVER OR STREAM WHICH THREATEN LIVES AND PROPERTY AND ARE NOT COVERED BY FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS. FLOOD STATEMENT: THIS CONTAINS SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AREA FLOOD WARNINGS, SUCH AS UPDATED OBSERVATION AND IMPACT INFORMATION. ON AVERAGE, FLOODING TAKES MORE LIVES NATIONALLY THAN ANY OTHER WEATHER PHENOMENA. MANY OF THESE DEATHS AND INJURIES CAN BE AVOIDED. NEVER ENTER FLOODED AREAS ON FOOT OR IN YOUR VEHICLE. THE WATER MAY BE DEEPER THAN YOU THINK. IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE OF FEET OF WATER TO SWEEP YOU OR YOUR VEHICLE AWAY! BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL AT NIGHT WHEN IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO JUDGE THE EXTENT OF THE FLOODING. REMEMBER TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PREPARED BY TONY STUREY WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST NWS CARIBOU MAINE.