ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2006, BETWEEN 9 AM AND 1 PM EDT, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA WILL CONDUCT A TEST OF VALID TIME EVENT CODE (VTEC) IN HYDROLOGIC PRODUCTS.

THE CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TEST WITH TRANSMISSIONS OF SEVERAL FLOOD WARNING PRODUCTS WITH VTEC CODING IN THEM. THE PURPOSE WILL BE TO TEST THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND PRODUCT DELIVERY OF NEW PRODUCTS THAT WILL BE USED IN THE FUTURE ISSUANCE OF RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS.

FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED DURING THIS TEST ARE FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY.  ANY FLOOD WARNING PRODUCTS THAT ARE RELEASED WILL BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS TEST MESSAGES.      

IF THERE IS SEVERE WEATHER OR A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER ON THURSDAY AUGUST 24, THE TEST WILL BE POSTPONED.