Severe Weather Awareness Week 2009 March 1-7, 2009

We have Severe Weather every year. Even last year (2008), which was a fairly inactive Severe Weather season, there were still over 500 separate reports of wind damage, tornadoes, or large hail across the Commonwealth. See a graphic of ALL the (Convective) Severe Weather Reports for PA in 2008!

Each spring before the typical onset of the thunderstorm and flash flood season...the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), County Emergency Management Officers and the National Weather Service (NWS) sponsor a week of Severe Weather Awareness and Preparedness.

This year, Governor Edward Rendell has declared the week of March 1st through 7th as Weather Emergency Preparedness Week for Pennsylvania.

Weather Emergency Preparedness Week is a time to plan for thunderstorms...tornadoes....lightning and flash floods.
 

Each day during the week will emphasize a different weather hazard and associated safety tips.

On Monday, Mar 2, 2008 - the topic will be Tornadoes

On Tuesday, Mar 3, 2008 - the topic will be Severe Thunderstorms

On Wednesday, Mar 4, 2008 - the topic will be Flash Flooding

On Thursday, Mar 5, 2008 - the topic will be River Flooding

On Friday, Mar 6, 2008 - the topic will be Skywarn^TM Spotters

To test the communication circuits and to update hazardous weather plans,
the NWS will issue test Severe Thunderstorm Warnings on Thursday, March 5th

At the request of the FCC, NO Text SVRCTP (Severe Thunderstorm Warning) will be disseminated long-line this year. However, the Routine Weekly Test messages for the NOAA Weather Radios will carry severe thunderstorm wording in them.

Warning Test Info/Times

Test Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will be issued for Western PA (areas served by NWS Pittsburgh and NWS Cleveland, OH) at 9 AM EST	Test Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will be issued for Central PA (areas served by NWS State College) at 10 AM EST	Test Severe Thunderstorm Warnings will be issued for Eastern PA (areas served by NWS Binghamton, NY and NWS Mount Holly, NJ) at 11 AM EST

The Voice of the National Weather Service - NOAA Weather Radio

All TEST warnings during the Weather Awareness week will be aired on NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), the voice of the National Weather Service.
 
These TEST Warnings will be broadcast as code "RWT" (Routine Weekly Test) for the EAS/NWRSAME automated-encoding system.
 
NOAA Weather Radio is an "all hazards" radio network, making it the single source for the most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the public. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards - both natural (such as earthquakes and volcano activity) and technological (such as chemical releases or oil spills). NWRs are inexpensive and can be purchased at a variety of locations such as your local electronics store or over the Internet.

Severe Weather Emergency Plan for Schools  is a template that most schools, business, factories, etc can use to develop an action plan.

Additional Information

Additional information can be obtained through contacting your local National Weather Service Office (see above contacts), and brochures can be obtained through the National Weather Service.
 

Is your community StormReady?