NOUS41 KALY 132053
PNSALY

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
353 PM EST TUE DEC 13 2011

...LOWERING OF FLOOD STAGE AT THE SCHENECTADY RIVER FORECAST
POINT...

TO:       FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER WIRE
          SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER
          INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAAPORT
          SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/
          CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM:     RAYMOND O`KEEFE
          METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE
          WFO ALBANY, NY
SUBJECT:  LOWERING OF FLOOD STAGE AT THE SCHENECTADY RIVER FORECAST
          POINT.

UPON COORDINATION WITH LOCAL...STATE...AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN THE
SCHENECTADY AREA...THE NWS IN ALBANY IS LOWERING THE FLOOD STAGE FOR
RIVER FORECASTS AT SCHENECTADY ON THE MOHAWK RIVER. IN JANUARY
OF 2011...THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY INSTALLED AN AUTOMATED
RIVER GAGE AT FREEMANS BRIDGE ROAD. WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF REAL
TIME RIVER READINGS...THIS NEW GAGE BECAME THE LOCATION USED FOR
RIVER FORECASTS AT SCHENECTADY. THIS REPLACES THE OLD STAFF GAGE
LOCATIONS WHICH WERE REFERENCED TO THE WESTERN GATEWAY BRIDGE. THE
FLOOD STAGE FOR THIS NEW LOCATION IS 220 FEET.

TO CORRESPOND WITH THE NEW FLOOD STAGE...FLOOD CATEGORIES WILL BE
LOWERED AS FOLLOWS:

...ACTION STAGE WILL BE LOWERED FROM 218 FEET TO 216 FEET...
...FLOOD STAGE WILL BE LOWERED FROM 223 FEET TO 220 FEET...
...MODERATE FLOOD STAGE WILL BE LOWERED FROM 225 FEET TO 222 FEET...
...MAJOR FLOOD STAGE WILL BE LOWERED FROM 227 FEET TO 224 FEET...

THE CHANGE IN ACTION STAGE MEANS THAT THE NWS WILL NOW PROVIDE RIVER
FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS...AND WARNINGS AS NECESSARY...WHEN THE
RIVER IS AT OR ABOVE...OR IS FORECAST TO BE AT OR ABOVE...216 FEET.

AGAIN...RIVER FORECASTS...AS WELL AS FLOOD WARNINGS AND
STATEMENTS...FOR SCHENECTADY ARE NOW FOR THE FREEMANS BRIDGE ROAD
GAGE.

THIS CHANGE WILL BE EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY JANUARY 11, 2012.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WELCOMES PUBLIC FEEDBACK. IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS CHANGE...PLEASE CONTACT:

BRITT WESTERGARD
SENIOR SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE
251 FULLER ROAD, SUITE B300
ALBANY, NY 12203
PHONE: (518) 435-9571 X234
E-MAIL: BRITT.WESTERGARD@NOAA.GOV

$$