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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
500 AM EST WED NOV 1 2006

...GOVERNOR PATAKI DECLARES WINTER PREPAREDNESS WEEK...

GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI HAS PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 29TH AS 
WINTER PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN NEW YORK STATE.

TODAY'S THEME IS ICE STORMS.

FREEZING RAIN IS LIQUID RAIN THAT FALLS WHEN SURFACE TEMPERATURES 
ARE AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE RAIN FREEZES UPON IMPACT 
WITH OBJECTS AND THE GROUND CREATING A LAYER OF ICE. WHEN THE LAYER 
OF ICE ACCUMULATES TO AT LEAST ONE HALF INCH THICK...THE WEIGHT OF 
THE ICE CAN DOWN TREE LIMBS...POWER LINES AND COMMUNICATION TOWERS 
AS WELL AS CAUSE WIDESPREAD IMPACT TO MASS TRANSIT. THIS DEFINES AN 
ICE STORM.

HOWEVER...IT MUST BE NOTED THAT ONLY A TRACE OF FREEZING RAIN CAN 
PRODUCE A GLAZE OF ICE OVER ROADS...WHICH CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT 
IMPACT TO MASS TRANSIT...ESPECIALLY IF IT OCCURS DURING THE RUSH 
HOURS.

ALTHOUGH ICE STORMS OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY FROM NORTHERN NJ ACROSS 
THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY AND INTERIOR SOUTHWEST CONNECTICUT...THEY 
CAN OCCUR ALONG THE COAST.

DURING JANUARY 15TH AND 16TH 1998...THE COMBINATION OF A STRONG HIGH 
PRESSURE SYSTEM TO OUR NORTH AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING OFF 
THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST...PRODUCED UP TO 1 INCH OF ICE ACROSS THE 
LOWER HUDSON VALLEY AND INTERIOR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT. ICE COVERED 
ROADS LED TO WIDESPREAD AND SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT 
RESULTED IN MANY INJURIES. MANY TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES WERE 
DOWNED...WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT POWER OUTAGES.

DURING JANUARY 1994...AT LEAST 4 SIGNIFICANT ICING EVENTS OCCURRED 
FROM THE 4TH THROUGH THE 28TH.

THURSDAY'S STATEMENT COVERS WINTER FLOODS.

$$