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NOUS41 KOKX 301034
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CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-011000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
634 AM EDT TUE APR 30 2013

...THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES
INCLUDING THE NY STATE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMISSION IS PROMOTING
SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY FOR ALL PEOPLE.

THIS STATEMENT COVERS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

SINCE 1996...HIGH WINDS PRODUCED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR 15 DEATHS AND 172 INJURIES ACROSS THE
TRI-STATE REGION. ALTHOUGH HAIL CAN DAMAGE PROPERTY AND INJURE
PEOPLE AND ANIMALS...IT RARELY KILLS.

CLIMATOLOGICALLY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY DURING
THE LATE AFTERNOON...AROUND 5 PM...FROM MAY THROUGH EARLY SEPTEMBER.
A TYPICAL EXAMPLE WOULD BE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
FORMING IN A MOIST UNSTABLE AIR MASS AHEAD OF A QUICK MOVING STRONG
COLD FRONT. TYPICAL DAMAGE WOULD RESULT FROM STRONG WIND GUSTS ALONG
THE LEADING EDGE OF A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS THAT BLOW FROM
ONE DIRECTION ARE CALLED STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOKS ARE ISSUED BY THE NWS STORM PREDICTION
CENTER UP TO 8 DAYS BEFORE A POTENTIAL EVENT AND BY NWS NEW YORK NY
UP TO 7 DAYS BEFORE A POTENTIAL EVENT IN OUR HAZARDOUS WEATHER
OUTLOOK.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCHES ARE ISSUED BY THE NWS STORM PREDICTION
CENTER WITH LEAD TIMES UP TO 6 HOURS. A WATCH MEANS THAT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
IN AND AROUND AN AREA...USUALLY COVERING A FEW HUNDRED SQUARE MILES.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE ON LONG ISLAND FOR 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST NEW
YORK...INCLUDING THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY...NEW YORK CITY AND LONG
ISLAND...5 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND 4 COUNTIES IN
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT. WE USE A COMBINATION OF DOPPLER RADAR AND
VOLUNTEER SKYWARN SPOTTER OBSERVATIONS TO ISSUE WARNINGS. LAST
YEAR...WE CORRECTLY DETECTED AND WARNED FOR 88 PERCENT OF 154 SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM EVENTS WITH AN AVERAGE LEAD TIME OF 25 MINUTES.

WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED...TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
OR MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY. IF THERE IS TIME...SECURE
OUTDOOR OBJECTS THAT COULD BLOW AWAY OR CAUSE DAMAGE. REMEMBER THE
30-30 LIGHTNING SAFETY RULE. GO INDOORS...IF AFTER SEEING
LIGHTNING...YOU CANNOT COUNT TO 30 BEFORE HEARING THUNDER. STAY
INDOORS FOR 30 MINUTES AFTER LAST SEEING LIGHTNING OR HEARING THE
LAST CLAP OF THUNDER. GET INSIDE A HOME...BUILDING...OR HARD TOP
AUTOMOBILE - NOT A CONVERTIBLE. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE INJURED IF
LIGHTNING STRIKES YOUR CAR...YOU ARE MUCH SAFER INSIDE A VEHICLE
THAN OUTSIDE.

WHEN YOU NEED TIMELY WEATHER INFORMATION...TUNE TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO ALL HAZARDS...THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE NWS.

THE NEXT STATEMENT COVERS SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY.

$$