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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
836 AM EDT TUE APR 30 2013

...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THE WEEK OF APRIL 29
THROUGH MAY 3, SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEW ENGLAND. THIS
IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF FIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ON
VARIOUS TOPICS RELATED TO SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS.

TRAGICALLY EACH YEAR, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES
HIGHLIGHT THE DEADLY THREAT CAUSED BY NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO BECOME MORE
AWARE OF THOSE THREATS SO THEY CAN ACT APPROPRIATELY WHEN SEVERE
STORMS THREATEN.


THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING

SUMMERTIME IS A GOOD TIME FOR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN
NEW ENGLAND. IT IS ALSO THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THUNDERSTORMS
ARE MOST LIKELY. THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY ALSO CAN
BE DEADLY. WHILE MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS
OF THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING, THE VAST MAJORITY ARE NOT.

THERE ARE THREE BASIC INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THE FORMATION OF A
THUNDERSTORM. THEY INCLUDE LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE, AN UNSTABLE
ATMOSPHERE, AND A TRIGGER (A SOURCE OF LIFT).

LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE:
     THIS MOISTURE IS NEEDED FOR CLOUD FORMATION, GROWTH AND
     THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRECIPITATION WITHIN THE CLOUD.

UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE:
     AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE ALLOWS WARM, MOIST AIR NEAR THE
     GROUND TO RISE RAPIDLY TO HIGHER LEVELS IN THE ATMOSPHERE
     WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING. AN UNSTABLE
     ATMOSPHERE ALSO ALLOWS AIR AT HIGHER LEVELS IN THE
     ATMOSPHERE TO SINK TO THE GROUND LEVEL RAPIDLY, BRINGING
     STRONGER WINDS FROM THE HIGHER LEVELS TO THE GROUND.

A TRIGGER:
     SOMETHING TO SET THE ATMOSPHERE IN MOTION.

ALL THREE INGREDIENTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE FORMATION OF A
THUNDERSTORM. IN FACT, AS THE MAGNITUDES OF THESE INGREDIENTS
INCREASE, SO DO THE CHANCES THAT A THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, LISTEN TO THE LATEST FORECAST AND LEARN TO
RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS THAT OFTEN PRECEDE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.
WARM MUGGY AIR IS A SIGN THAT AMPLE LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE IS
AVAILABLE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. TOWERING CUMULUS CLOUDS
INDICATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT IS, OR IS BECOMING, UNSTABLE. THE
TRIGGER COULD BE CONTINUED HEATING FROM THE SUN, AN APPROACHING
FRONT OR SEA BREEZE FRONT, OR A COOLING OF THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE.

ALL THUNDERSTORMS GO THROUGH VARIOUS STAGES OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT. AS A THUNDERSTORM CLOUD CONTINUES TO GROW, SNOW AND
ICE BEGIN TO FORM IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGHER LEVELS OF THE CLOUD
WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING AND ELECTRICAL CHARGES START
TO BUILD UP WITHIN THE CLOUD. NEGATIVE CHARGES NEAR THE MIDDLE OF
THE THUNDERSTORM CLOUD CAUSE A POSITIVE CHARGE TO BUILD UP ON THE
GROUND UNDER AND NEAR THE THUNDERSTORM. FINALLY, WHEN THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE CHARGES BECOMES TOO GREAT, A GIANT
ATMOSPHERIC SPARK WE CALL LIGHTNING OCCURS.

LIGHTNING IS AN UNDERRATED KILLER, USUALLY CLAIMING ITS VICTIMS
ONE AT A TIME. LIGHTNING ALSO LEAVES MANY VICTIMS WITH LIFE-LONG
SERIOUS INJURIES. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AS FAR AS 10 MILES FROM THE
SIDE OF THE THUNDERSTORM CLOUD. IN FACT, MANY LIGHTNING VICTIMS
ARE STRUCK BEFORE THE RAIN ARRIVES OR AFTER THE RAIN HAS ENDED.
MANY VICTIMS ALSO REPORT THAT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SKY WAS
BLUE WHEN THEY WERE STRUCK. ALTHOUGH MAINE HAS LESS LIGHTNING THAN
MOST STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MAINE RANKS 8TH HIGHEST
IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF LIGHTNING CASUALTIES (PER CAPITA).

THIS SUMMER, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONDUCT A
NATIONWIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND
INJURIES FROM LIGHTNING. ALTHOUGH MORE INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING
AND LIGHTNING SAFETY WILL BE PROVIDED DURING LIGHTNING SAFETY
AWARENESS WEEK THAT WILL BE DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 23-29, HERE
ARE SOME BASIC TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE THIS
SUMMER.

WHILE INSIDE A HOME OR BUILDING

  1. AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH CORDED PHONES.
  2. AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
     OR CORDS THAT ARE PLUGGED INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
  3. AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH THE PLUMBING SYSTEM. DO NOT WASH
     YOUR HANDS, DO NOT WASH THE DISHES, DO NOT TAKE A SHOWER,
     OR  DO NOT DO LAUNDRY.
  4. DO NOT STAND NEXT TO A CONCRETE WALL AND DO NOT LIE ON
     A CONCRETE FLOOR.
  5. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS, OUTSIDE DOORWAYS, AND PORCHES.

TIPS WHILE OUTDOORS

  1. THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE OUTSIDE IN A THUNDERSTORM. TO BE
     SAFE, YOU MUST GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING OR
     HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE.
  2. PLAN OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES SO THAT YOU MINIMIZE THE RISK OF
     BEING CAUGHT OUTSIDE IN A THUNDERSTORM.
  3. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER, MOVE INSIDE A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
     GENERALLY, IF YOU CAN HEAR THE THUNDER, YOU`RE WITHIN
     STRIKING DISTANCE OF THE STORM.
  4. IF THE SKY LOOKS THREATENING, MOVE INSIDE IMMEDIATELY.
     DON`T WAIT FOR THE FIRST FLASH OF LIGHTNING. IT COULD
     OCCUR ANYWHERE UNDER OR NEAR THE STORM.
  5. STAY INSIDE A SAFE SHELTER FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER
     THE LAST RUMBLE OF THUNDER WAS HEARD. MANY LIGHTNING
     VICTIMS ARE STRUCK AFTER THE WORST PART OF THE STORM HAS
     PASSED.

REMEMBER, WHEN IT COMES TO THUNDERSTORM SAFETY, IT`S YOUR OWN
ACTIONS THAT WILL DETERMINE YOUR PERSONAL RISK OF BEING KILLED OR
SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE HAZARDS THAT ACCOMPANY THUNDERSTORMS.

HERE IS A LIST OF TOPICS COVERED IN PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THIS WEEK.

MONDAY......SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS - BASIC DEFINITIONS
TUESDAY.....THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING
WEDNESDAY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS - DOWNBURSTS, MICROBURSTS, AND HAIL
THURSDAY....TORNADOES
FRIDAY......FLASH FLOODS

$$

RUNYAN