Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

000
NOUS41 KGYX 301120
PNSGYX

MEZ007>009-012>014-018>022-023>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-011100

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
720 AM EDT TUE APR 30 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THE WEEK OF APRIL 29TH
THROUGH MAY 3RD, 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.


...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS - 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.  AND, 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
ELECTRICAL 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 AND NEW HAMPSHIRE HAVE LESS
LIGHTNING THAN MOST STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, MAINE
RANKS 8TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF LIGHTNING
CASUALTIES (PER CAPITA) AND NEW HAMPSHIRE RANKS 16TH HIGHEST.

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 24-30, 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 ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
     OR CORDS THAT ARE PLUGGED INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
  2. AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH CORDED PHONES.
  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 THE OTHER TOPICS THAT HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE
COVERED IN PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THIS WEEK.

MONDAY......SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS
WEDNESDAY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS - DOWNBURSTS, MICROBURSTS,
                                   AND HAIL
THURSDAY....TORNADOES
FRIDAY AFTERNOON......FLASH FLOODS

$$

JENSENIUS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
GRAY, MAINE

NNNN