Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

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MEZ007>009-012>014-018>022-023>028-NHZ001>010-013-014-301100

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
140 PM EDT MON APR 29 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 FIRST IN A SERIES OF FIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ON
VARIOUS TOPICS RELATED TO SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS.

DURING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE THREATS ASSOCIATED
WITH THUNDERSTORMS, SO THEY CAN ACT APPROPRIATELY WHEN SEVERE STORMS
THREATEN.


...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS - SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS...

NEW ENGLAND IS TRANSITIONING FROM EARLY SPRING-LIKE WEATHER TO A
MORE SUMMER-LIKE WEATHER PATTERN.  WITH THE WARMER WEATHER COMES AN
INCREASING THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS.  BY DEFINITION, EVERY
THUNDERSTORM CONTAINS LIGHTNING AND IS, THEREFORE, A POTENTIALLY
DEADLY STORM. IN ADDITION, CERTAIN THUNDERSTORMS PRESENT OTHER
THREATS, AS WELL.  THESE THREATS INCLUDE HIGH WINDS, HAIL,
TORNADOES, AND FLASH FLOODING.  TRAGICALLY, IN MAINE AND NEW
HAMPSHIRE IN 2008, TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY LIGHTNING, ONE PERSON
WAS KILLED BY A TORNADO, AND ONE PERSON DROWNED IN A FLASH FLOOD.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE USES A WATCH AND WARNING PROGRAM TO
ALERT THE PUBLIC TO POTENTIALLY THREATENING WEATHER.  IN THE
SUMMERTIME, WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLASH FLOODING, AND SPECIAL MARINE
WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR GUSTY WINDS IN MARINE AREAS.  HERE ARE SOME
BASIC DEFINITIONS.


A WATCH INDICATES THAT THE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
SEVERE WEATHER TO DEVELOP.

     IF A WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, KEEP AN EYE ON THE
SKY, AND MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL BROADCAST
MEDIA FOR ANY POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

A WARNING INDICATES THAT SEVERE WEATHER IS IMMINENT OR IS ALREADY
OCCURRING.

     IF A WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, BE PREPARED TO
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM.


HERE ARE SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS OF THE EVENTS FOR WHICH WATCHES AND
WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM - A THUNDERSTORM THAT PRODUCES DAMAGING WIND
                      GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE, AND/OR HAIL 1 INCH
                      OR GREATER IN DIAMETER.

TORNADO -  A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR THAT EXTENDS FROM
           THE CLOUD TO THE GROUND.

FLASH FLOOD - FLOODING THAT OCCURS VERY RAPIDLY, USUALLY DUE TO
              VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORM.


IN ADDITION TO THESE WARNINGS WHICH ARE ISSUED FOR LAND AREAS, THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS FOR MARINE
AREAS.

SPECIAL MARINE WARNING - ISSUED FOR MARINE AREAS FOR STORMS WITH
                         FREQUENT WIND GUSTS OF 34 KTS (ABOUT 39
                         MPH) OR GREATER.


ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MONITOR THESE CONDITIONS IS BY PURCHASING AN
ALERT-ACTIVATED NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  IF
YOU ARE WITHIN THE BROADCAST RANGE OF A NOAA WEATHER RADIO
TRANSMITTER, TONE ACTIVATED NOAA WEATHER RADIOS CAN BE SET TO
AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM, TORNADO, OR FLASH
FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.  IN
ADDITION, ALERT-ACTIVATED WEATHER RADIOS CAN BE PROGRAMMED TO
ACTIVATE ONLY IF THE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COUNTY(IES)
THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PURCHASING A
NOAA WEATHER RADIO, CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.  NOAA
WEATHER RADIOS CAN OFTEN BE PURCHASED AT STORES THAT SELL SMALL
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.

FINALLY, IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO, KNOW
WHAT TO DO TO MINIMIZE THE RISK THAT YOU OR SOMEONE WITH YOU COULD
BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THE STORM.  AND, AFTER THE
STORM, BE SURE TO REPORT STORM DAMAGE TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

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

TUESDAY.....THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING
WEDNESDAY...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS - DOWNBURSTS, MICROBURSTS,
            AND HAIL
THURSDAY....TORNADOES
FRIDAY......FLASH FLOODS

$$

JENSENIUS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
GRAY, MAINE

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