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Do You Know? Winter Weather Driving 2-7-08
The season is here where we need to think about taking whatever precautions we can to prevent winter weather driving related injuries and fatalities. The National Weather Service (NWS) in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) has a few recommendations on how to stay safe while travelling in the winter.
The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving. You should check (or have a mechanic check if you are unsure of how to do so yourself) the following items on your car: battery, antifreeze, wipers and windshield washer fluid, ignition system, thermostat, lights, flashing hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster, oil level (if necessary, replace existing oil with a winter grade oil or the SAE 10w/30 weight variety), and the most important, install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions.
Other things you should do in preparation for winter weather is to keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal. Never drive your car with small peepholes scraped into the windshield. Always clear all windows, including the side windows, any frost, ice or snow. Good visibility is essential for driving safety.
Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season. Plan long trips carefully.
Listen to the radio or call the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions. Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other person. Make sure that someone knows your travel itinerary and that you will call when you reach your destination. If possible, make sure you have a fully charge cell phone whenever driving in inclement weather.
If you must go out during a winter storm, dress warmly, with layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. This can be lifesaving if you become stranded. Carry food and several bottles of water. Keep a supply of high energy "munchies” in your car, along with flashlights with extra batteries, a first aid kit with pocket knife, necessary medications, several blankets or a sleeping bag for each person, newspapers for insulation, plastic bags (for sanitation), matches, extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool cap, rain gear and extra clothes, small sack of sand or kitty litter for generating traction under wheels, small shovel, small tools such as pliers, wrench, screwdriver, booster cables, a set of tire chains or traction mats, cards or games especially if children will be passengers, a brightly colored cloth to use as a flag, canned fruit and nuts with a non-electric can opener and bottled water. You can put together this recommended equipment in a plastic box and keep in your trunk for the season.
If you are trapped in your car during a blizzard, stay in the car. Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You may become disoriented and lost is blowing and drifting snow. Blizzards will not last forever, and wait until visibility improves before attempting to seek help.
If your car becomes stuck during winter travel, display a trouble sign by hanging a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood. Occasionally run engine to keep warm. It is recommended that you turn on the car's engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater when the car is running. Also, turn on the car's dome light when the car is running. Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a downwind window slightly for ventilation. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and do minor exercises to keep up circulation, by clapping hands and moving arms and legs occasionally. Try not to stay in one position for too long. If more than one person is in the car, take turns sleeping and for warmth, huddle together. You can use newspapers, maps, and even the removable car mats for added insulation.
Keep in mind that you should avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.
Also keep in mind one of the great winter hazards – that of wind chill. "Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature as much or more than 35 degrees colder.
When the NWS feels that winter weather will threaten an area, then watches or warnings will be issued. A Winter Storm Watch means that severe winter weather conditions may affect your area. This will include the elements of freezing rain, sleet, or heavy snow, which may occur separately or in combination. A Winter Storm Warning means that severe winter weather conditions are imminent. A Blizzard Warning means that considerable falling and/or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.

NOAA: 2007 a Top Ten Warm Year for U.S. and Globe 1-10-08
The year 2007 is on pace to become one of the 10 warmest years for the contiguous U.S., since national records began in 1895, according to preliminary data from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The year was marked by exceptional drought in the U.S. Southeast and the West, which helped fuel another extremely active wildfire season. The year also brought outbreaks of cold air, and killer heat waves and floods. Meanwhile, the global surface temperature for 2007 is expected to be fifth warmest since records began in 1880. Preliminary data will be updated in early January to reflect the final three weeks of December and is not considered final until a full analysis is complete next spring.
·The preliminary annual average temperature for 2007 across the contiguous United States will likely be near 54.3° F- 1.5°F (0.8°C) above the twentieth century average of 52.8°F. This currently establishes 2007 as the eighth warmest on record. Only February and April were cooler-than-average, while March and August were second warmest in the 113-year record.
·The warmer-than-average conditions in 2007 influenced residential energy demand in opposing ways, as measured by the nation’s Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index. Using this index, NOAA scientists determined that the U.S. residential energy demand was about three percent less during the winter and eight percent higher during the summer than what would have occurred under average climate conditions.
·Exceptional warmth in late March was followed by a record cold outbreak from the central Plains to the Southeast in early April. The combination of premature growth from the March warmth and the record-breaking freeze behind it caused more than an estimated $1 billion in losses to crops (agricultural and horticultural).
.A severe heat wave affected large parts of the central and southeastern U.S. in August, setting more than 2,500 new daily record highs.
East Kentucky Temperatures
Locally, the national trend held true for east Kentucky . The annual average temperature for the NWS office in Jackson was 58.5°F, making 2007 the second warmest year on record. The April freeze caused an estimated 2.7 million dollars in damage to the wheat crop in Kentucky , with 3.2 million dollars in damage to the fruit crop. Temperatures dropped into the teens at the height of the cold spell, with six days of freezing temperatures setting a new record for the longest run of consecutive days with at-or-below freezing temperatures for the month of April. We also saw an inch and a half of snow on April 5th.
The summer to follow was one that shattered records with heat and drought conditions across east Kentucky . All together, 56 new records of daily, monthly, and all-time readings were made at the Jackson National Weather Service and at the London Corbin Airport . At the London Corbin Airport , an oppressive string of 20 days in a row of temperatures of 90 degrees or higher that was recorded during August, peaking with 102 degree reading on the 16th marking the both the hottest day of the year, and the hottest day of all time.
Global Temperatures
·The global annual temperature ? for combined land and ocean surfaces – for 2007 is expected to be near 58.0 F – and would be the fifth warmest since records began in 1880. Some of the largest and most widespread warm anomalies occurred from eastern Europe to central Asia .
.Including 2007, seven of the eight warmest years on record have occurred since 2001 and the 10 warmest years have all occurred since 1997. The global average surface temperature has risen between 0.6°C and 0.7°C since the start of the twentieth century, and the rate of increase since 1976 has been approximately three times faster than the century-scale trend.
·The greatest warming has taken place in high latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Anomalous warmth in 2007 contributed to the lowest Arctic sea ice extent since satellite records began in 1979, surpassing the previous record low set in 2005 by a remarkable 23 percent. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, this is part of a continuing trend in end-of-summer Arctic sea ice extent reductions of about 10 percent per decade since 1979.
U.S. Precipitation and Drought Highlights
.Severe to exceptional drought affected the Southeast and western U.S. More than three-quarters of the Southeast was in drought from mid-summer into December. Increased evaporation from usually warm temperatures, combined with a lack of precipitation, worsened drought conditions. Drought conditions also affected large parts of the Upper Midwest and areas of the Northeast.
·Water conservation measures and drought disasters, or states of emergency, were declared by governors in at least five southeastern states, along with California , Oregon , Maryland , Connecticut , and Delaware at some point during the year.
·A series of storms brought flooding, millions of dollars in damages and loss of life from Texas to Kansas and Missouri in June and July. Making matters worse were the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin, which produced heavy rainfall in the same region in August.
·Drought and unusual warmth contributed to another extremely active wildfire season. Approximately nine million acres burned through early December, most of it in the contiguous U.S. , according to preliminary estimates by the National Interagency Fire Center.
·There were 15 named storms in the Atlantic Basin (Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico ) in 2007, four more than the long-term average. Six storms developed into hurricanes, including Hurricanes Dean and Felix, two category 5 storms that struck Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Nicaragua, respectively (the first two recorded category 5 landfalls in the Atlantic Basin in the same year). No major hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. , but three tropical depressions, one tropical storm and one Category 1 Hurricane made landfall along the Southeast and Gulf coasts.
·La Niña conditions developed during the latter half of 2007, and by the end of November, sea surface temperatures near the equator of the eastern Pacific were more than 3.6°F (2°C) below average. This La Niña event is likely to continue into early 2008, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
East Kentucky Precipitation and Drought Highlights
·East Kentucky also followed the national trend with rainfall much below the normal, and a prolonged period of drought which reached extreme to exceptional ranking for much of the area. Much below normal precipitation actually began in November of 2006, then for the next 11 months, the lack of significant precipitation ruined agricultural crops, placed livestock under severe stress, and even threatened community water supplies. Vegetation, especially through the forests, dried out creating dangerous fire conditions. 2007 ranked as the second driest year on record at the NWS office in Jackson . Although the year ended with much needed rains for the month of December, the latest edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show a tight gradient in the drought conditions across east Kentucky , due to the large differences in the amount of the recent precipitation. Severe to extreme drought conditions continue southeast of a Pikeville to Prestonsburg to Manchester to Williamsburg line. The remainder of east Kentucky south of Interstate-64 is rated as experiencing abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions.

Holiday Gift to Save Your Life 12-18-07
NOAA Weather Radio
If are you are searching for a gift, maybe you should consider a gift that could save you and your family’s life. In this age of nifty gadgets, NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio is a definite must! The National Weather Service wants NOAA Weather Radio to become as common as the smoke detector in your home. This is especially true if you live in a manufactured home. Severe weather and flooding can strike at any moment of the day or night. Advance warning can spell the difference between life and death.
Did you know that you could be in your home, sound asleep in your bed at 2AM, and the National Weather Service (NWS) can wake you up, tell you that severe weather is moving in your direction, and help you find a place of safety to move your family? It is true. NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is one of the most valuable pieces of electronic equipment that you can have in your home because it can save the lives of you and your family. It can assist you in making decisions that can minimize property damage, and can give important information during national emergencies, and it is the fastest means of receiving warning or updated weather information. NWR is like having your own personal tornado siren.
Known as the "Voice of the National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is part of the Department of Commerce. NWR includes more than 900 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico , the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio broadcast over 7 frequencies, so if you are anywhere in the country, you can find a station from a nearby NWS office.
Weather Radio is an “All Hazard” radio, meaning that it will broadcast information for much more than severe weather watches and warnings. It will also alert you to civil emergencies such as a chemical spill, a nuclear accident, volcanic or earthquake information, and a dam failure. In Kentucky , NOAA weather radios will also respond to the “Amber Alerts” which are designed to assist in locating missing children.   Specially built receivers that have a “tone alert” feature will automatically sound a loud tone similar to a loud alarm clock, and begin broadcasting the emergency message. It is this feature that can wake you from a sound sleep and allow you to take action to protect the lives of your loved ones. These receivers are available at many discount department stores, electronic stores, and many mail-order catalogues for a reasonable price.
Most of the time, the weather conditions are not hazardous, so NWR normally broadcasts local forecast, daily climate statistics, river stage information, and current conditions for the local area. During periods of potentially severe weather conditions, this broadcast cycle will take on a different tone, with increasing emphasis on the weather threat. It will contain advice as to what actions are recommended for the threat, and advise you what to look or listen for if the potential threat becomes a reality. If actual warnings are required, then the alert feature will be activated, and as much information as possible will be broadcast to you as to what the threat is, where it is, and where it is moving toward.
So, if you’re looking for something to give you and your family when you are searching for a perfect gift, consider obtaining a NOAA All Hazard Weather Radio which is available at department stores, discount stores, specialty electronic stores, and over the Internet. The National Weather Service does not sell or profit from weather radios. We simply provide the broadcast at no charge for the public.
For more information on NOAA Weather Radio, the tone alert feature, programming codes, or other radio questions, visit the NWS Internet home page for weather radio at:

Wind Chill? 12-03-07
Wind Chill is the term used to describe the rate of heat loss on the human body resulting from the combined effect of low temperature and wind. As winds increase, heat is carried away from the body at a faster rate, driving down both the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. The wind chill index combines the temperature and wind speed to let you know how cold the wind “feels” against your skin. While exposure to low wind chills can be life threatening to both humans and animals alike, the only impact that wind chill has on inanimate objects, such as vehicles, is that it shortens the time that it takes the object to cool to the actual air temperature (it cannot cool the object down below that temperature).
The National Weather Service office in Jackson will issue advisories or warnings whenever the combined effects of temperature and wind will create a threat. Wind Chill Advisories will be issued whenever the sustained wind speed will exceed 10 mph creating wind chill equivalent temperatures of 10 to 24 degrees below zero. Wind Chill Warnings will be issued if the sustained wind speed will exceed 10 mph and the wind chill equivalent temperatures are from 25 degrees below zero and lower. Sustained wind speeds less than 10 mph do not create a significant difference from the actual air temperature. Exposed skin will freeze in 30 minutes within the advisory temperature range, and in 10 minutes when the warning criteria is reached.
To understand the dangers and warning signs associated with the cold, it is important to understand how the human body regulates its temperature. The human body loses heat during the winter due to the conduction and convection of heat from the skin to nearby air, due to evaporation of moisture from the skin surface, and due to normal respiration. To compensate for this heat loss, the body burns energy to produce heat to keep the body temperature at a relatively constant level. If, however, a body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, the body temperature will cool to below normal levels, a medical condition known as hypothermia.
Hypothermia will gradually worsen unless the overall rate of heat loss can be stopped. The warning signs for hypothermia may start with shivering and shaking and may end in death. Initially, as the body temperature starts to drop, shivering begins. At the same time, the brain begins to reduce the amount of blood that is circulated to the extremities of the body in order to conserve heat for the vital organs near the body’s central core. If the central core of the body continues to cool, uncontrollable shaking, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion may develop. These are all signs of a very serious situation. If the body core temperature drops below 95 degrees, just 4 degrees below normal, immediate care is needed, as the person will likely become irrational. Once the body core temperature drops below 90 degrees, the person loses muscle control, and outside help is the person’s only hope for survival. If that help is not available, heart and/or respiratory failure and death will eventually follow as the core temperature continues to drop.
If a person is suffering from hypothermia, it is critically important that the person be warmed properly, or death may result. In a hypothermic person, cold blood is concentrated in the body extremities, (arms and legs). If the extremities are warmed too quickly, this colder blood will be released into the body’s central core, possibly lowering the central core temperature to a fatal level. In other words, do not totally submerge a severely hypothermic person into a tub of warm water. Instead, keep the arms and legs out of the tub while warming the core, and gradually warm the extremities.
Frostbite is a condition in which the body tissue actually freezes. Frostbite is often associated with hypothermia. In a hypothermic person, the brain greatly reduces the amount of blood that is circulated into the extremities of the body which increases the chances that the tissue at the end of the extremity may actually freeze. The most susceptible areas for frostbite include the fingers, toes, nose and ear lobes.
As with the effects of cold and wind on people, any living thing, including outdoor animals also are affected. Even though fur provides the animals with a degree of protection, when exposed to prolong periods of wind with no shelter, animals will also succumb to the cold. Farmers need to move livestock to sheltered areas, and pet owners need to provide adequate shelters for outdoor pets.
For more effects of wind on the body, what precautions that you can take to protect yourself and your family, and for a wind chill calculator, visit the National

September 2007 Much Warmer and Drier Than Normal Across Eastern Kentucky 10-30-07
DRY AND HOT CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO PLAGUE EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. BOTH THE JACKSON WEATHER OFFICE AND THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT FINISHED LAST MONTH WELL OVER FOUR DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. IN FACT...IT WAS THE WARMEST SEPTEMBER EVER AT LONDON...WHILE IT WAS THE THIRD WARMEST AT JACKSON. MORE TEMPERATURE RECORDS FELL AT BOTH LOCATIONS LAST MONTH AS WELL. SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE...LONDON RECORDING THEIR HIGHEST SEPTEMBER TEMPERATURE WITH
A READING OF 97 DEGREES...JACKSON TYING THEIR SEPTEMBER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD OF 95 DEGREES...JACKSON BREAKING THE SEPTEMBER MAXIMUM LOW TEMPERATURE RECORD WITH 73 DEGREES...AND LONDON TYING THEIR SEPTEMBER MAXIMUM LOW RECORD OF 72 DEGREES. ALSO OF INTEREST...BOTH LOCATIONS TIED THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATION/S LATEST CALENDeR YEAR 90 DEGREE READINGS. VERY DRY CONDITIONS WERE ONCE AGAIN PRESENT ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH SEPTEMBER. JACKSON ENDED SEPTEMBER A LITTLE OVER AN INCH AND A QUARTER BELOW NORMAL...BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DRIER IF NOT FOR THE 2.01 INCHES OF RAIN ON SEPTEMBER 10TH AND 11TH. THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT DID NOT FARE SO WELL. SEPTEMBER 2007 WILL GO DOWN AS THE DRIEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD THERE AS THEY ENDED LAST MONTH NEARLY THREE INCHES DRIER THAN NORMAL. LONDON CAME CLOSE TO BREAKING ANOTHER NOTABLE RECORD. THANKS TO 0.27 INCHES OF RAIN ON SEPTEMBER 11TH...THIS ENDED A RUN OF 44 DAYS THAT LONDON DID NOT SEE AT LEAST QUARTER OF AN INCH OF RAIN. THE RECORD IS 46 DAYS THAT ENDED IN JANUARY OF 1958. LONDON AND JACKSON HAVE NOT SEEN A MONTH WETTER THAN NORMAL SINCE OCTOBER 2006...A RUN OF 11 MONTHS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE NEAR JACKSON FINISHED SEPTEMBER 2007 WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 72.6 DEGREES...WHICH IS 4.7 DEGREES ABOVE THE NORMAL OF 67.9 DEGREES. THE AVERAGE DAILY HIGH WAS 83.3 DEGREES...AND THE AVERAGE DAILY LOW WAS 61.9 DEGREES. SEPTEMBER 2007 WAS THE THIRD WARMEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD AT JACKSON...BEHIND ONLY THE 73.5 DEGREES FROM 1998 AND 2005. STRANGELY ENOUGH...
SEPTEMBER 2006 WAS THE COOLEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD...RIGHT BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THIRD WARMEST SEPTEMBERS. THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 WAS 95 DEGREES AND OCCURRED ON THE 5TH. IN ADDITION TO BREAKING THE DAILY RECORD FOR THAT DAY...THE 95
DEGREES FROM SEPTEMBER 5TH TIED SEPTEMBER 6TH AND 14TH FROM 1998 AND SEPTEMBER 13TH FROM 1991 FOR THE WARMEST READING EVER IN SEPTEMBER. HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE ALSO SET ON THE 4TH AND THE 8TH WITH 94 DEGREES EACH DAY. ONE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORD WAS TIED ON THE 25TH WITH A READING OF 89 DEGREES. THE 92 DEGREES FROM THE 24TH DID NOT SET A DAILY RECORD...BUT TIED THE DATE FOR THE LATEST 90 DEGREE OR ABOVE READING THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE FROM LAST MONTH WAS 48
DEGREES...AND OCCURRED ON THE 16TH. NO LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET OR TIED AT JACKSON LAST MONTH. MAXIMUM LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET ON THE 7TH AND 10TH WITH READINGS OF 73 DEGREES AND 70 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY. THE 73 DEGREES FROM THE 7TH ALSO SET THE MONTHLY MAXIMUM LOW RECORD...BESTING THE 72 DEGREES FROM SEPTEMBER 6TH 1983. ADDITIONALLY...JACKSON SAW 8 DAYS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE
AT LEAST HIT 90 DEGREES. THIS IS WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE OF 1.2 DAYS FOR SEPTEMBER. JACKSON HAS ACCUMULATED 35 DAYS OF HITTING 90 DEGREES OR BETTER...WHICH IS THE THIRD GREATEST ANNUAL TOTAL...ONLY BEHIND THE 41 DAYS FROM 1995...AND THE 39 DAYS FROM 1988. JACKSON AVERAGES 14.8 DAYS A YEAR OF HITTING 90 DEGREES.
THE JACKSON WEATHER OFFICE RECEIVED 2.49 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION IN SEPTEMBER 2007...WHICH IS 1.28 INCHES BELOW THE NORMAL OF 3.77 INCHES. THERE WERE SIX DAYS WHEN A HUNDREDTH OF AN INCH OR MORE OF PRECIPITATION WAS RECORDED...AND FOUR DAYS WHEN A TENTH OF AN INCH OR MORE FELL. THERE WAS ONE DAY WHEN AT LEAST A HALF AN INCH OF RAIN WAS RECEIVED...AND ONE DAY SAW MORE THAN ONE INCH. THE DAY OF THE 11TH NETTED 1.89 INCHES OF RAIN...WHICH WAS THE MOST RAINFALL LOGGED IN A SINGLE DAY LAST MONTH...AND SET THE ONLY DAILY PRECIPITATION RECORD FOR SEPTEMBER 2007. THIS AMOUNT ACCOUNTED FOR THREE QUARTERS OF THE ENTIRE MONTH/S TOTAL. THE MOST PRECIPITATION RECEIVED IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD OCCURRED FROM SEPTEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 11TH WHEN A TOTAL OF 2.01 INCHES FELL. ALSO OF NOTE...SEPTEMBER WAS THE ELEVENTH
MONTH IN A ROW OF BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION. SINCE NOVEMBER 1ST 2006...JACKSON HAS RECEIVED 27.57 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION...WHICH IS 18.53 INCHES BELOW NORMAL. SO FAR THIS YEAR...JACKSON HAS ACCUMULATED 23.11 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION...WHICH IS 14.62 INCHES SHORT OF NORMAL...OR WELL OVER ONE FOOT.
THUNDER WAS HEARD 2 DAYS LAST MONTH AT THE JACKSON WEATHER OFFICE...WHICH IS NEAR THE AVERAGE OF 3.0 DAYS FOR SEPTEMBER. THERE WERE 8 DAYS WITH FOG...NONE OF WHICH FEATURED DENSE FOG. SEPTEMBER NORMALLY AVERAGES 6.6 DAYS OF DENSE FOG. 16,669 MINUTES OF SUNSHINE WERE RECORDED LAST MONTH WHICH IS 75 PERCENT OF ALL POSSIBLE
SUNSHINE FOR THE MONTH. THE AVERAGE WIND SPEED FOR SEPTEMBER WAS 1.4 MPH...AND THE HIGHEST WIND GUST OF 23 MPH WAS RECORDED ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. THE MEAN WIND SPEED FOR SEPTEMBER IS TYPICALLY 4.8 MPH. 246 COOLING DEGREE DAYS WERE RECORDED AT THE JACKSON WEATHER OFFICE IN SEPTEMBER...WHICH IS 116 COOLING DEGREE DAYS ABOVE NORMAL. THE SEASONAL COOLING DEGREE DAY TOTAL IS NOW 1523...WHICH IS 494 COOLING
DEGREE DAYS ABOVE NORMAL. 14 HEATING DEGREE DAYS WERE RECORDED LAST MONTH...WHICH IS 30 HEATING DEGREE DAYS BELOW NORMAL. THESE WERE THE FIRST HEATING DEGREE DAYS RECORDED THIS SEASON...THUS THE SEASONAL HEATING DEGREE DAY TOTAL IS 14...WHICH IS 34 HEATING DEGREE DAYS BELOW NORMAL FOR THE SEASON.
AT THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 72.4 DEGREES...WHICH IS 4.5 DEGREES ABOVE THE NORMAL OF 67.9 DEGREES FOR SEPTEMBER. THE AVERAGE DAILY HIGH WAS 86.2 DEGREES...AND THE AVERAGE DAILY LOW WAS 58.6 DEGREES. SEPTEMBER 2007 IS THE WARMEST SEPTEMBER OF ALL TIME...ECLIPSIN THE PREVIOUS WARMEST SEPTEMBER OF 72.0
DEGREES FROM 2005. THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE FROM LAST MONTH WAS 97 DEGREES...WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 5TH. IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHING A NEW DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORD...THIS READING WAS THE WARMEST EVER SEPTEMBER READING...SURPASSING THE 95 DEGREES THAT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1957. OTHER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE BROKEN ON THE 4TH...23RD AND 24TH...WITH 94 DEGREES...95 DEGREES AND
94 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY. THE 92 DEGREES ON THE 8TH TIED THE HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR THAT DAY...AS DID THE 90 DEGREES ON BOTH THE 25TH AND 26TH. THE 90 DEGREES ON THE 26TH ALSO TIED FOR THE LATEST 90 DEGREE OR HIGHER FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR. THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE FROM SEPTEMBER 2007 WAS 44 DEGREES...AND OCCURRED ON THE 29TH. NO
LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE TIED OR BROKEN AT LONDON LAST MONTH. MAXIMUM LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET ON THE 7TH WITH 71 DEGREES...AND ON THE 10TH WITH 72 DEGREES. THE READING FROM THE 10TH ALSO TIED SEPTEMBER 5TH 1979 FOR THE WARMEST SEPTEMBER MAXIMUM LOW TEMPERATURE. ALSO OF INTEREST...THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT OBSERVED 12 DAYS WITH A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 90 DEGREES. THIS AMOUNT TIED
1955 FOR THE MOST 90 DEGREE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER. LONDON AVERAGES 1.5 DAYS OF 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURES IN SEPTEMBER...AND NORMALLY ONLY SEES 18.2 DAYS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. LONDON HAS NOW SEEN 51 DAYS OF TEMPERATURES AT LEAST 90 DEGREES THIS YEAR...WELL ABOVE THE SECOND PLACE TOTAL OF 42 DAYS FROM 1980.
THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT RECORDED ONLY 0.43 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION
IN SEPTEMBER 2007...WHICH IS 2.94 INCHES BELOW THE NORMAL OF 3.37 INCHES. LAST MONTH WAS THE DRIEST SEPTEMBER ON RECORD AT LONDON... BESTING THE PREVIOUS DRIEST OF 0.59 INCHES FROM 1961. THE DRIEST MONTH OF ALL TIME IS 0.02 INCHES FROM OCTOBER OF 1963. THERE WERE FIVE DAYS WHEN A HUNDREDTH OF AN INCH OR MORE FELL...AND ONE DAY
WHEN A TENTH OF AN INCH OR MORE OF RAIN WAS RECORDED. LONDON HAD NO DAYS WITH AT LEAST A HALF AN INCH. THE GREATEST DAILY AMOUNT WAS 0.27 INCHES AND OCCURRED ON THE 11TH. THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION RECEIVED IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD WAS 0.32 INCHES FOR THE 10TH THROUGH THE 11TH. NO DAILY PRECIPITATION RECORDS WERE SET OR
TIED AT LONDON LAST MONTH. OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS...LONDON HAS RECEIVED ONLY 0.86 INCHES OF RAIN. NOTE LONDON/S ANNUAL PRECIPITATION TOTAL IS MISSING DUE TO A POWER OUTAGE IN APRIL. LONDON HAD 2 DAYS WITH THUNDER LAST MONTH. ALSO...THERE WERE 20 DAYS WITH FOG...AND TWO DAYS WITH DENSE FOG. THE AVERAGE WIND SPEED
FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 WAS 2.9 MPH...WITH THE HIGHEST WIND GUST OF 35 MPH RECORDED ON THE 26TH.
LONDON RECORDED 242 COOLING DEGREE DAYS LAST MONTH...WHICH IS 109 COOLING DEGREES DAYS ABOVE NORMAL. THIS IS THE HIGHEST TOTAL OF COOLING DEGREE DAYS EVER RECORDED IN SEPTEMBER. THE SEASONAL COOLING DEGREE TOTAL IS MISSING THANKS TO THE POWER OUTAGE IN APRIL. THERE WERE 11 HEATING DEGREE DAYS RECORDED AT THE LONDON CORBIN
AIRPORT IN SEPTEMBER 2007...WHICH IS 37 BELOW NORMAL. THESE WERE THE FIRST HEATING DEGREE DAYS RECORDED THIS SEASON. THE SEASONAL TOTAL OF 11 IS 39 HEATING DEGREE DAYS BELOW NORMAL FOR THE SEASON. WEATHER RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE NEAR JACKSON KENTUCKY DATE BACK TO JANUARY 1ST 1981...WHILE CLIMATE RECORDS FOR THE LONDON CORBIN AIRPORT BEGAN ON THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER 1954.

Indian Summer
Leaves have changed, often past their peak color, when the warm, hazy southern air blankets the region, sometimes lasting for as much as a week. Indian Summer has arrived. But just what is Indian Summer, and where did the name come from? Blackberry Winter which usually occurs in mid spring, and Indian Summer usually in mid fall, are weather phenomena that are common enough to have acquired a nick-name.   It can be defined as “any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or even early November.” The term "Indian Summer" is generally associated with a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions ushered in on a south or southwesterly breeze. Several historical references make note of the fact that a true Indian Summer can not occur until there has been a killing frost or freeze.
Writing about life in America , an early American writer well described Indian Summer when he wrote, "The air is perfectly quiescent and all is stillness, as if Nature, after her exertions during the Summer, were now at rest." Although written in 1817, this passage belongs to the writer John Bradbury, this rather flowery description is still relevant today.
The usage of the term of “Indian Summer” dates far back in American history. According to the research of the Detroit Michigan National Weather Service employee Bill Deedler, who describes himself as a “Weather Historian”, the term "Indian Summer" dates back to the 18th century in the United States . Credit for the first usage of the term was mistakenly given to a man by the name of Major Ebenezer Denny, who used it in his "Journal", dated October 13th, 1794. The journal was kept at a town called Le Boeuf, which was near the present day city of Erie , Pennsylvania . But an earlier usage of the term was discovered in a letter written by a Frenchman named St. John de Crevecoeur, dated "German-flats, 17 Janvier, 1778." The following is a translation of a portion of the letter:
"Sometimes the rain is followed by an interval of calm and warmth which is called the “Indian Summer”; its characteristics are a tranquil atmosphere and general smokiness. Up to this epoch the approaches of winter are doubtful; it arrives about the middle of November, although snows and brief freezes often occur long before that date."
Since Monsieur Crevecoeur says, "it is called the ‘Indian Summer’", obviously one could argue that term would have had to been used before him and became popular, but by whom? It is a question of weather lore lost to history.
There is debate over the origin of the term itself, “Indian Summer”. One explanation of the term "Indian Summer" might be that the early native Indians chose that time of year as their hunting season. This seems reasonable seeing the fall months are still considered the main hunting season for several animals. Also, the mild and hazy weather encourages the animals out, and the haziness of the air gives the hunter the advantage to sneak up on its prey without being detected. Taking this idea one step further, Indians at that time were known to have set fires to prairie grass, underbrush and woods to accentuate the hazy, smoky conditions. There are some rather derogatory explanations as to the origin of the Indian Summer terminology which did not come about until the early 1900s. Those theories are discounted today by linguists who track the history of word origins.
Another hypothesis, having nothing at all to do with the Native Americans, was put forward by an author by the name of H. E. Ware, who noted that ships at that time traversing the Indian Ocean loaded up their cargo the most during the "Indian Summer", or fair weather season. Several ships actually had an "I.S." on their hull at the load level thought to be safe during the Indian Summer. In any event, there are several theories or possibilities of the explanation and origin of the term "Indian Summer", yet no one theory has actually been proven.
A typical weather map that reflects “Indian Summer” weather involves a large area of high pressure along or just off the East Coast. Occasionally, it will be this same high pressure that produced the frost or freeze conditions only a few nights before, as it moved out of Canada across the Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes and then finally, to the East Coast. Much warmer temperatures, from the deep South and southwest, are then pulled north on southerly breezes resulting from the clockwise rotation of wind around the high pressure. It is characteristic for these conditions to last for at least a few days to well over a week and there may be several cases before winter sets in.
Such a mild spell is usually broken when a strong low pressure system and attending cold front pushes across the region. This dramatic change results from a sharp shift in the upper winds or "jet stream" from the south or southwest to northwest or north. Of course, there can be some modifications to the above weather map scenario, but for simplicity and common occurrence sake, this will be the general weather map.
All in all, even with the variety of opinions on this weather (or seasonal) phenomenon, the most popular belief of Indian Summer is as follows: It is an abnormally warm and dry weather period, varying in length, that comes in the autumn time of the year, usually in October or November, and only after the first killing frost or freeze. There may be several occurrences of Indian Summer in a fall season or none at all. Enjoy Indian Summer while it’s around, because one thing is for certain, it never lasts!

Jackson Forecasters Travel the Country to Help Put Out Wildland Forest Fires 10-15-07
When you turn on the local news and see reports about forest fires raging in different parts of the country, someone from the Jackson National Weather Service (NWS) Office may be out there providing weather forecasts to the fire fighters. The Jackson Weather Office happens to have three forecasters who are certified as Incident Meteorologists (IMETS). This is the only NWS office east of the Rockies that has three IMETs. The IMETs assigned to the Jackson office are John Jacobson, Jon Pelton, and Tony Edwards. In the 5 NWS offices surrounding Jackson, there are only a total of 3 IMETs assigned to those five offices. An IMET is meteorologist specially training to respond to many different types of emergencies. The most common emergency an IMET responds to is a large forest fire, but they also might be called upon to respond to oil spills, toxic releases or a variety of natural disasters. Jon Pelton has deployed in the past to help with the Space Shuttle Recovery as well as the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
This has been a busy year for the IMETs at the Jackson Weather Office. Tony Edwards and Jon Pelton both deployed fires in the Okie Fanokie swamp in May and June. The Okie Fanokie swamp is located in southern Georgia and northern Florida. Tony then deployed to fires in central Idaho and at Yellowstone in July. John Jacobson was sent to the Sleeper Lake Fire on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in July, while Jon Pelton deployed to the Sawmill Complex Fire in Phillipsburg, Montana in late July/early August. Deployments usually last for two weeks and the IMETs typically are working 15-16 hour days in order to provide the weather support required for decision makers to decide how to fight the fires and to protect the lives of the fire fighters. Looking at the drought conditions in the Appalachians this year, this is probably not the last deployment for the Jackson IMETs.

Do You Know? The Mystery of Migration
Fall, with cooler weather triggering the trees to change colors and to fall off, also triggers another phenomenon of nature. Fall is the time for birds to migrate. Millions of birds are in the transition between their summer and winter homes. In the northern hemisphere, birds are migrating south and in the southern hemisphere, they are flying north in preparation for winter here, and summer there.
According to scientists with the Audubon Society, migration for some species of birds is just several hundred miles, while others make an incredible journey. The Artic Tern has the longest route, traveling from the South Pole during our winter, to the North Pole during our summer. The amazing tiny humming birds travel from the central regions of South America during our winter, to the United States during our summers.
Scientists have wondered what forces will trigger migration for hundreds of years. The biggest influence for triggering migration tends to be weather conditions. Ornithologists have observed solitary birds beginning to “flock-up” as the seasonal change approaches. The flocks will grow from a few birds to hundreds of thousands over a short period of time, but only when the weather conditions are right.
At the Cornell University Ornithology Department, scientists have discovered that just as long-term changes in climate have molded the evolution of bird migration, seasonal and day-to-day changes in weather dramatically influence the timing and course of migration. When the weather conditions are right, the number of birds in flight can reach millions.
Not only are the immediate flight conditions important, but the weather at the destination or starting point of the flight may also be critical to a bird's survival. For example, water birds must not arrive at northern latitudes before the ice has melted, and many tend to follow the spring thaw northward; in late fall many linger in the north until freezing temperatures force them to move. For most birds, however, it pays to anticipate seasonal changes in climate and to be gone well before conditions deteriorate. Many warblers, flycatchers, and other insect eaters begin their fall migration in late summer while the days are still warm and the insect life abundant.
Ornithologists have discovered that during migration, the most critical weather factors are wind direction and changes in temperature. In spring, northbound birds select the warming temperatures and southerly winds that characterize the western side of high-pressure systems; in fall, they favor the lower temperatures and north winds that occur following the passage of a cold front. Birds also tend to avoid rainy, overcast weather, fog, and high winds, and even stop in the middle of their journey if they encounter deteriorating weather while over land.
Recent research has shown that pigeons are quite sensitive to small changes in air pressure; birds are able to anticipate weather before any overt signs are evident.
When are the conditions right for migration? The winds must be blowing in the direction that the birds want to go. Birds will usually wait until the most favorable weather conditions then set off on their journey. Ornithologists watch the weather to help predict when large numbers of birds will be passing through their area. The passage of a strong cold front in early September usually triggers the start of fall migration. A strong wind in the right direction will speed the birds on their way. If there are strong headwinds, the birds' speed will be greatly reduced, therefore it will need more fat reserves to travel the same distance. Many birds that encounter storms and strong headwinds perish into the seas. If these weary birds are over land, they will drop down and land, find food and rest before continuing.
The route that some birds instinctively take may seem strange until you look at the winds. For instance, many birds on the east coast of the U.S., head out to the Atlantic during a fall cold front. The northwest winds take them on a southeastern course over Bermuda and beyond. Then they meet the northeast trade winds and make it to South America. This unbelievable journey will take them over 1,800 miles of water and will last over 80 hours. But it is actually easier for them than the land route along the coast, down through Central America, and then onto
their destination in South America. The winds are the key factor here.
Flapping of wings uses quite a bit of their stored energy, therefore, many birds, especially the larger ones, will soar and glide as much as possible, using the winds and thermals. However, the journey will take longer than if the migration was made by more flapping flight. Spectacular kettles of hawks are seen at various places where thousands of hawks climb to the greatest height possible then glide and ride the thermals, soaring without flapping for great distances.
How high do birds fly during migration? Pilots have reported seeing birds as high as 26,000 feet! Cornell University scientists report that a bird's lungs are different than human's so the colder air at these
high altitudes actually helps the birds. However, most birds fly less than 3,000 feet in the air.

The Seasons
Mother Nature seldom looks at a calendar when deciding that leaves should change color, when the first snows will fly, or when it is time for spring to return. Give a month or two, seasons change and usually reach at least a general proximity of what we expect as normal for that particular season. For example, when you think of a fall day, the image that comes to mind is woods blazing with colors with the days cool, nights crisp, and the skies a brilliant blue. And that image is usually associated with late September or early October. But having a general timeframe is not agreeable to man. We like things to be more predictable, with a way to measure or to give a point of reference to events that we cannot really see. So a very long time ago, man developed a calendar to keep track of time and important events over time.
Early man realized that days were longer in the summer, shorter in the winter, and spring and fall held about equal amounts of day and night. They noticed that every day produced a change in the sun’s elevation in the sky, except for about a week when the sun was at its highest elevation (summer) and at its lowest (winter).   During the time of the shortest day and the longest night of the year (winter), and the longest day and the shortest night of the year (summer), the sun appears to hold about the same noontime elevation for several days before and after. Hence the origin of the word "solstice", which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, meaning "sun" and -stitium, "a stoppage." The spring and autumn events were named "equinoxes" meaning “equal”, referring to equal amounts of day and night, and "solstices" to designate the longest and the shortest days.
When it is winter for us here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The reason for the opposite seasons at opposite times of the year between the two hemispheres rests with the earth’s rotation about the sun. During this journey, the earth also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. In plain language, this means that when the North Pole is pointed the furthest away from the sun, the sunlight striking the northern hemisphere is at an angle, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer) as the suns rays are nearly perpendicular. As the Earth continues its orbit, the hemispheric pole that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons for the two hemispheres are reversed. In between these two extremes, fall the spring and autumnal equinoxes.
Those are the physical points of reference that man learned to measure and they can be predicted years into the future. But actual weather patterns usually lags behind the actual point on the calendar. For example, although the first day of summer on the calendar falls in late June, the real heat of the summer does not appear until late July and August and often lingers into September. The same is true of winter, which officially begins just before Christmas. January and February historically hold the brutal cold months of winter, but it is often March that can produce the most brutal storms of the winter season.
The reason for this time lag is that it takes time for the earth to warm up, and it takes time to cool down. After a scorching hot summer, even though there is much less daylight as the official winter date on the calendar approaches, the earth retains this summer heat stored in the land and in the oceans. Once the winter solstice is passed, the maximum cooling on the earth will take place as the last of the stored summer warmth is lost. The reverse holds true for warming the planet as summer approaches.
On the calendar, with the solstices to mark the first day of summer and winter; it is the equinoxes which mark the first days of spring and autumn. All these solar events usually occur near the 21st of the months with December (for winter), and June (for summer), spring in March, and September for fall. The exact date varies, in some years, as early as the 20th, to as late as the 23rd for the season change. This year, fall begins on September 23rd, and winter officially arrives on December 22nd.
In the early days before computer equipment, satellites, and other modern marvels, ships at sea required the exact time in order to navigate. The earth’s exact position in its relation to the sun was vital. Initially, American scientists and seamen relied on foreign almanacs - particularly those of Great Britain - for astronomical and navigational data. However, as the United States had a series of significant conflicts with the British at this time in history, it was essential that we developed our own means of keeping time. In 1849, Congress established the Nautical Almanac Office to prepare and publish an official national almanac. Privately published almanacs, such as Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, were generally not adequate for scientific use. The Nautical Almanac Office, part of the Navy, became the US Naval Observatory, and the official time-keepers for the United States . If you need to know the correct time, these are the people to go to. They are also responsible for calculating the date and time for all astronomical phenomenon such as phases of the moon, eclipses, and marking the seasonal change. According to the US Naval Observatory, fall will officially begin this year on September 23rd at 5:51 AM EDT. Winter will officially start this year at 1:08 AM EST, December 22nd, when the Northern Hemisphere is at its greatest declination from the sun and with the sun’s rays striking the earth at the greatest angle.
For more interesting information on the solstices, history of the calendar, history of keeping time in general and it’s importance to navigation, information on the phases of the moon, sun, and other astronomical phenomena, or if you would just like to know the exact time to the second, visit the web site of the US Naval Observatory at:    http://aa.usno.navy.mil

The National Weather Service And Cooperative Observers (COOPS)
The volunteer observers, called cooperative observers or Co-ops (COOP) for short, belong to a history which goes back better than 200 years of people who recognize the importance of recording the daily weather elements. The National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) is truly the Nation's weather and climate observing network of, by and for the people. More than 11,000 volunteers take observations on farms, in urban and suburban areas, National Parks, seashores, and mountaintops. The data are truly representative of where people live, work and play.
With all the computers, satellites, and other tools used by today’s weather forecaster, the most important comes down to the most basic element. And that is data. What is the temperature and how much rain fell. How cold or how hot did it get? It would be impossible for the overall picture of the nation’s climate to be made without additional detailed data from much more than just the handful of “official” weather stations across the country. Data – this basic building block of so many different elements within the process of compiling the forecast, documenting climate and climate changes; it would be nearly impossible to do without a valuable network of volunteer observers.
Over two centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson envisioned a nationwide network of weather observers. In 1776, he began to recruit volunteer weather observers throughout Virginia . By 1816, he had also established a network of observers in every county of Virginia . Also by 1800 there were volunteer weather observers in 5 other states across the newborn nation. They included Massachusetts , Pennsylvania , Connecticut , New York , and North Carolina . By 1891, the network of voluntary observers across the country had grown to 2000 stations.
By 1890 the direction of the growing volunteer force was taken over by the Smithsonian Institution; however, it was not until 1953 that Dr. Helmut Landsberg of The Weather Bureau (the forerunner of today’s National Weather Service) conducted a study with Iowa State University to establish a scheme to blanket the nation with a volunteer network. It was determined that there should be one weather station every 25 miles for estimating rainfall to acquire an accuracy tolerance of ten percent. With this blanket coverage in mind, our cooperative weather observer network has grown to nearly 11,000 stations today.
The COOP program serves two very important requirements of the NWS. The first is to provide observational meteorological data, usually consisting of daily maximum and minimum temperatures, snowfall, and 24-hour precipitation totals, required to define the climate of the United States and to help measure long-term climate changes over a widespread area, not just for the fixed points of the NWS office. The second is to provide observational meteorological data in near real-time to support forecast, warning and other public service programs of the NWS. These trained observers who call in real-time reports when certain thresholds are met, often help in the decision process for warnings to be issued.
It is estimated that the cooperative observers donate their time to the tune of over a million dollars a year making the NWS COOP programs one of the nation's most cost-effective government sponsored programs.
The value of weather data collected extending back over a hundred years is becoming more and more valuable with the passage of time. The climatological database generated through the efforts of the volunteer cooperative weather observer provides not only the cornerstone of our nation's weather history; but also, serves as the primary data for research into global climatic change.
On a local level, the observations received by volunteer observers are fundamental in helping the NWS to protect life and property. Forecasts are often based on observer data, and even warnings for severe weather have been issued based on information received from a volunteer. Once a month, the local weather office collects all the data and sends it to the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville , NC . There it is entered into a huge national database that is accessible by the public. A majority of requests for this data come from Attorneys, Insurance Companies, Meteorological Consultants, Businesses (including construction), Utilities, Universities, Transportation, Agriculture, Education and the Media.

Dog Days of Summer
Summertime can be brutal sometimes. Especially true for some of the residents of eastern Kentucky where air conditioning is not available, summertime can turn deadly. Summer heat combined with high humidity can feel utterly unbearable. It is the dog days of summer.
We all know that the “dog days of summer” as the hottest and muggiest part of the season. A quick look in Webster defines “dog days” as: 1) the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere. 2) a period of stagnation or inactivity.
But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?” The brightest of the stars in the constellation Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky of the summertime. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the Dog Star.
During an average year, 175 people succumb to the heat in the United States . In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died. The heat wave of July 1995 caused 600 deaths in the Chicago inner city alone, which marked the greatest heat-related disaster in the United States . In Europe, the scorching summer of 2003 equates to devastation, as more than 50,000 people succumbed across the continent, with the majority, nearly 35,000 deaths in France . These are the direct casualties. No one can know how many more deaths are advanced by heat wave weather, as diseased or aging organs that surrender to the heat stress, but under better conditions would have continued to function.
Considering this tragic death toll, the National Weather Service (NWS) has stepped up its efforts to alert more effectively the general public and appropriate authorities to the hazards of heat waves - those prolonged excessive heat/humidity episodes. The NWS will issue Heat Advisories and Warnings to advise people that extreme heat is expected. Based on the latest research findings, the weather service has devised the “Heat Index”. The Heat Index, given in degrees F, is an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is combined with the actual air temperature.
For eastern Kentucky , a heat advisory will be issued for a reading if 105 or higher for at least 3 hours or more, with a minimum Heat Index around 75 degrees during a 24-hour period. An Excessive Heat Warning will be issued for 110 or higher for 3 hours or longer, with a minimum Heat Index of 75 during a 24-hour period.
But it does not have to reach the warning or advisory stage for heat to take a toll on people outdoors, especially when working.   Heat is a killer. Heat kills by taxing the human body beyond its abilities, where in a normal year, about 175 Americans succumb to the demands of summer heat.
Know These Heat Disorder Symptoms
SUNBURN: Redness and pain. In severe cases swelling of skin, blisters, fever, and headaches. First Aid: Ointments for mild cases if blisters appear and do not break. If breaking occurs, apply dry sterile dressing. A physician should see serious, or extensive cases.
HEAT CRAMPS: Painful spasms usually in muscles of legs and abdomen possible. Heavy sweating. First Aid: Firm pressure on cramping muscles, or gentle massage to relieve spasm. Give sips of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue use.
HEAT EXHAUSTION: Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy. Pulse thready. A normal body temperature is possible. Fainting and vomiting is likely. First Aid: Get victim out of sun. Lie down and loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths. Fan or move victim to air-conditioned room. Sips of water should be given. If nausea occurs, discontinue use. If vomiting continues, seek immediate medical attention.
HEAT STROKE (or sunstroke): High body temperature (106° F. or higher). Hot dry skin. There will be a rapid and strong pulse. Possible unconsciousness. First Aid: HEAT STROKE IS A SEVERE MEDICAL EMERGENCY. SUMMON EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR GET THE VICTIM TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY. DELAY CAN BE FATAL. Move the victim to a cooler environment Reduce body temperature with cold bath or sponging. Use extreme caution. Remove clothing, use fans and air conditioners. If temperature rises again, repeat process. Do not give fluids.

Heat, Humidity, and the Heat Index
Summertime is here, and with that summer sun heat is something that we must deal with. Eastern Kentucky with the mountains, abundance of trees, and large lakes does not usually face the same sweltering heat of the western portion of the state, but as the old saying goes, “It’s not the heat but the humidity”. At times, we have our share of both.
Humidity combined with excessive heat makes the effect much more dangerous to the body. On average, about 175 Americans succumb to the taxing demands of heat every year. Our bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate and depth of blood circulation, by losing water through the skin and sweat glands, and as a last resort, by panting, when blood is heated above 98.6°F. Sweating cools the body through evaporation. However, high relative humidity retards evaporation, robbing the body of its ability to cool itself.
When heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove, body temperature begins to rise, and heat related illnesses and disorders may develop. This includes heat stress, heat exhaustion, and the very dangerous and potentially fatal heat stroke. You need to be aware of when you are beginning to approach trouble in dealing with the heat. Often, as heat stress begins to affect the body, there is a noticeable lack of energy. The air feels hot and heavy to breathe. Your face will often feel very hot; sometimes a pulse is noticeable through your forehead and temples. Your body is trying to tell you to cool off now, before core body temperatures climb higher. Ignoring these initial symptoms will lead to nausea, impaired judgment, dizziness, skin becoming cool and moist to the touch, weak and rapid pulse – all signs of heat exhaustion. Without intervention and cooling the body, progression to heat stroke, with a very high death rate, will follow.
Anyone can suffer from heat related illnesses, but by taking a few simple precautions, they can be prevented. First, keep informed with the forecast, including information about the expected heat index. Condition yourself for working in hot environments; start slowly and build slowly to more physical work. Drink lots of liquids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol. Take frequent breaks, and if you start feeling overheated or getting a headache, cool off. Wear lightweight, light colored clothing when working in the sun, and take advantage of air conditioners.
The National Weather Service uses a “Heat-Index” to show the combined effects of heat and humidity on the human body. Similar to winter’s wind chill equivalent temperature, the heat index is an indication of what the air actually feels like to exposed skin.
As a general rule, when the heat index is: 80 to 90 degrees: Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and physical activity. 90 to 105 degrees: Sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible.                      105 to 130 degrees: Sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion likely, and heat stroke possible. 130 degrees or greater: Heatstroke becomes likely with continued exposure.
The National Weather Service in Jackson will issue a Heat Advisory when the heat index reaches 105 or higher that will maintain at least 3 hours during the day…with a minimum heat index of 75 at night. An Excessive Heat Warning will be issued when the heat index is 110 degrees or higher during the day with a minimum heat index at night of 75.
For further information on heat, the heat index, check the Internet at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml

Do You Know? Lightning Myths
In recent years, people have been killed by lightning while: Boating; Swimming; Golfing; Bike Riding; Standing under a tree; Riding a lawn mower; Talking on the telephone; Loading a truck; Riding a horse; Playing soccer; Fishing in a boat; Mountain climbing. There has been a growing number of lightning casualties during recent
decade, with most of the casualties involving sports or leisure activities. An active effort to reduce these casualties has been initiated from within the sports community. Many times, people have experienced and survived a close lightning strike every year, without even being aware of the near miss. These experiences possibly lead to a
tendency to take chances. Since all lightning strikes can kill a person, it can be stated that: /Lightning is the most frequently-encountered weather hazard people experience each year./* *
June 24th through the 30^th has been designated as Lightning Safety Awareness Week. As part of an on-going educational and awareness campaign being conducted by NOAA’s National Weather Service, we offer
some of the more common misconceptions, or myths, about lightning.
*MYTH:* If it is not raining, then there is no danger from lightning.
*FACT:* Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain, and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
*MYTH:* The rubber soles of shoes, or rubber tires on a car will protect you from being struck by lightning.
*FACT:* Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide *NO *protection from lightning. The steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may be injured
if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle, than you are outside.
*MYTH:* People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
*FACT:* Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information on CPR and first aid classes.
*MYTH:* “Heat Lightning” occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
*FACT:* “Heat Lightning” is a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm that is too far away for thunder to be heard. The storm may be moving in your direction and affect you a little later.
Some other lightning facts to consider:
• Lightning causes an average of 100 fatalities and 1,000 injuries each year.
• Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightning strikes the Earth 20 million times.
• The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months.
• Lightning can occur from cloud-to-cloud, within a cloud, cloud-to-ground, or cloud-to-air.
• Many wild fires are started by lightning.
• The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50,000 degrees - hotter than the surface of the sun! The rapid heating and cooling of the air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in the sound of thunder.
• To estimate the distance you are from a thunderstorm, count the seconds between the flash and the sound of the thunder. Divide this number by 5 to determine the distance in miles. Keraunomedicine is the field of medical study of lightning casualties.
Use the 30/30 safety rule - Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
For more information on lightning dangers, check the internet at:
www.noaa.gov/lightning.html <http://www.noaa.gov/lightning.html>
Thomas Johnstone wrote:
Hi everybody,
Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 24-30 this year. I'll be sending a couple lightning related articles, including the attached one concerning lightning dangers. We also plan to visit many of the golf courses in eastern Kentucky and providing them with lightning safety information. If you would like more information about this
project please let me know. 8 people have lost their lives to lightning in the U.S. just since March 1st. Please help us spread the message: "When thunder roars go indoors!"

Small Boats – Wind, Lightning and Safety
May 19-26th, 2007 has been designated as “Safe Boating Week” across the United States. In an effort to promote safe boating practices of the recreational small boater, NOAA’s National Weather Service wishes to emphasis the importance of weather awareness and planning whenever you decide to take to the water.
Eastern Kentucky is home to some of the most beautiful, and the largest of lakes east of the Mississippi River (not counting the Great Lakes). Buckhorn Lake, Cave Run Lake, Paintsville Lake, Carr Creek, Laurel Lake, and of course Lake Cumberland, the largest of these Kentucky jewels which covers over 50,000 acres. These lakes have a superb reputation for excellent fishing and water recreation that draws residents and visitors alike each year. To get to those fish, many fishermen choose to use a boat. The lakes of eastern Kentucky are large, but they are not an ocean. Every boat plying the lakes of east Kentucky is classified as a small boat, even though they range from a fairly large-looking houseboat, to the sleek bass boat.
Weather can pose a serious threat to any boater, but especially to those who are unprepared. As a small boat operator, it is sometimes easy to overlook the obvious. You can easily be beyond a half hour from any marina, and oftentimes, the distance is even greater. Weather can be both friend and foe to the recreational boater. Calm winds and seas make for enjoyable power boating, waterskiing, and fishing. A fresh breeze and a light chop provide an invigorating sailing or wind surfing experience. But the sudden emergence of dark clouds, shifting and gusty winds, torrential downpours and lightning can turn a day’s pleasure into a nightmare of distress.
Wind is tricky because it can vary widely over just a few feet. The best example is to look at tornado damage where one house is blown apart, and the house next door has a few shingles blown off - or no damage at all. There have been many studies of wind effect on various structures in wind tunnels. The NWS uses wind gusts of 58 MPH as a basis of warnings with thunderstorm wind because a 58 MPH gust will start to blow shingles off a normal house. It can uproot a tree if the ground is fairly wet. And a trailer that is not properly tied down can roll over. Aged or poorly constructed sheds can also be toppled if the wind hits broadside.
But a boat on open water is much different than anything based on solid ground. Winds can make boating difficult at much lower speeds than are required to produce hazardous conditions on land. The National Weather Service takes this into account, and will issue a “Lake Wind Advisory” whenever winds will create a hazard to boating conditions on the area lakes.
Between April 1st and October 31st of each year which is the peak boating season for east Kentucky, a Lake wind advisory will be issued when the sustained wind speeds are between 20 to 29 mph for at least one hour, or wind gust of 35 to 44 mph for any duration. Higher wind speeds will require a Wind Advisory or High Wind Warning which will also have an impact over the land. The Lake Wind Advisory will be issued for winds that are not as