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ENERGY DEMAND DECREASES AS U.S. EXPERIENCES TENTH WARMEST WINTER, PRECIPITATION NEAR AVERAGE FOR THE NATION   3-21-05
The United States experienced its tenth warmest winter on record, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.  Nationwide, temperatures from December 2004 – February 2005
were much above normal, as drier-than-average conditions persisted in the Northwest and heavy precipitation affected the Southwest.  The global average temperature was fourth warmest on record for December-February.  NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Based on preliminary data, the NCDC reports that the average temperature for the contiguous United States this winter was 35.9 (2.2?C), which was 2.8?F (1.6?C) above the 1895-2004 mean.  The mean temperature in 39
states was above average. No state was cooler than average during the winter.  Alaska was warmer than average with a statewide temperature of 4.0?F (2.2?C) above the 1971-2000 mean, ranking fifteenth warmest since
statewide records began in 1918.  Despite several cold outbreaks in the Northeast, the relatively warm winter season nationwide led to below-normal heating degree days and below-average residential energy demand
for the country, as measured by the nation’s Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index.  It was the fifteenth lowest index value in the 110 year record for December-February.
Winter precipitation was near average for the nation overall, with unusually dry conditions in the Northwest, parts of the northern Plains and the Southeast countering above average wetness from the Southwest to
the Great Lakes and Northeast. Beginning in autumn 2004, a series of Pacific storms brought above average, and in some cases, record precipitation to the Southwest.  Downtown Los Angeles had 29.1 inches of rain during the winter, exceeding the normal winter rainfall by more than 20 inches.  Record precipitation for the water-year to date (Oct. - Feb.) was recorded at stations across parts of the Southwest, especially in Utah.  The above average precipitation also led to recovery in reservoir levels for the Southwest.  In Arizona, statewide reservoir levels were above average on March 1, the first time since 2001 the winter season ended with average or above average reservoir levels.
At the end of winter, moderate-extreme drought (as defined by a widely used measure of drought – the Palmer Drought Index) affected 72 percent of the Pacific Northwest (Wash., Ore., Idaho). This is dramatically higher than the 14 percent affected on December 1, but below the recent peak of 92 percent in November 2002 and the all-time record of 100 percent most recently set in 1977.  More than 60 percent of the broader Northwest (Wash., Ore., Idaho, Mont., Wyo.) was also in moderate-to-extreme drought at the end of the winter.  Record low precipitation for the water year-to-date was measured at many stations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
While rain fell along the southern Californian coast during the winter, snow fell in the Sierra Nevada and mountainous Southwest.  Snowpack was more than 150 percent of average in the southern Sierras and across
parts of southern Nevada and Utah.  New Mexico and Arizona also had widespread above average snowpack as of March 1.  Contrasting the above average snowfall in the Southwest was a lack of snow in Northwest.  Less
than 25 percent of average March 1 snowpack existed in the western half of Washington and Oregon and widespread areas with less than 70 percent of average snowpack were evident across most of the Northwest.
The average global temperature anomaly for combined land and ocean surfaces during December-February (based on preliminary data) was 0.9°F (0.5°C) above the 1880-2004 long-term mean.  This tied 1999 as the fourth warmest boreal winter since 1880 (the beginning of reliable instrumental records).  Above average temperatures stretched from northern Europe into Siberia and also covered large parts of southern Asia, Africa,
Australia and western Canada.  Colder-than-average conditions occurred in much of eastern Canada, northwest Africa, parts of southern Europe and central Asia.  Weak El Niño conditions persisted into February with
sea-surface temperatures in much of the central equatorial Pacific remaining warmer than average for the season, and the December-February global ocean surface temperature was second warmest on record.
   NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) will hold its first annual flood safety awareness week campaign from March 21-25, 2005. 3-14-05

The goal of this campaign is to highlight ways floods occur, the hazards associated with floods, and safety measures to protect life and property. During the 20^th century, floods were the number one natural disaster in the United States in terms of the number of lives lost and property damage. In the 20 year period (1984-2003), on average, nearly 100 people died annually due to flooding while flood damages averaged $4.6 billion a year. In 2004, seven people in the state of Kentucky lost their lives due to flooding.
Floods are unique severe weather events that can occur every month of the year in Kentucky and are a threat from border to border. Floods do not respect time or location. From persistent rains from slow moving systems in the winter to torrential thunderstorms in the spring and summer, and remnants of tropical systems in the autumn, floods can be a threat throughout the year.
People often underestimate the force of water. More than half of all flood-related deaths are attributed to vehicles that are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable simply by not driving or walking onto flooded roads. Most vehicles lose control in six inches of swiftly flowing water and can be swept away in 18-24 inches of moving water. Remember, when approaching a flooded roadway, Turn Around Don’t Drown.
The All-Hazards NOAA Weather Radio and the NWS Jackson Web site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl are among the best sources of official flood watches and warnings. Knowing what to do before, during and after a flood can save lives and reduce injuries and property damage.
The NWS works with and relies on strategic partners involved in floodplain management, flood hazard mitigation, flood preparedness, and flood warnings to reduce the loss of life and property due to floods. Key partners include the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, FEMA, the National Hydrologic Warning Council, the Association of State Floodplain Managers, the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, media outlets, and many other government and private sector organizations.
Additional information about National Flood Safety Awareness Week is available on the NWS Flood Safety website at: http:// www.weather.gov/floodsafety
This site contains a wealth of information about flood safety and what you can do to save life and property.

Flood Safety Tips:
1. Climb to safety if you hear or see signs of a flood and take cover from other threatening weather as soon as possible.
2. Listen to the All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio to receive flood warnings from the NWS.
3. Turn Around Don’t Drown when approaching a flooded road...Barricades are put up for your protection...Drivers can lose control of their vehicles in as little as six inches of water and two feet of water will carry most vehicles away, including SUVs...Remember, road beds may have been scoured or even washed away during flooding creating unsafe driving conditions.
4. Remember, floods can occur nearly anywhere and at anytime of the year from coast to coast and border to border...persistent thunderstorms over the same geographical area can lead to flash and river flooding.
5. Develop a flood emergency action plan.
6. Determine your flood risk and purchase flood insurance if necessary. Flood damage is not covered by homeowner’s insurance.

Weather Radar - How Does It Work? 3-9-05
During the early years of World War II, in a desperate attempt to save lives in their struggle during the bombing attacks by the Germans, the British scientists developed a miracle tool that could “see” the approaching German airplanes long before they could reach their target area, which was the city of London with a huge civilian population.
This miracle tool was named RADAR which stood for *RA*dio *D*etection *A*nd *R*anging. The development of RADAR was one of the major technology leaps that would actually change the course of the war, and have a profound impact on aviation and the science of meteorology.

All Radars operate in the same fashion. Simply described, a pulse of radio energy is broadcast, or transmitted from the radar which travels at the speed of light. If it strikes an object, a portion of that energy is bounced back and is picked up by the radar antenna that is paused and ‘listening’ for this returned energy. A very early computer was built into the radar to count the fractions of seconds that it took for the returned energy to be received, and then compute by the amount of time –
and determine the distance of the target. So the radar would transmit, pause and wait to receive a returned signal, then rotate a fraction and transmit a new pulse, pause to listen, rotate, transmit, listen, and so on.

The radar antenna rotates in a complete circle with this cycle of transmitting a pulse and pausing to listening. Since the energy travels at the speed of light, this cycle of transmitting and listening happens very fast, and to the eye, the antenna appears to rotate in a smooth rotation.

But during the early days of Radar, there were days that the British noticed whenever it was raining, there would be large amounts of the returned signals, and that any aircraft that might be in the air would actually be obscured by the weather. At the time, this was more than annoyance; it was a dangerous deficiency in the newly developed RADAR. But they soon discovered that if they tweaked the frequency a little, the weather was ignored by the RADAR and the return signal from the approaching airplanes was actually improved. After the emergency of the war was over, meteorologist revisited the original frequency of the RADAR and began studying the weather in a brand new way.

Weather radar operates the same way as aviation RADAR, only on a different frequency. A burst of radio waves, called a pulse, is transmitted and when this pulse strikes the water droplets inside a cloud that are big enough to be falling as rain, a portion of this pulse is bounced back to the radar. The bigger the water droplets, the more of the pulse is bounced back and received by the radar, thus giving a stronger return.

Today’s weather radar also has advanced computers that can gather much more information from that returned pulse than just the location and intensity of the target. Today’s weather radar can also determine the movement of the water droplets inside the cloud which gives a picture of the air currents inside the cloud. If you can determine that a portion of the water droplets are moving toward the radar, and a portion are moving away from the radar at the very same time, then rotation is indicated – and rotation inside the thunderstorm cloud means that a tornado is beginning to develop. Just like the British in World War II gaining the ability to warn the population of danger approaching, weather radar allows the Weather Service to warn the public of an approaching storm.

To view the current weather radar image, visit the homepage of the NWS office in Jackson at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl and scroll down midway to the Radar link. Or, if you would like more information on the history of weather radar or a more detailed discussion of how radar works, click on the Virtual Tour link on the left menu banner, then click on the Radar tab.

March 2005 has been designated as Severe Storms Preparedness Month
across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The National Weather Service offices
that serve the state of Kentucky along with the Kentucky Division of
Emergency Management and the Kentucky Severe Weather Preparedness
Committee have designated this month as a time for severe weather preparedness.

Nearly 90% of all presidentally declared disasters are weather related, leading to nearly 500 deaths per year and almost $14 billion in damage across the United States. Just in the state of Kentucky in 2004, seven people died and 17 people were injured due to severe weather. This is why Severe Storms Preparedness is so important.

The National Weather Service urges you and your family to review these safety tips as we enter the peak severe weather season in Kentucky:

Flash Flooding Safety Rules       
Flash floods and floods are the #1 storm related killer in Kentucky and across the United States. In 2004, 7 people in Kentucky lost their lives due to flash flooding.
o If Driving, DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS! Even if it looks shallow enough to cross. The majority of deaths due to flooding are due to people driving through flooded areas. Water only one foot deep and
displace 1500 pounds! Two feet of water can easily carry most vehicles. Roadways concealed by floodwaters may not be intact.
o If caught outside, go to higher ground immediately! Avoid small rivers or streams, low spots, culverts, or ravines. Do not try to walk through flowing water more than ankle deep, as it only takes six inches of
water to knock you off your feet. Do not allow children to play around streams, drainage ditches, or viaducts, storm drains, or other flooded areas.
o If ordered to evacuate or if rising water is threatening, leave immediately and get to higher ground.

*_Lightning Safety Rules        _*
Lightning is the number two storm related killer. In Kentucky, more people are killed by lightning in an average year than tornadoes. Although severe thunderstorm warnings are NOT issued for lightning, you should move to shelter when thunder is heard as lightning can strike 10 to 15 miles away from where the rain is falling.
o       If outside, go to a safe shelter immediately, such as inside a sturdy building. A hard top automobile with the windows up can also offer fair protection.
o       If you are boating or swimming, get out of the water immediately and move to a safe shelter away from the water!
o       If you are in a wooded area, seek shelter under a thick growth of relatively small trees.
o       If you feel you hair standing on end, squat with your head between your knees. *Do not lie flat!*
o       *Avoid:* Isolated trees or other tall objects, bodies of water, sheds, fences, convertible automobiles, tractors, and motorcycles.**
o       If inside, avoid using the telephone (except for emergencies) or other electrical appliances.**
o       Do not take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm.**

*_Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm Safety Rules        _*
o       In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
o       If an underground shelter is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outdoors.
o       Stay away from windows.
o       Get out of automobiles.
o       Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately for safe shelter. Do not seek shelter in an underpass.
o       If caught outside or in a vehicle, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
o       Be aware of flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes and high winds causes most fatalities and injuries.
o       Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes or high winds. You should leave a mobile home and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building or storm shelter.

NOAA's NEWEST GENERATION OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE SUPERCOMPUTERS DEBUTS*
Feb. 21, 2005 — NOAA <http://www.noaa.gov> successfully put into operations this week the newest generation of weather and climate supercomputers. Now, for the first time, the NOAA National Weather
Service <http://www.nws.noaa.gov> has three systems working together for the protection of life, property and the national economy in the United States and its territories.
The three systems consist of a primary system (Blue), a research and development system (Red), and backup system (White). The primary and backup operating systems ensure a reliable delivery of operational weather and climate forecasts with no interruption in services. The research and development system accelerates the transition of new research results into the operational models and provides for a more rapid improvement of all forecast products delivered to the public and private sectors.
"Together, Red, White and Blue serve as a major component of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS http://www.noaa.gov/eos.html)," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher http://www.noaa.gov/lautenbacher.html, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce of oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "The new system allows NOAA to keep pace with model development and current scientific breakthroughs to protect our communities and serve society's needs for weather, climate and water
information."
"Implementing improvements to numerical weather prediction capability and extending the lead time for extreme weather events requires increasing levels of computational power. Literally, we are going from making 450 billion calculations per second to 1.3 trillion calculations per second," said Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/hdqrtr.php, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), director of the NOAA National Weather Service.
The increase in computing power gives NOAA the ability to run higher resolution models with more sophisticated applied physics and use these models in the prediction of potential severe and extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and winter storms. "The advanced computers are critical to advancing NOAA's ability to make ever-increasingly accurate weather forecasts and climate outlooks," said
Louis W. Uccellini, director, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction http://wwwt.ncep.noaa.gov.
The new supercomputers were delivered as part of the $180 million, nine-year contract with IBM. Red and Blue are housed at the IBM facility located in Gaithersburg, Md.; White is housed at a NASA facility located
in Fairmont, W.Va.
The NOAA National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The NOAA National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and
flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce http://www.commerce.gov/.

Do You Know? PERSONAL LOCATER BEACONS 2-15-05
The news was saturated not too long ago when a man, an experienced climber, was trapped when a boulder shifted and pinned his arm to a rock ledge. Trapped and with no means of communication with the outside world, he had two choices. Choosing to live, he used his pocket knife to cut off his own arm.
Any community that has extensive appreciation and use of the great outdoors such as we have here in eastern Kentucky, should take into consideration some of the new lifesaving technologies. Misfortune can strike at any time, whether an accident, or mechanical breakdown, or perhaps something as simple as just getting turned around and lost while on a hike. East Kentucky also has vast areas of wilderness, with limited access to more traditional emergency services.

The different scenarios that can pose a real threat to your life have always been a concern to the National Weather Service. That is why our parent agency, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in the forefront of pursuing new technology designed for personal safety. Keeping America’s outdoor enthusiasts safe and within close reach of rescue personnel during emergencies is the goal behind a national awareness campaign. NOAA and the US Air Force have joined forces, and announced the authorization of a new, digitally encoded distress device called the Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

The Personal Locator Beacon has advanced features which use the global positioning system (GPS) technology. This will allow the NOAA satellites to pick up the distress signals, and relay an accurate location to rescuers. All owners of PLBs and other types of 406-megahertz beacons are required by law to register them with NOAA. The registration includes critical information such as the owner’s name, address, telephone number, and the PLBs unique identification number.

The PLBs, when activated, will send out digital distress signals on the 406-megahertz frequency, which will then be detected by NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and the Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES). GOES, the first to detect a beacon’s distress signal, hovers in a fixed orbit about the Earth. The signal will contain registration information about the beacon and its owner. Then POES, which constantly circles the globe, is able to capture the signal, and accurately locate the alert signal. The satellites are part of NOAA's observing network of land, sea and atmospheric sensors that help the agency gather weather, water and climate data, protect and manage fisheries and marine ecosystems, promote efficient and environmentally safe commerce and transportation, and provide vital information in support of homeland security.

These satellites are also part of the worldwide satellite search and rescue system called, COSPAS-SARSAT. This is a cluster of NOAA and Russian satellites that work together to detect distress signals anywhere in the world from the PLBs and beacons aboard ships and airplanes.

NOAA satellites played a key role in rescuing 260 people throughout the United States and its surrounding waters from potentially life-threatening emergencies in 2004. This number of rescues is an increase from the 224 lives saved in 2003.

"This is an outstanding example of how NOAA science brings great value to the nation," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Americans rely on NOAA for a wide variety of services and saving lives is one of our most important missions."

Last year also saw a rise in the number people buying and registering emergency beacons—18,343 beacons were registered in 2004, compared with 15,377 in 2003. "Without question, the increase in rescues is linked to the growing number of emergency beacons in use," said Gregory W. Withee, assistant administrator of the NOAA Satellites and Information Service." In each case, a rescue equals a life saved, which is what the SARSAT program is all about."

Since its creation in 1982, COSPAS-SARSAT has been credited with more than 18,000 rescues worldwide, including 4,917 in the United States. Each year, most of the rescues happen at sea. In 2004, for example, 223 of the total 260 people saved in the United States were waterborne rescues.

Ajay Mehta, NOAA's SARSAT program manager, said an aggressive educational outreach about emergency beacons, and advanced technology onboard vessels, which helps keep them from harm's way, is fueling the increase in lives saved. "We're targeting the recreational enthusiasts—boaters, pilots, campers and hikers—with the message that owning an emergency beacon, and using it properly, can be the difference between life and death."

Personal Locator Beacons, used by hikers, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, have saved 38 lives since they became operational nationwide in July 2003.

Mehta added that registering the beacons, which is required by law and can be done online, puts response teams in a better position to make a rescue. "We have the owner's name, address, phone number and even a way to contact family members, all of which helps the RCC respond when time is critical."

Mehta also said older beacons, which operate on the 121.5 megahertz frequency, will be phased out by early 2009, when newer, more accurate 406 megahertz beacons will be the standard.

Emergency beacon owners can register their devices online, using the National Beacon Registration Database.

The NOAA Satellites and Information Service is America's primary source of space-based oceanographic, meteorological and climate data.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

TSUNAMI Warning 2-7-05
Due to the tragic events of Southeast Asia, concerns have grown of the overall program in place to warn the public of Tsunamis, those terribly destructive waves that roll onto coastal regions. Although far from the ocean, East Kentuckians have always been fond of visiting coastal regions for vacation and fun. The Southeast Asia tsunami struck a world-renowned vacation destination, catching many foreign visitors by surprise.

The parent agency of the National Weather Service, NOAA (the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) is at the forefront of this global initiative. Plans were announced to expand the U.S. tsunami detection and warning capabilities as a contribution of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, or GEOSS—the international effort to develop a comprehensive, sustained and integrated Earth observation system. The plan commits a total of $37.5 million over the next two years.

“President Bush is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of U.S. lives and property through a system of monitoring and emergency response that will mitigate the effects of natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis,” said John H. Marburger III, science advisor to the President and director, Office of Science and Technology Policy. “This plan will enable enhanced monitoring, detection, warning and communications that will protect lives and property in the U.S. and a significant part of the world. Working through GEOSS and other international partners, The U.S. will continue to provide leadership in planning and implementing a global observation system and a global tsunami warning system, which will ultimately include the Indian Ocean,” Marburger said.

With this new investment, NOAA will deploy 32 new advanced technology Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami, or DART, buoys for a fully operational tsunami warning system by mid-2007. In addition, the United States Geological Survey will enhance its seismic monitoring and information delivery from the Global Seismic Network, a partnership with the National Science Foundation. The new system will provide the United States with nearly 100% detection capability for a U.S. coastal tsunami, allowing response within minutes. The new system will also expand monitoring capabilities throughout the entire Pacific and Caribbean basins, providing tsunami warning for regions bordering half of the world’s oceans.

The United States has led the GEOSS effort since 2003 when the G-8 called for establishing a global observation system. The United States launched the GEOSS process by hosting the first Earth Observation Summit in July 2003. GEOSS now has 54 participating nations, including India, Indonesia and Thailand. The GEOSS design for this new system is scheduled to be adopted at the Third Earth Observation Summit that will be held in Brussels this February.

The United States developed a Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System, which, like the GEOSS plan, focuses around nine societal benefit areas, including “Reduce loss of life and property from disasters” and “Protect and monitor our ocean resources.” The U.S. strategic plan will serve as the U.S. component to the GEOSS implementation plan.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Tsunami warnings will be aired over NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio. NOAA All-Hazard Weather Radio equipped with a special tone-alert feature will automatically turn itself on and sound an alarm whenever it detects the special tone broadcast by the National Weather Service. The alert tone will be followed by emergency information which will let the listener know what the threat is to the area, with safety measures to protect life and property.
For further information, visit the NOAA Homepage on the Internet at: www.noaa.gov
or for specific information on the Tsunami effort:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2369.htm

The February Focus of the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee (KWPC) is floods and flash floods. 1-30-05
More people in Kentucky are killed by floods and flash floods than any other thunderstorm related hazard. Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. As much as 90 percent of the damage related to all natural disasters (excluding droughts) is caused by floods and associated debris flows. Most communities in the United States can experience some kind of flooding. Over the 10-year period from 1988 to 1997, floods cost the Nation, on average, $3.7 billion annually. The long-term (1940 to 1999) annual average of lives lost is 110 per year, mostly as a result of flash floods.
Flash floods occur within six hours of a rain event, or after a dam or levee failure, and flash floods can catch people unprepared. So, the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee suggests you plan now to protect your family and property.
Talk to your insurance agent. Homeowners' policies do not cover flooding. Ask about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Use a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature, or a portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information.
Develop an evacuation plan. Everyone in your family should know where to go if they have to leave. Trying to make plans at the last minute can be upsetting and create confusion.
Discuss floods with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not together. Discussing floods ahead of time helps reduce fear and anxiety and lets everyone know how to respond.
How to Protect Your Property

* Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safe-deposit box. You may need quick, easy access to these documents. Keep them in a safe place less likely to be damaged during a flood.
* Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home. Some communities do not permit building in known floodplains. If there are no restrictions, and you are building in a floodplain, take precautions, making it less likely your home will be damaged during a flood.
* Raise your furnace, water heater, and electric panel to higher floors or the attic if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded. Raising this equipment will prevent damage. An undamaged water heater may be your best source of fresh water after a flood.
* Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage through cracks.

Know the difference between a Flash Flood Watch and a Flash Flood Warning. When a Flash Flood Watch is issued, be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment’s notice. A Flash Flood Warning means that a flash flood is imminent, act quickly to save yourself!
What to Do During a Flood or Flash Flood WATCH

* Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather Radio, or a portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information.
* Everyone in a WATCH area should be ready to respond and act quickly. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly and without warning. Be ready to act immediately.
* If your residence is in a flood-prone area:
* Fill bathtubs, sinks, and plastic bottles with clean water. Water may become contaminated or service may be interrupted.
* Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home. If flood waters affect your home, higher floors are less likely to receive damage.

What to Do During a Flood or Flash Flood WARNING

* Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather Radio, or a portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information.
* Be alert to signs of flooding. A WARNING means a flood is imminent or is happening in the area.
* If you live in a flood-prone area or think you are at risk, evacuate immediately. Move quickly to higher ground. Save yourself, not your belongings. The most important thing is your safety
* Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc., can become filled with water.
* If outdoors, climb to high ground and stay there. Move away from dangerous flood waters.
* If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, /turn around don’t drown! / Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. If it is moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet.

What to Do if Your Are Driving During a Flood or Flash Flood
* Avoid already flooded areas, and areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. The depth of water is not always obvious. The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. Rapidly rising water may stall the engine, engulf the vehicle and its occupants, and sweep them away. Look out for flooding at highway dips, bridges, and low areas. Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.
* If you are driving and come upon rapidly rising waters, turn around and find another route. Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. If your route is blocked by flood waters or barricades, find another route. Barricades are put up by local officials to protect people from unsafe roads. Driving around them can be a serious risk.
* If your vehicle becomes surrounded by water or the engine stalls, abandon your vehicle immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles. When a vehicle stalls in the water, the water's momentum is transferred to the car. The lateral force of a foot of water moving at 10 miles per hour is about 500 pounds on the average automobile. The greatest effect is buoyancy - for every foot that water rises up the side of a car, it displaces 1,500 pounds of the car's weight. So, two feet of water moving at 10 miles per hour will float virtually any car.

What to Do After a Flood or Flash Flood

* Seek necessary medical care at the nearest hospital or clinic. Contaminated flood waters lead to a greater possibility of infection. Severe injuries will require medical attention.
* Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated waters, crumbled roads, landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
* Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or television stations and return home only when authorities indicate it is safe to do so. Flood dangers do not end when the water begins to recede; there may be flood-related hazards within your community, which you could hear about from local broadcasts.
* Stay out of any building if flood waters remain around the building. Flood waters often undermine foundations, causing sinking, floors can crack or break and buildings can collapse.
* Avoid entering ANY building (home, business, or other) before local officials have said it is safe to do so. Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe. Gas leaks or electric or waterline damage can create additional problems.
* Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury. Check with your utility company now about where broken lines should be reported.

For more information about Flooding and Flash Flooding, please visit the following websites:

www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd/
www.flash.org
www.fema.gov/rrr/talkdiz/flood.shtm
http://kyem.dma.state.ky.us/

NOAA REPORTS DECEMBER WARMER THAN AVERAGE, GLOBAL TEMPERATURE WARMER THAN AVERAGE      1-20-05
The national average temperature for December 2004 was above normal for the contiguous United States, according to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.  While much of the western half of the nation was warmer than average, a brief period of very cold temperatures and heavy snowfall occurred in the Midwest and parts of the South, where temperatures averaged near the long-term mean (1895-2003).  The global average temperature for December was fifth warmest on record.  NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
NOAA scientists report that the average temperature for the contiguous United States for December (based on preliminary data) was 35.7F (2.1C), which was 2.2F (1.2C) above the 1895-2003 mean.  This was the 23rd warmest December on record.  The mean temperature in 19 states was above average, with all but one (New Hampshire) of these states being west of the Mississippi River.  Three western states (Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska) were much warmer than the long-term mean, while only two states in the contiguous United States (Mississippi, Louisiana) were cooler than average for the month.  The relatively warm temperatures for the nation led to below-normal heating degree days and below average residential energy demand.  The nation’s Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index was the 35th lowest on record for December.  The December temperature ranking of 23rd warmest is close to that for all of 2004 as a whole, which ended as the 24th warmest year on record.
Alaska was warmer than average for December with a statewide temperature of 4.5F (2.5C) above the 1971-2000 mean.  The year as a whole was much warmer than average for Alaska, ranking as the fourth warmest since statewide records began in 1918.
December precipitation was near average for the nation overall; however, dryness in the central U.S. balanced above-average wetness in the Southwest and Northeast.
The last few months of 2004, and the year as a whole were much wetter than average, with the year ending as the sixth wettest on record.  The latter half of 2004 ranked second wettest for any July-December in the last 110 years, partly as a result of multiple land-falling tropical systems, and much above-average rain and snowfall in areas of the Southwest.
The wetter-than-average conditions in parts of the West in 2004 helped alleviate drought that has been entrenched for more than five years in some western locations.  Although hydrological deficits still remain in much of the West, moderate-extreme drought affected only 10 percent of the western U.S. at the end of December, based on a widely used measure of drought, the Palmer Drought Index.  This compares to 69 percent in March of 2004 – the peak of the 2004 drought.
After a relatively slow start to the 2004-05 winter season for many parts of the country, a major snowstorm affected much of the Midwest in late December, causing major disruptions throughout the region.  Some cities in the Midwest received more than their annual average snowfall in a single day.  Residents in cities such as Paducah, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., had snow totals exceeding a foot, with over two feet being reported in places such as Scottsburg, Ind., and across a large area of the western Ohio Valley.  Snowfall was also recorded in Brownsville, Texas for the first time since February 1895, with 1.5 inches falling on Christmas day.  Further north, Victoria, Texas received over a foot of snow from the same storm, a record for the city.
The average global temperature anomaly for combined land and ocean surfaces during December 2004 (based on preliminary data) was 0.79F (0.44C) above the 1880-2003 long-term mean.  This was the fifth warmest December since 1880 (the beginning of reliable instrumental records).  Although land surface temperatures were anomalously warm throughout Europe, Scandinavia and western North America, cooler-than-average conditions were widespread across eastern and northern Canada, as well as much of Asia.  Weak El Niño conditions persisted into December with sea-surface temperatures in much of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific remaining warmer than average for the month, and the December global ocean surface temperature was second warmest on record. The warmer than average December concludes another much warmer than average year for the globe: 4th warmest since 1880.
NOAA’s Satellite and Information Services is America’s primary source of space-based oceanographic, meteorological, and climate data.  It operates the nation’s environmental satellites, which are used for ocean and weather observation and forecasting, climate monitoring, and other environmental applications. Some of the oceanographic applications include sea-surface temperature for hurricane and weather forecasting and sea-surface heights for El Niño prediction.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources.

Do You Know? January Warmth 1-10-05
January.  Cold gray skies, wind, snow – isn’t that what comes to mind whenever you think about weather in January?  The only month worse in our imagination is February.   So what gives with this January of record
breaking warmth over the first week in the new year?  Is this the January thaw?
To answer the question of January warmth, we must examine atmospheric circulation.
The Earth’s atmosphere is a cloud of gas and suspended solids, which extends from the Earth's surface out many thousands of miles. It becomes increasingly thinner with distance but always held by the Earth's
gravitational pull. The atmosphere is made up of 5 distinct layers which surrounds the earth and holds the air we breathe, protects us from outer space, and holds moisture (clouds), gases, and tiny particles.  The layer of atmosphere that extends from the surface to about 4 to 12 miles high is called the Troposphere. This layer is where we live, and contains nearly all the weather.
One of the driving forces of a specific weather pattern is the jet stream.  Jet streams are fast moving currents of air that resemble rivers. They picked up their name toward the latter portion of World War II as the higher-flying jet aircraft entered into usage, and discovered these fast moving currents of air high in the atmosphere.  There are 2 primary jet streams that impact the weather patterns for the United States; the subtropical and polar jet, with the polar usually containing faster wind speeds than the subtropical jet.  Very simply put, jet streams are formed as the atmospheric pressure fields and differencing temperatures extremes between the equator and the poles all try to equalize. Just as frontal boundaries mark the differences between cold and warm air masses, the polar and subtropical jets also mark boundaries between warm tropical air and the frigid polar air.  Although a river provides an excellent analogy for a visual image of the jet stream, these currents in the atmosphere have no fixed banks or boundaries to hold them in position.  Their movement is more akin to that of a snake, full of undulations, dips and sudden shifts in direction.
In the summer, the polar jet is usually confined to central and northern Canada, as the tilt of the earth on its axis provides an abundance of warm air which blocks the southern movement of the polar air.  In the winter, the reverse is true, and the colder northern air becomes predominate. The polar jet, or the boundary between these air masses dips down through the central United States.  Storm systems that originate in the Pacific Maritimes, or in the arctic regions of Canada, swoop into the United States and use the Jet Stream as their highway.
Sometimes it seems that every year or so, the news will be filled with pictures of icicles hanging off Florida oranges.  You can be assured that the Polar jet has dipped far to the south, sometimes reaching into the northern Gulf of Mexico, which has allowed the frigid air to pour into the southern regions of the country.
But this year, the news has been filled with stories of January warmth. From this very simplified explanation of the driving forces behind the weather patterns, it stands to reason that the Polar jet remains far north of where it should be this time of year.  Winter is far from over however, and as the Polar jet continues to undulate, you can be assured that more winter-like storm patterns, including winter temperatures will accompany its southern dips.

Here is a list of the top five weather events for Eastern Kentucky in 2004 as compiled by the staff of the National Weather Service in Jackson, KY:
#5: Freezing Temperatures Running Behind Schedule
The record books will show 2004 as having the latest initial occurrence of fall season freezing temperatures on record. The Jackson Julian Carroll Airport, located atop Sugar Camp Mountain, recorded 32 degrees on November 25th, which is the latest date that a freezing temperature was recorded, and it came 12 days later than the previous record. As often occurs in the fall season, temperature differences at night between the ridge tops and the valleys can vary by as much as 20 degrees, with area ridges being warmer than their surrounding valleys.
While some valley locations reached the 32 degree mark in mid-October, most other's freezing temperatures occurred early in November. London hit the freezing mark on November 9th which was the second latest ever.
Finally, it took the strongest cold front of the season which ushered in snow showers to bring temperatures atop Sugar Camp Mountain to freezing.   In fact, the freezing temperatures followed the season's first snowfall
on November 25th.

#4: Coolest Summer
Where did summer go? Well, maybe you missed it because you never really felt those dog days of summer. The meteorological summer months of June, July, and August, joined the record from the summer of 1985 as the
coolest summer in Jackson based on observations at the Julian Carroll Airport. The average temperature was 71.6 degrees, while the normal is 73.4 degrees. In fact, at both official observing stations, Jackson and
London, the 90 degree mark was not reached. This is the first time Jackson has not had a 90+ degree temperature and only the third time that London has not reached this threshold (2003 and 1967 the only
other years). The warmest Jackson got this summer was 88 degrees on August 28th and again on September 6th. In contrast, the meteorological fall season of September through November, ranked 2nd warmest on record. The average temperature was 60.8 degrees, which is well above the normal of 57.7 degrees

#3:  Remnants of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan
While the full impact of hurricanes primarily threatens coastal regions, their remnants can cause damage well inland. Unfortunately for east Kentucky, remnants of hurricanes can bring heavy rains to the region depending on their track. Following below normal precipitation in August, the combined efforts of Frances and Ivan gave Jackson 99% and London 92% of September's total rainfall. Jackson received 4.25 inches from Frances from September 7th -9th and 3.25 inches from Ivan on the 16th and 17th. Rainfall from Frances set the stage for flooding when the remnants of Ivan arrived. Not only did widespread minor flooding occur, but portions of the Kentucky River and the Cumberland River rose above flood stage where previously there was no record of flooding in the month of September. Those locations were Booneville and Heidelberg on the Kentucky River, Clay City on the Red River, and Barbourville and Williamsburg on the Cumberland River.

#2:  Second Wettest Year on Record
A little here, a little there, some more here, a lot there; it all added up to place the annual rainfall at the Jackson Julian Carroll Airport in the record books as the 2nd rainiest year on record with 62.40 inches. Only the months of March, August, and December came in below their respective monthly norms. May itself had 10.78 inches, breaking the monthly record for May. Nearly four inches of that fell on the 30th of May in the middle of the memorable Memorial Day storms. Of course, the remnants of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan contributed to the grand total as well. At eastern Kentucky's other NWS official observation site, London, KY, the annual rainfall record was broken for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, this year's 65.22+ inches will have to be counted as missing and last year's 62.35 inches as an unofficial estimate (both due to power failures) and will not go down in the books as the official record. The official record will still stand at 62.02 inches set back in 1979.

#1:  Memorial Day Weekend
While cookouts and family gatherings were suppose to be taking place, Mother Nature handed east Kentucky a series of violent storms that spawned large hail, damaging winds, floods, and tornadoes in a historic way.
During the period from Thursday, as the severe weather moved into the state, until the Tuesday following Memorial Day (May 27th – June 1st , 2004), the NWS office in Jackson received 311 reports of severe
weather. There were 8 confirmed tornadoes that ripped through the region. Single confirmed tornadoes occurred in Powell, Estill, Jackson, Owsley, Breathitt, and Pulaski counties, and two more touched down in Knox
County.
You have to go back in weather history to the Super Outbreak of 1974 to find that many tornados within a one week period. In 1974, there were 18 tornados in early April, most of which occurred on April 3rd.
The Memorial Day Weekend storms of 2004 left eastern Kentucky with homes damaged, trees down, power disrupted, but no deaths and only 8 people injured. There were 4 injuries from a tornado in Pulaski County, and
another 4 injured as a result of flooding.
Honorable Mentions:
January 25th Ice Storm
A mid-winter ice storm brought between a quarter and one inch of ice to east Kentucky. Locations across south-central Kentucky received a quick quarter of an inch of ice before surface temperatures climbed high
enough to allow the rain to not freeze on contact. Elsewhere, including at the Jackson weather office, quarter inch ice amounts were typical. Then, across northern Kentucky, including the Bluegrass Region, many
one inch ice accumulations were reported
Unusual December Hail
With only one other occurrence of severe hail in December (¾ inch or larger) reported across east Kentucky since 1950, the December 10th severe hail event across northern portions of Breathitt and Magoffin
counties, along with western Laurel county, was quite rare. Some of the smaller (non-severe) pea size hail covered the ground up to 2 inches deep! Many witnessed the hail as it fell during the peak morning
commute.
Coldest Temperature in Nearly Eight Years
On January 31st, the temperature at the Jackson weather office dipped to 1 degree Fahrenheit. This was the coldest reading since February 5, 1996, when the thermometer read -5 degrees.
* Records at Jackson date back to 1981 and date back to 1954 at London

...Remembrances of Christmas Days Past at Jackson Kentucky... by Phil Hysell
The Jackson weather office started keeping climate records on January 1st 1981. This means that 23 Christmas days have come and gone. Lets take a look at the history of weather for December 25th.
The coldest Christmas  occurred in 1983, when the mercury dropped to 12 degrees below zero. This was the only Christmas when sub zero readings were recorded at the Jackson weather service office. In fact, the high temperature only reached 6 degrees that day, which is the coldest high temperature for December 25th.
In contrast, the warmest Christmas happened on the previous Year in 1982. The temperature soared to 76 degrees with the low reading only 59 degrees that day, which is the warmest minimum temperature for Christmas day.
The snowiest Christmas was back in 1993, when 3.6 inches of snow blanketed the ground. There were also three other Christmas occurrences when over an inch of snow fell; 2.1 inches in 1995, 1.5 inches in 2002 and 1.4 inches in 1992. Nine Christmas days saw at least a trace of snowfall over the last 23 years.
The greatest Christmas morning snow depth was two inches, which happened in 1985 and 1989. There were also three Christmas mornings that had a snow depth of one inch: 1993, 1995 and 1998. In total, at least a trace of snow was on the ground for 10 of the last 23 Christmas mornings.
The wettest Christmas happened in 1987 when 1.93 inches of rain was recorded at the Jackson weather office. There have been 11 Christmas days when measurable precipitation occurred between 1981 and 2003.
Here is some other miscellaneous Christmas weather information. There have been 19 Christmas days when the mercury was equal to or dropped below the  freezing mark. There were also 10 days when the high temperature was 32 degrees or below. Thirteen Christmas days had average of 32 degrees or less. Over the last 23 Christmas days nine have been dry.
The age old question of will we have a white Christmas? The early outlook for Christmas 2004 indicates that it will be dry and cold with highs around 20. Christmas morning temperatures will be in the single digits to around 10 degrees, and with snow expected on Thursday, there could be some snow leftover on the ground by Christmas morning.

NOAA REPORTS WET, WARM YEAR FOR THE U.S. IN 2004 Hurricanes, Wildfires, Drought, Snowpack and Flooding All Notable   12-21-04

When 2004 ends, it will rank among the top 10 wettest years on record for the contiguous United States, and is expected to be warmer than average, according to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The findings are based on preliminary data, and historical records dating back to 1895. While parts of the West remained in drought, rainfall was above average in 33 states, especially in the South and East, partly due to the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes, which impacted 20 states. NOAA, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A variable year for temperature in the U.S.
• NOAA scientists report that the average temperature for the contiguous United States for 2004 (based on preliminary data) will likely be approximately 53.5 degrees F (11.9 degrees C), which is 0.7 degrees F (0.4 degrees C) above the 1895-2003 mean, and the 24th warmest year on record. Based on data through the end of November, the mean annual temperature in two states (Washington and Oregon) is expected to be much above average, with 30 states being above average, 16 contiguous states near average and no state below the long-term mean.

• Alaska’s annual temperature is expected to be approximately 1.8 degrees F above the 1971-2000 average for 2004, one of the 5 warmest years for the state, since reliable records began in 1918. Alaska had a record warm summer with a statewide temperature of 4.6 degrees F (2.6 degrees C) above the 1971-2000 mean. May, June, July and August were all record breaking for the state. Much of the west coast also had record or near record temperatures for the summer of 2004. In contrast much of remainder of the contiguous U.S. was relatively cool during June-August, including several cities in the Upper Midwest that had afternoon high temperatures in the low 50s during the middle of August.

• Spring temperatures across the U.S. were above average in all states, except Florida, which was near normal for the season. Fall was warm across much of the mid-section of the country, but the West remained near average. Winter began relatively warm in November and early December for states from the Upper Midwest to the East Coast.

Hurricanes in South and East
• A major feature of the climate in the U.S. in 2004 was the number of landfalling tropical systems. Nine systems affected the U.S. including six hurricanes, three of which were classified as major on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane intensity. Four of the six hurricanes affected Florida, making it the only state since 1886 to sustain the impact of four hurricanes in one season (Texas also had four hurricanes in 1886). Hurricane Charley in August was the strongest hurricane (category 4 at landfall) to strike the U.S. since Andrew in 1992 and caused an estimated $14 billion in damage. Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne quickly followed Charley in September.

• Hurricane Gaston also impacted the U.S. in August making landfall in South Carolina. In total, the hurricane season cost the U.S. an estimated $42 billion, the most costly season on record. That record has been calculated back to 1900. While there was extensive wind damage in Florida and other coastal locations, flooding was the major impact further inland. Frances impacted the Southeast and southern Appalachians after a wetter-than-average summer, causing millions of dollars in flood damage to the region. Shortly thereafter Ivan traveled a similar path through the mountains and led to widespread flooding, loss of power and landslides.

Drought and Snowpack
• In contrast to the excessive rainfall in the East, much of the West began the year with a long-term rainfall deficit. A four-to-five-year drought in parts of the West intensified during the first half of 2004 as precipitation remained below average. Drier-than-average summer conditions coupled with warmer than normal temperatures in the West exacerbated the drought conditions still further during June-August. Short-term drought relief occurred in the fall as two large storms impacted the West during October. The first major snowfall of the season was associated with these storms for the Sierra Nevada. As of early December, snowpack is above average in Utah, Arizona and Nevada, but significantly below average throughout much of the Northwest as well as the eastern slope of the Rockies. Near year’s end, moderate to extreme drought continued to affect large parts of the West, including Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, California, Arizona and Colorado.

Wildfires
• Although the wildfire season got an early start in the western U.S., and record warm temperatures combined with less-than-average precipitation raised fire danger across the West through the summer, the season concluded as below average for the contiguous U.S. However, a record number of acres were burned in Alaska in 2004. Alaska and the adjacent Yukon Territory of Canada saw a rapid increase in fire activity in June, which was sustained through August consuming over 6.6 million acres in Alaska. In Fairbanks, on 42 of the 92 days of summer, visibility was reduced from smoke associated with the wildfires. This compares to the previous record of 19 days in 1977.

Global Conditions
• The average global temperature anomaly for combined land and ocean surfaces from January-December 2004 (based on preliminary data) is expected to be 0.55 degrees F (0.31 degrees C) above the 1880-2003 long-term mean, making 2004 the 4th warmest year since 1880 (the beginning of reliable instrumental records). Averaged over the year, land surface temperatures were anomalously warm throughout western North America, southern and western Asia and Europe. Boreal fall (September-November) as well as November were warmest on record for combined land and ocean surfaces.

• Other notable climate events and anomalies across the world in 2004, include an active tropical season in the Northwest Pacific, with Japan sustaining ten tropical storm landfalls, exceeding the previous record of six; below normal monsoon rainfall for India, especially in the Northwest part of the country; flooding in Northeastern India from monsoon rains in June-October; a rare hurricane in the South Atlantic in March; and an extensive and severe heat wave in Australia during February.

• Sea-surface temperatures in much of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific increased during the latter half of 2004 as weak El Niño conditions developed. Though global impacts have been slow to develop, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects the current El Niño to persist through early 2005, bringing drier-than-average conditions to Indonesia, northern Australia and southeastern Africa.

The National Climatic Data Center is part NOAA Satellite and Information Services, America’s primary source of space-based oceanographic, meteorological and climate data. NOAA Satellite and Information Services operates the nation’s environmental satellites, which are used for ocean and weather observation and forecasting, climate monitoring, and other environmental applications. Some of the oceanographic applications include sea-surface temperature for hurricane and weather forecasting and sea-surface heights for El Niño prediction.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit: http://www.noaa.gov.

Do You Know? Winter Weather Driving 12-14-04
The season is fast approaching where we need to think about taking whatever precautions that we can to prevent one of the most preventable causes of death and injury during the winter season - winter weather driving related injuries and fatalities. Before the snow begins to fall, the National Weather Service (NWS) in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) has a few recommendations.
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.
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