...WINTER INFORMATION WEEK 2008...NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 21ST...
The National Weather Service will feature a different educational topic each week day during winter information week. Todays topic:

History of Winter Weather and Sources of Weather Information.

As we move into late fall...it is once again time to refresh your memory about winter weather hazards and how you can plan for the life threatening situations that winter weather can bring.

Each year...many people take winter weather too lightly...which often results in serious injury or even death.

Many people still remember the blizzards that struck the state in March of 1993 and January of 1996. These storms were deadly reminders of how dangerous winter storms can be.

On an average year...snowfall in the northwestern portion of the state and the Laurel Highlands ranges from 70 to 100 inches.

Snowfall over the remainder of central Pennsylvania ranges from 40 to 50 inches with the higher elevations receiving over 60 inches of snow.

During this week...please take some time to read and listen to information about winter storms and winter weather terminology.

More importantly...please review how you can protect yourself from extreme cold...snow and other winter hazards.

The most significant snow storms across Pennsylvania generally occur in two ways:

1...In the eastern portion of the state...costal nor'easters move up the eastern seaboard gathering moisture. As these systems collide with cold air over the Northeast United States...heavy snowfall occurs. True nor'easters occur only once every 3 to 5 years and can produce 1 to 3 feet of snow in eastern Pennsylvania.

2...Lake Effect snow occurs when very cold air flows across the great lakes during the winter months and absorbs moisture from the lakes. The moisture is then condensed out east and south of the lake. The result is cloudiness and snow showers. This lake effect snow adds substantially to the winter snowfall across portions of northwest Pennsylvania and the Laurel Highlands.

Weather information is available 24 hours a day from the National Weather Service. Forecasts for Pennsylvania are regularly issued twice a day and updated as often as necessary.

NOAA weather radio is produced and generated at weather offices across Pennsylvania and around the nation. Weather information is distributed on one of seven special FM frequencies.

Specially designed weather radios are automatically alarmed and activated by the local National Weather Service office when a severe weather warning is issued. In this way...you can be alerted to severe weather warnings almost immediately.

These weather radios are available at local electronics retailers or as a special frequency on certain AM/FM radios.

Forecasts and NOAA weather information can also be found on the internet at: www.weather.gov/Philadelphia.