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SEVERE WINTER WEATHER THREATENS WEEKEND SAFETY
January 28, 2000 — A major winter storm moving up the East Coast from Georgia could seriously impact public travel and safety during the coming weekend, according to NOAA's National Weather Service meteorologists. (Click image for larger view.) [NOAA Photo: The Potomac River in Sandy Hook, Maryland.]
The storm moved through parts of Oklahoma, leaving six to 11 inches of snow in its wake, moved across Mississippi and Alabama and is expected to continue to track toward Georgia. Current forecasts show snow accumulations of one to three inches in the Atlanta area this afternoon, changing to freezing rain or sleet Friday evening and Saturday. The storm is then expected to move north, bringing snow and/or ice into the Washington, DC, area Sunday morning, before moving up the coast.
"People living in the areas in the track of this storm should follow the weather forecasts closely, and keep in mind that snow and ice can present dangers to motorists, airlines, and other travelers," said Wes Junker, senior forecaster at NOAA's National Weather Service in Washington, D.C.
The NOAA National Weather Service Web site has links to current weather and updated forecasts and warnings for each state.
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NOAA GOES satellite view of USA. Click image to see latest view.
NOAA satellite images are stamped in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). Click here to convert to USA time.
BE PREPARED FOR WINTER WEATHER
The first step to a safe winter is to stay tuned to the weather by monitoring TV, radio or NOAA Weather Radio—the broadcast system that transmits local weather service warnings and forecasts around the clock. Every year hundreds of people die needlessly because they are unaware of winter weather advisories.
The wind chill factor can make those already cold temperatures seem even colder. Be prepared. Guard against the possibility of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. Hypothermia causes uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness or apparent exhaustion.
In your car, and at home, have a flashlight available, with extra batteries, keep extra food and water available, have extra medicine and first aid supplies, keep gas in your tank near full and try not to travel alone.
If you absolutely must leave the house, dress in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. Make sure to wear a hat, mittens and cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
KNOW YOUR WINTER WEATHER TERMS
NOAA's WINTER WEATHER INTERNET REFERENCES
U.S. THREAT ASSESSMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICES ACROSS THE USA
NOAA SATELLITE IMAGES — Real-time satellite images
NOAA's CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER
METEOROLOGICAL CALCULATOR
NEW SUPERCOMPUTER HELPS NOAA'S WEATHER SERVICE IMPROVE SPEED AND ACCURACY OF WEATHER FORECASTS
NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION
More Information on the NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION
Media Contact
For more information contact Curtis Carey or John Leslie, NOAA's Natioinal Weather Service headquarters, at (301) 713-0622.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REGIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS
NOAA SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE DAY. NOAA's Operational Significant Event Imagery (OSEI) team provides daily satellite images of significant events for media use. These images are to be credited to NOAA.
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