Transcript National Weather Service Gray/Portland, ME Winter SKYWARN Presentation presented by: Mike Kistner Gray, ME Forecast Office.

National Weather Service
Gray/Portland, ME
Winter SKYWARN Presentation
presented by:
Mike Kistner
Gray, ME Forecast Office
The National Weather Service
AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
NWS Gray
National Weather Service
Binghamton
Open 24/7
New Hampshire, Western and
Central Maine
When the Weather turns Severe…
• You can count on us!!
• Issue warnings to alert public
of severe weather, floods,
blizzards, ice storms, high
winds, hurricanes and coastal
storms.
National Weather Service
Nationwide
SKYWARN
• SKYWARN is a National volunteer program run
by the National Weather Service
• SKYWARN ’ s goal is to provide NWS with
“Ground Truth Reports” of significant weather
How do Weather Spotters help the NWS?
• Real time reports assist the NWS in our
warning decisions.
• Helps forecasters gauge the severity of a
storm.
• Your information may be the reason a
warning is issued, and/or provides
credibility to a warning.
• SKYWARN provides a backbone
emergency communications.
of
• The trained eye of the storm spotter is still
our greatest asset!
Spotters help to fill in the gaps
• WSR-88D (Doppler
Radar) limitations
Radar in CT valley is above 6000
feet
 Snow growth can occur below
this level, the radar beam often
overshoots snow at a greater
distance from the radar.

BOTTOM LINE: – Real time reports from spotters are absolutely
necessary for warning operations!
Make Your Reports!
Winter Weather Hazards
• Heavy Snow
• Ice
• Cold Outbreaks
• Wind
• Flooding
Winter Storms Can Kill!!
Increased Frequency of Accidents are the Number 1 Cause
of Death and Injury.
– Motorists typically unprepared for sudden changes in road
conditions and visibility
– Heavy snow has the potential to strand large numbers of
people on the road
– Carry a winter storm survival kit in your car
– Have a disaster plan at home so you can survive on your own
several days without power
Courtesy: Gettyfor
Images
Winter Preparedness
In Vehicles
Plan your travel and check the latest forecast to avoid the
storm! Check and winterize your vehicle before winter begins.
Carry a WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT:
• Mobile phone, charger, batteries.
• Blankets/sleeping bags
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• Knife
• High-calorie, non-perishable food.
• Extra clothing to keep dry
• Sack of sand or cat litter for traction.
• Shovel.
• Windshield scraper and brush.
• Tool kit.
• Tow rope.
• Battery booster cables.
• Water container.
• Compass and road maps.
• Candles or Sterno
Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and
fuel lines. Avoid traveling alone if possible.
Winter Preparedness
At Home and Work
Primary concerns are loss of power/heat, telephone service and a
shortage of supplies if storm conditions linger. Have available:
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive
emergency information.
• Extra food and water. Have high energy food, such as dried fruit, nuts
and granola bars, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration.
• Extra medicine and baby items.
• First-aid supplies.
• Heating fuel. Refuel before you are empty. Fuel carriers may not
reach you for days after a winter storm.
• Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove, space heater. Use
properly to prevent a fire. Ventilate properly.
• Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm. Test smoke alarms once a month to
ensure they work properly.
• Portable Generators – do not run indoors!!! (not even inside garage)
• Make sure pets have plenty of food, water and shelter.
What Makes a Winter Storm
• Lift
• Moisture
• Cold Air
• Arctic High Pressure
Cold sinking air
Source: USA Today
Ground
Sources of Lift
• Low Pressure Systems and Warm/Cold Fronts
• Temperature differences over water
• Mountains
Source: USA Today
Rising Air leads to Low Pressure
• Lift moves air up and
away from surface.
• Surface air flows from
high to low pressure
Sources for Moisture
• Great Lakes
• Gulf of Mexico
• Gulf Stream
• Atlantic Ocean
Precipitation Types
•
Snow falls when the temperature
is below freezing from the cloud
layer down to near or at ground
level.
•
Sleet falls when a snowflake
enters an above freezing layer,
melts, then refreezes before it hits
the ground.
•
Freezing rain is when a snow flake
melts into rain, and the rain drop
does not freeze until it reaches the
surface.
•
Rain occurs when the temperature
is above freezing.
Cold Air Damming
It All Comes Together
What is a Nor’easter?
• No official meteorological definition
• Refers to direction of winds – from a nautical term – made
popular by media thru 20th/21st century.
Generally refers to storm
producing high impact on
east coast.
Blizzards
•
•
•
Sustained winds/frequent gusts 35 mph or greater
Visibility ¼ mile or less
3 hours or more
Corey Templeton
Blizzard of February 2013
• Blizzard of 2013
Lake Effect
Source: USA Today
Ice Storms
• Heavy weight of ice brings down trees and power/comms lines
• Extended time without power, during extreme cold, has huge
consequences.
Winter and Spring Flooding
• Typical snowpack water
6 inches some winters!
equivalents
can
exceed
• Many places typically have 2 to 6 inches of water locked
up in the snowpack by late winter
• And…
• We know it is going to melt eventually.
• With heavy rain and warm temperatures, which can
happen in late winter/early spring….big flooding can
result!
Ice Jam Flooding
• During a cold winter, ice cover
can form on area rivers, creeks,
and streams.
• A heavy rainfall or a significant
snowmelt, can help raise the river
levels, and help to break up the
ice.
• Once the ice flow begins, large
chunks of ice can “jam” up on
obstructions such as underpasses
of bridges, and cause flooding.
Winter Weather Products
Hazardous Weather
Outlook (HWO)
• 30% chance or greater that
local warning or advisory
criteria will be met, the
details will be included in the
HWO.
• Confidence at this point can
be low and again this is just
an outlook.
Watch
• Issued 24 hours to as much as
72 hours in advance.
• Anytime there is a 50% chance
or greater that local warning
criteria will be met or
exceeded.
• Confidence at this point is
medium and a watch means
these conditions are possible.
• Examples include: Winter
Storm
Watches,
Blizzard
Watches, Lake Effect Snow
Watches, etc.
Winter Weather Products
Warning
• Issued 12 hours to as much as
36 hours in advance.
• Anytime there is a 80% chance
or greater that local warning
criteria will be met.
• Potential for life threatening,
confidence is high.
• Examples include Winter Storm
Warnings, Blizzard Warnings,
Wind Chill Warnings.
Advisory
• Issued 12 hours to as much
as 36 hours in advance.
• Anytime there is a 80%
chance or greater that local
advisory criteria will be met
or exceeded.
• More of a nuisance,
confidence is high.
• Examples include Winter
Weather Advisory, Freezing
Rain Advisory, and Wind
Chill Advisories.
Where Can You Find These Products?
Go to: weather.gov/gyx
• Click on your location the
map – forecast and all
watches/warnings/advisories
will be listed.
Reporting Winter Weather
Measuring Snow
• Most concerned with newly fallen snow (storm
total).
• Where, what, and how to best measure.
• Best measurement practices.
• How to make snowfall reports.
• Other observations such as, ice accumulation,
flooding, etc.
Measuring Snow
• Snowfall measurement is typically more difficult
than rainfall
• Snowfall measurement takes a little more time
Accurate and timely snowfall measurements can be extremely important to
the local National Weather Service office, public works departments, media
outlets, climatologists, and other scientists
Selecting A Good Location
- Best area to measure snow will vary depending on your
location.
- Best site will be 1) relatively open ground and 2)
protected but unobstructed by vegetation.
- You want to minimize drifting as much as possible!
- Not all sites will be perfect. Do the best you can.
Example of a Good Location
Snow measured under a tree
Notice that only 3.0 inches of snow has accumulated here
Snow measured in the open
Where as 6.5 inches has fallen in the open
What You Can Use To Measure
- Rulers, Measuring Tape,
and Yardsticks
- Measure to the nearest tenth of an
inch.
- Not every ruler has tenths of an inch.
Do the best you can and round up. For
example report 5 ¼” of snow as 5.3”
- Take an average (measure in a few
spots where drifting has not occurred).
Measuring Snowfall
Take an average
Angle of Measurement
Measure at eye level, as an angle will give
you an inaccurate measurement
What You Can Measure On
• Measuring on the grass or an elevated surface such
as a deck is fine.
• Remember to avoid measuring right next to your
house, or close to a driveway or road.
•
Measurements made on a snow board are best.
• You want to measure in a few different locations, to
get the best average.
What You Can Measure On
Snow Board
• A hard surface which can give
you
a
more
accurate
measurement of snow.
• Measuring in grass may give you
a slightly higher reading.
• A snow board can be any light
color board, roughly 2 feet by 2
feet.
• A piece of plywood painted white
would be an example.
What You Can Measure On
• It’s a good idea to mark
the location of your
snow board with a flag,
reflector, or stick.
How Often Should I Measure?
• Measure at least once during the
storm, as close to the end of
snowfall as possible. This gives us
the final snowfall total (newly fallen
snow). *Most Important!
• Measuring more often during the
event is strongly encouraged.
• An example would be give us a call
halfway through the event and then
again at the end. Or, call us every 3
hours throughout the event.
• If you call more often during the
event, be very clear whether you
are giving us a running total or an
observation
since
the
last
measurement.
Clearing Your Location
• *If you are measuring and
reporting
throughout
the
storm: Please only clear off
your location no more than
once every 6 hours.
• After you have made a final
measurement, clear off the
location so you are ready for
the next snowfall.
• If you are using a snowboard,
you can put the board on top
of the newly fallen snow so
that it is higher than the
surrounding area.
A Snow Event
1.2 inches
2.4 inches of snow
Monday Snow begins
7:00 am
9:00 a.m.
Some melting and settling
occurs
Tuesday
7:00 am
Measure snow as close to when the snow ends
as possible
Snow ends
1:00 p.m.
Call the Spotter Hotline:
1-800-482-0913
This is a special number only for
spotters and rings directly to us!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who you are: Trained Skywarn Spotter and Spotter ID.
Where you live (if away from home, let us know)
Your observation (3.7” of new snow last 3 hours. 5.0” total )
Time of observation (4:35 P.M.)
Snow Measuring Summary
1. Find a nice, level place to measure
where drifting or melting has not
occurred (like a snowboard)
2. Slide snow stick or ruler into snow
until it reaches the ground/board
surface. Take an average.
3. Most concerned with newly fallen
snow (storm total). These values
are always to the nearest tenth of
an inch.
4. Make sure to clean your location for
the next snowfall when you are
done measuring.
Email: [email protected]
1. Spotter ID
2. Location
3. Your observation (8.7” of new snow @ 7:20 PM)
4. Storm total snow, if different
Measuring Snow
A major snowstorm hits on the weekend when you are
home. You decide to report throughout the storm. We
already have 2” on the ground prior to the storm but your
snow measuring area is free of snow.
The snow starts at 9 AM and by 2 PM you have 5.3”. You
call the office. The snow continues and you pick up another
5 inches when it ends at 10 PM.
-What is the newly fallen snowfall at 2 PM?
-What is the final snowfall total at 10 PM?
Amateur Radio
Check in and send reports directly to
WX1GYX via the following methods:
1. 2 meter net on the KQ1L Repeater System (Primary repeater:
146.880 – 100Hz PL)
2. HF on 7.277 Mhz (Day), 3.965 MHz (Night) & 3.960 (Alt. Night)
3. Echolink via the *NEW-ENG* Node
Measuring Snow
• Answer #2
• When you call the office at 2 PM you report 5.3”.
• When you call the office at 10 PM tell them you have
measured 10.3” and this is a final total.
• No need to say 5” more fell. Different people may
answer. Just give a running total, and be sure to give the
final total at the end.
When to Report?
• Snowfall
Minimum Request:
Try to call as close to the end of the event as possible (newly
fallen, snowfall total).
Extra Mile:
Knowing how much has fallen at the end of the event is
important, but knowing it as it is happening helps our warning
decision process. Call us with updates as possible, every 3
hours throughout the event.
If you are getting over an inch of snow per hour, this is critical
info, and we would like to hear from you.
When To Report?
• Ice Accumulation – ANY!
– Surface it is accumulating on
– Thickness
• Ice Cover On Rivers/Streams/Creeks
– Provide ice reports online once per week.
– Send updates as necessary due to ice jams or
flooding.
– Contact [email protected] for more
information.
http://www.facebook.com/NWSGray
@NWSGray
Be sure to identify yourself as a
trained spotter!
Post a picture!
1. Spotter ID and location.
2. What you saw (we are just starting to see freezing rain)
3. Time of observation (3:45 P.M.)
Photo copyright Bobby Eddies
Future Classes
• We also hold SKYWARN classes in the spring that focus on
thunderstorms and flash flooding.
• We will always post future class information on our website
weather.gov/gyx at the top of the page and on our Skywarn
page. Also, we will post it on Facebook.
• Our goal is that you report to us year round (snow, hail, high
winds, etc).
What to Else To Report
• Tornado or Funnel cloud (confirm rotation)
• Hail (any size)
• Wind damage- trees down, structural
• Flooding (closed roads, streams close to bankful)
• Heavy rainfall (generally amounts of 2 inches or more in
less than 6 hours or rates of 1 inch or more an hour).
• Use the toll free number for urgent weather reports such
as these.
• More information in our Spring Class (at end).
CoCoRaHS
www.cocorahs.org
• Report rain and snow
amounts everyday.
• Make reports online.
• This is ideal for those
who wish to record the
weather everyday.
• More training can be
found online.
Reporting Procedures
1. Toll Free Number: 1-800-482-0913
2. E-mail: [email protected]
3. Amateur Radio (HF, VHF, and Echolink) www.wx1gyx.org
4. Facebook
5. Twitter @NWSGray #nhwx #mewx
6. CoCoRAHS
Mike Kistner
Meteorologist
NWS Gray/Portland ME
• Email: [email protected]
• Web page: http://weather.gov/gyx
• Facebook: US National Weather Service, Gray ME
• Twitter: @NWS Gray