November 16, 2007 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Todays topic is winter weather safety rules for your home.

The best way to survive a winter storm is to plan and prepare for The Hazards of winter weather. Although some winter storms develop quickly and with short notice…most events can be planned for.

At home…the primary concerns are for the potential loss of power, heat and telephone service. Food supplies may also run low if conditions persist for several days. Some items that should be readily available around the home prior to the onset of winter weather include…

Extra food and water…especially canned goods.

A flashlight with extra batteries.

First-aid supplies and extra medicine.

Extra baby items.

Extra wood for emergency heating.

A battery powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio.

If power is lost…never use a gasoline or diesel powered generator inside the house…in the garage…or any other enclosed space.

Generators can cause Carbon monoxide to build up to deadly levels in enclosed spaces. Operate such generators outdoors only. Another winter threat is house fires. December…January…and February are the leading months for house fires in this country. More than one-third of fire deaths typically occur during the winter months. Here are some precautions you can take…

Central heating systems should be kept in proper working order. This includes regular inspections.

Space heaters need to be at least 36 inches away from any flammable materials. The heaters should not be left on when no one is present or when people are asleep. The heaters should have automatic shut-off switches that turn the unit off if it tips over.

Fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. The fireplaces should have a sturdy screen…and only wood should be burned.

Wood stoves should be installed…used…and maintained in accordance with instructions from the manufacturer. Use of a stove board will protect the floor. Only wood should be burned in the stove.

Kitchen ranges and ovens…charcoal grills…and hibachis should never be used for heating.

Carbon monoxide is another hazard. It is a colorless…odorless gas and is produced by gas-fired appliances…charcoal grills…and wood-burning furnaces and fireplaces. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed to provide an early warning when the gas begins to build up.

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November 15, 2007 by ParsonsWeather.com.

The first tornado struck at 317 PM CST in Jackson County…at about 9.7 miles south-southeast of Gainesboro. The tornado completely destroyed a porch in front of the house on Green Road. A few trees were uprooted and snapped. One tree was snapped at its base. A metal storage building lost part of its roof. Winds were estimated to be about 100 to 105 mph which places the tornado in the EF1 range (86-110 mph). The path length was about 0.1 miles and 100 yards wide.

The second tornado occurred in White County from 416 PM to 417 PM CST. It touched down 1.2 miles west-southwest of Bakers Crossroads and ended at 0.6 miles west-southwest of Bakers Crossroads. The path length was 0.67 miles with a path width of 200 yards. This tornado blew a single wide trailer off its foundation and carried it across the Road and slammed it against a house. The house also had considerable roof damage. Just before the tornado ended it struck the Almyra Methodist church located at the intersection of Burgess fall Road and Almyra Road. The steeple was blown down and windows were blown out. Trees were snapped and uprooted along the damage path. Winds were on the high end of the EF1 category at about 110 mph.

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November 15, 2007 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Public information statement from the National Weather Service:

Todays topic is winter precipitation types.

Snow - snow forms in the clouds and remains as snow all the way to the ground. It most commonly takes the form of snowflakes…which are the familiar six-sided ice crystals. It may also fall in the from of snow pellets or snow grains.

Snow flurries are most commonly seen as a few snowflakes falling..although visibilities can be reduced at times. In the mid south…the term snow flurries is used to indicate that no accumulation is expected.

Snow showers is a term not often used in the mid south. In this type of precipitation…the snow falls at varying intensities…often changing intensities over brief periods. Accumulation may occur…especially during moderate to heavy snow showers.

Blowing snow most commonly refers to snow that is already on the ground and is lifted into the air by the wind.

In the mid south…heavier snows most commonly occur when cold air is already in place over the region and a strong upper level low pressure system moves out of the southwestern United States. The low serves to pull moist air northward into the cold air. Light snow or snow flurries can also occur in the cold air that follows the passage of an Arctic cold front.

Sleet - sleet consists of pellets of ice. In fact…for people who have trouble with the difference between sleet and freezing rain…it may be easier to associate sleet with its technical name…which is ice pellets. For sleet to form…snow begins falling from the clouds but then goes through a layer of above-freezing air thousands of feet above the ground. This causes the snow to change to rain. Then the rain goes through a layer of below-freezing air…usually at least two to three thousand feet thick…and the precipitation turns into pellets of ice. Sleet typically occurs in a fairly narrow band. This band usually moves…but at times may remain nearly stationary…resulting in accumulations of sleet. In the mid south…sleet most commonly occurs in a narrow band between an area of rain to the south and an area of snow to the north.

Freezing rain - this weather phenomenon is sometimes called glaze…because of the glaze of ice it puts on surfaces at the ground. Freezing rain most commonly occurs when precipitation falls from the clouds as snow…then goes through an above-freezing layer…which turns the precipitation to rain. Then…the rain reaches the ground where temperatures are below freezing. The rain then freezes as it hits exposed objects. In the worst cases…everything becomes coated with a layer of ice.

In the mid south…freezing rain commonly occurs as an Arctic high pressure system begins to move away from the state. In this situation…cold air is still lingering at the ground…but warmer southerly winds from the Gulf of Mexico begin bringing moisture back over the top of the cold air. Since the air at the ground has not warmed above freezing…the rain that falls freezes on the ground and other objects. Freezing rain…and its cousin freezing drizzle…often develop during the late night hours…creating icy conditions for morning rush hour.

Freezing fog - while this is not precipitation falling from the clouds…it is another winter weather hazard. Freezing fog typically develops on clear…calm nights when temperatures are below freezing. Fog forms and freezes…usually on bridges…overpasses…and other elevated roadways. It can create quite a surprise for motorists…due to the presence of clear skies overhead.

Frost - frost describes the formation of thin ice crystals on the ground or other surfaces in the form of scales…Needles…feathers…or fans. Frost forms when water vapor in the air turns directly to ice crystals on an object. The temperature of the object must be below freezing for frost to occur. However…frost is sometimes seen on the ground when official temperatures are reported to be above freezing. This is because the official temperature is taken about five feet above the ground…where the air can be a few degrees warmer than the temperature at ground level.

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November 14, 2007 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Public information statement from the National Weather Service:

Today we will focus on winter weather travel tips and safety rules.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and other Holiday travel is coming soon. Now is a good time focus on winter travel. About 70 percent of deaths linked to wintry weather happen in automobiles. Here are some tips to help from being part of that woeful statistic.

Make checking the latest weather reports part of your travel plans so you can avoid storms. Carry a NOAA Weather Radio along to tune into local weather information 24 hours a day. Fully check and winterize your vehicle before the winter season begins. Carry a winter storm survival kit in your car. The kit should include:

1. Blankets or sleeping bags.

2. A flashlight with extra batteries.

3. A first aid kit.

4. A knife.

5. Some high-calorie, non-perishable food.

6. Extra clothing to keep dry.

7. A large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes.

8. A smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water.

9. A sack of sand or Cat litter for traction.

10. A shovel.

11. A windshield scraper and brush.

12. A tool kit for emergency repairs.

13. A Tow rope.

14. Battery booster cables.

15. A clean water container.

16. A Compass and Road maps.

Keep your Gas Tank near full to avoid ice in The Tank and fuel lines. Try not to travel alone. Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.

A last reminder…a Winter Storm Watch means that winter weather is possible…a Winter Storm Warning is when winter weather has begun or is about to begin. Start your preparations now for the safest winter season possible and stay tuned to the forecast.

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November 13, 2007 by ParsonsWeather.com.

Public information statement from the National Weather Service:

Todays topic is frostbite and hypothermia.

Frostbite causes numbness and white or blue tinted skin and occurs most commonly in the fingers, toes, ears and nose.

Hypothermia…an abnormally low body core temperature…is caused by prolonged exposure to cold. Hypothermia can occur indoors as well as outside. Body functions slow to a dangerously low level. Symptoms include slurred speech…incoherence…drowsiness…poor coordination…a slow heart beat…uncontrollable shivering or no shivering at all.

To avoid hypothermia…keep your clothes dry. Wet clothing loses all insulating value and should be changed as quickly as possible.

Mittens and a warm hat are necessities. The body loses about 50 percent of its heat through the head…so whether you are outdoors or inside an unheated home…day or night…a hat will go a long way in helping you stay warm.

Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases…heat is carried away from the body…driving down the body temperature. Remember that animals are affected by wind chill as well.

Avoid overexertion…such as shoveling heavy snow or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and hard labor may cause a heart attack. Wear loose…light-weight…warm clothing in several layers.

Trapped air is an insulator. Layers can be removed to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be water repellent and hooded. Always cover your head…as you can lose half of your body heat through an uncovered head.

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