National Weather Service Raw Text Product

238 
NOUS42 KMHX 291101
PNSMHX
NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-291600-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
601 AM EST THU NOV 29 2012

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    WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH CAROLINA      
                    NOV 25 - DEC 1, 2012
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THIS WEEK HAS BEEN DECLARED WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH
CAROLINA. ALL WEEK LONG THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE ISSUING
INFORMATIVE MESSAGES TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR WINTER WEATHER.

TODAY WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ICE IN THE FORM OF FREEZING 
RAIN AND SLEET.

ICE IN THE FORM OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS 
AND POSES A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS. FREEZING RAIN OCCURS WHEN THE 
ATMOSPHERE IS ABOVE FREEZING AND TOO WARM TO PRODUCE SNOW OR SLEET. 
THE PRECIPITATION STARTS TO FALL AS RAIN, HOWEVER, ONCE THE 
RAINDROPS REACH THE SURFACE, IF THE GROUND IS BELOW FREEZING, THE 
RAINDROP INSTANTLY FREEZES UPON CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, TREES, 
POWER LINES AND ROADWAYS.

THE ABILITY OF FREEZING RAIN TO ACCUMULATE ON EVERYTHING INCLUDING 
TREES AND POWER LINES MAKES FREEZING RAIN ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS 
FORMS OR WINTER WEATHER. FREEZING RAIN CAN CREATE WIDESPREAD POWER 
OUTAGES. ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE COVER THE PAVEMENT WITH A SOLID GLAZE 
OF ICE THAT MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. OVER 85 PERCENT OF ICE 
STORM DEATHS ARE TRAFFIC RELATED. FREEZING RAIN WILL EVEN ACCUMULATE 
ON THE STEPS ON YOUR HOME MAKING GOING OUT THE DOORS HAZARDOUS. MANY 
INJURIES OCCUR EVERY YEAR WHEN PEOPLE SLIP ON THE ICE.

SLEET CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS. SLEET FORMS WHEN A RAINDROP FALLS AND
ENCOUNTERS FREEZING TEMPERATURES JUST ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE AND 
FREEZES INTO AN ICE PELLET JUST BEFORE REACHING THE GROUND. SLEET 
CAN ALSO MAKE ROADWAYS AND WALKWAYS VERY DANGEROUS IN JUST A SHORT 
AMOUNT OF TIME.

WHEN DRIVING, ICE CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE. THE ROADWAY
MAY APPEAR TO BE WET WHEN IN REALITY IT IS ICE COVERED. IF THE 
TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS BELOW FREEZING, ICE CAN FORM OF THE ROADS AND 
ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. WHEN ENCOUNTERING ICE DO NOT 
PANIC AND SLAM ON YOUR BRAKES. STRIKING YOUR BRAKES MAY CAUSE YOUR 
CAR TO SLIDE INTO A UNCONTROLLABLE SKID. IT IS SAFER TO SLOWLY 
DECELERATE TO A STOP. DRIVING SLOW AND DEFENSIVELY GOES A LONG WAY 
WHEN DRIVING ON ICE AND SNOW.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES WINTER STORM WATCHES AND 
WARNINGS WHEN A QUARTER INCH OR MORE OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED
FROM FREEZING RAIN. WINTER STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ALSO
ISSUED WHEN A HALF OF AN INCH OR MORE OF SLEET IS EXPECTED. THESE
WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED TO HELP PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY
ALLOWING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER WEATHER.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED WHEN LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF
FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET, LESS THAN A QUARTER OF AN INCH ARE EXPECTED
TO CAUSE TRAVEL PROBLEMS AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. 

$$