Winter Weather Warning 1

Winter Weather Warning by Ryan Robinson

Jut doing some reporting here for The Oakland Journal, so I would like to remind and warn you that a major snowstorm is heading our way. This one actually looks like this could be the big one of the year or two years. They said on Channel 7 (ABC) that this could be the biggest storm since 2006. So, I have complied forecasts from NOAA, The Weather Channel, Weather Underground, and AccuWeather so I can give you my prediction for the “official” The Oakland Journal, Oakland, NJ forecast. Below are the websites I went to and what they say, and then my forecast is on the bottom. Also included is a video from AccuWeather for the NYC area with snow totals. Before all of that though, here are some good reminders for Winter Weather from NOAA and The Weather Channel for before, after, and during the storm.

· Pay attention to local weather reports. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio and stay alert to changes in the forecast..
· Designate a friend or relative outside your town as your contact in the event you are separated from family members during a severe winter storm.
· Your Family Emergency Supplies Kit. These contents can be assembled over a five-month period on a weekly basis, and all perishable items should be changed or replaced every six months.
· Make your home safe for the winter with insulation, weather stripping, and storm windows.
· Set up emergency heating equipment, such as a fireplace with wood or coal or a camp stove with fuel.
· Be sure you know the proper usage and provide proper ventilation for space heaters. Keep space heaters at least three feet way from furnishings, drapes, and all flammable objects. Turn them off when you leave a room.
· Never drape wet clothes, gloves, hats, or socks over a space heater to dry.
· Insulate pipes with layers of insulation or newspaper wrapped with plastic. Let faucets drip and lean how to shut off water valves.
· Be careful walking on snowy, icy surfaces.
· If you go outside to shovel snow, remember to be extremely careful. It is physically strenuous work, so take frequent breaks. Do not overexert yourself.
· Be careful driving. Snow that has fallen during the night or early morning can melt as temperatures rise during the day, but will freeze to an icy glaze when the sun goes down and temperatures drop below freezing again.
· To prevent accidental fires, use flashlights, not candles, in the event you have lost electrical power. More people die from candle-related fires after a disaster strikes then from the disaster itself.

WEATHER FORECAST FROM NOAA:
Tonight (3/1/09): Snow, mainly after 9pm. Low around 21. North wind between 10 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

Monday (3/2/09): Snow, mainly before noon. High near 24. North wind around 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Monday Night (3/2/09): Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North wind around 14 mph.
WEATHER FORECAST FROM THE WEATHER CHANNEL:
Tonight (3/1/09): Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 24F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.
Monday (3/2/09): Periods of snow. Cold. High 24F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.

Monday Night (3/2/09): Mostly cloudy with snow showers around in the midnight. Low 14F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
WEATHER FORECAST FROM WEATHER UNDERGROUND:
Tonight (3/1/09): Snow. Snow may be heavy at times after midnight. Snow accumulation of 6 to 9 inches. Brisk with lows in the lower 20s. North winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.
Monday (3/2/09): Snow in the morning…then snow likely in the afternoon. Snow may be heavy at times in the morning. Total snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches. Brisk and cold with highs in the mid 20s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.
Monday Night (3/2/09): Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of snow showers in the evening. Brisk and cold with lows around 13. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 20 percent. Wind chill values as low as zero.
WEATHER FORECAST FROM ACCUWEATHER:
Tonight (3/1/09): Low: 23°F RealFeel®: 4°F. Snow, heavy at times, accumulating 3-6 inches; windy and cold.

Monday (3/2/09): High: 25°F RealFeel®: 6°F. Mostly cloudy, windy and colder with snow tapering off, accumulating an additional 1-3 inches.

Monday Night (3/2/09): Low: 13°F RealFeel®: -5°F. Windy and frigid with low clouds

The “Official” Oakland Journal Forecast

Tonight (3/1/09): Low: 22°F Snow, heavy at times, snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible. Windy and cold.

Monday (3/2/09): High: 24°F. Snow, mainly before noon, then mostly cloudy, windy and colder. Total snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.

Monday Night (3/2/09): Low: 13°F. Windy and frigid with a slight chance of snow showers in the evening. Wind chill values as low as zero.

Good Luck with the Snow!
Your Pal and Weather Guy,
Ryan Robinson