NWS Sterling, VA - Public Information Statement

PNSLWX
DCZ001-MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016-VAZ042-052>056-111230-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
524 PM EST TUE FEB 10 2009

UPDATE TO ADD CHARLES COUNTY MD TO LIST OF COUNTIES USING EXPANDED 
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CRITERIA DURING RUSH HOUR


...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON WEATHER
FORECAST OFFICE WILL MODIFY LOCAL WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
THRESHOLDS EFFECTIVE 10:00 AM EST NOVEMBER 17 2008...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER THAT
CAUSES SIGNIFICANT INCONVENIENCES...AND IF CAUTION IS NOT EXERCISED...COULD
LEAD TO LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS. IN PAST COLD WEATHER SEASONS...WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORIES WERE ISSUED WHEN FORECASTERS HAD A 80 PERCENT OR
GREATER CONFIDENCE OF AT LEAST 2 TO LESS THAN 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND/OR
SLEET WITHIN A 12 HOUR PERIOD. 

STARTING THIS COLD WEATHER SEASON 2008-2009...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE WILL EXPAND THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY CRITERIA LISTED ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC HIGH-TRAVEL AREAS
DURING RUSH HOUR PERIODS BASED ON ADVERSE PUBLIC-IMPACT. IN ADDITION
TO THE CRITERIA LISTED IN THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH...A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY WILL NOW BE ISSUED WHEN FORECASTER CONFIDENCE IS 60 PERCENT
OR HIGHER FOR AT LEAST 1 INCH TO LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND/OR SLEET
THAT IS FORECAST TO ACCUMULATE DURING WEEKDAY MORNING OR EVENING RUSH
HOURS. WEEKDAY RUSH HOURS ARE DEFINED AS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
/EXCLUDING FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/ FROM 4:00 AM TO 9:00 AM AND 2:00 PM
TO 7:00 PM.

THE SPECIFIC AREAS FOR PUBLIC-IMPACT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE THE
CITIES AND COUNTIES SURROUNDING AND INCLUDING:

THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR FROM HARFORD COUNTY IN NORTHEAST
MARYLAND TO SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY VIRGINIA

THE AREA WITHIN AND INCLUDING THE INTERSTATE 695 BALTIMORE BELTWAY
AND THE INTERSTATE 495 WASHINGTON BELTWAY

THE INTERSTATE 270 CORRIDOR FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY MARYLAND TO FREDERICK
COUNTY MARYLAND

THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR FROM FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND TO BALTIMORE
COUNTY MARYLAND

THE INTERSTATE 66 CORRIDOR FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA TO PRINCE WILLIAM
COUNTY VIRGINIA

THE U.S. ROUTE 50 CORRIDOR FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARYLAND TO PRINCE
GEORGES COUNTY MARYLAND

THE CORRIDORS ALONG U.S. ROUTE 301 AND STATE ROUTES 5 AND 210 IN 
CHARLES COUNTY MARYLAND

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE
JIM LEE AT 703-996-2200 EXTENSION 222...OR WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
CHRIS STRONG AT 703-996-2200 EXTENSION 223.

$$