Severe Weather Awareness Week
April 25th ~ May 1st, 2021



April 25th through May 1st, 2021 has been declared as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Vermont and Northern New York. The National Weather Service and other supporting organizations ask for your help in providing the public with information about severe weather safety. Advance planning and increased awareness will help residents of the North Country survive these deadly storms.

• Sunday ~ Introduction to Severe Weather Awareness Week
• Monday ~ Severe Weather Terminology
• Tuesday ~ Severe Thunderstorms & Tornadoes
• Wednesday ~ Severe Weather Safety
• Thursday ~ Lightning
• Friday ~ Flash Flooding

Informational Videos
What is Severe Weather Awareness Week?
Thunderstorms	Flash Flooding	Hail	Lightning Safety	Lightning Formation	Tornadoes	Microbursts	Thunderstorm Preparedness

Severe Weather Social Media Graphics
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Introduction	The Synthesis of Information	Ready - Set - Go!	Watch vs. Warning
Severe Thunderstorms	Thunderstorm Climatology	Thunderstorm Safety	Lightning Safety
Tornados	Lightning Safety	Types of Flooding	Flash Flooding
Social Media

Severe weather can happen at any time. Here are some events from the last few years:
October 1st 2019 Large Hail and Minor Flooding Event: On Tuesday, October 1st, showers and thunderstorms developed through much of the day across Northern New York and the Northeast Kingdom that resulted in large hail and minor river flooding. One storm produced significant, egg-size hail (approximately 2") at Massena, NY around 1:53 PM EDT: unusual given the time of year. Based on a severe climatology study for our local area from 1955-2016 (LaRocca 2018), the 2-inch hail size would be in the upper echelon of recorded hail reports across the St. Lawrence Valley.

A Review of the 30 July 2019 Severe Weather Event: On 30 July 2019 a cold front and associated pre-frontal trough interacted with a very warm and semi-humid air mass to produce scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. These thunderstorms packed a punch with a significant wind gust of 76 mph reported at the North Hero bridge project, while the Saranac Lake, New York Automated Surface Observing Station (ASOS) measured a 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust.

Isolated Microburst Review over Chazy NY Mesonet Site on 5 July 2018: A review of the pre storm environment and radar signatures,which produced a 63 mph observed wind gust at Chazy, New York mesonet site on 5 July 2018.

June 18 2018 Severe Weather Review: Including the Waitsfield, VT Wet Microburst: Scattered strong to locally severe storms tracked across the North Country during the afternoon hours on June 18, 2018. These severe storms caused up to 16,000 people in Vermont to lose power, with additional power outages occurring in northern New York. The strongest microburst produced significant property damage and downed 3 to 4 dozen trees in the vicinity of Waitsfield, VT. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Burlington, VT conducted a damage survey, and determined that the microburst damage path was over a mile long and up to a quarter mile wide. The damage extended from the ridgeline on Hemlock Hill across the Mad River Valley to near the base of Mt. Waitsfield.

Summary of the Severe, High Wind, and Hydro Event on May 4, 2018: During the late afternoon and evening hours on Friday, 4 May 2018, a widespread severe weather event affected northern New York and Vermont with damaging winds, large hail, and localized flash flooding. Much of the event damage was caused by intense straight line winds and microbursts, with radar estimated near-surface wind speeds of 60 to 80 mph with the strongest storms. Downed trees and lines caused numerous power outages, including nearly 25,000 customers across Vermont at its height Friday night. Shelburne, Vermont was one of the hardest hit communities, with estimates of hundreds of trees down in the village. Large hail was also observed with some of the supercell storms, with up to golf ball sized hail (1.75” diameter) reported in Richford, Vermont around 7 PM.

Two Microburst Event on May 18, 2017: This severe weather event had three areas of concentrated that included Western Addison County on Potash Bay Road, South Burlington/Williston area, and across the Northeast Kingdom near Barton, VT. The NWS Burlington Office determined from a storm survey the damage which destroyed a camp and knocked down trees and powerlines on Potash Bay Road in the town of Addison, VT was caused by a microburst with estimated wind speeds of 80 to 100 mph. Another microburst occurred in South Burlington causing trees and power lines to come down, along with a measured 58 mph wind gust at Burlington International Airport, before we lost power to the observing equipment. Additional damaging thunderstorm wind gusts blew over a tractor trailer in Barton, VT with areas of trees and powerlines down in parts of the Northeast Kingdom.

The May 1, 2017 Bow Echo and Associated Northern New York Wind Damage: During the evening hours on 1 May, 2017 a line of strong to severe thunderstorms swept through the St. Lawrence Valley and the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. Numerous reports of wind damage were received, with areas in far southern St. Lawrence County near the town of Fine being most affected.

For a more comprehensive list of severe weather events, click here.


Other NOAA/NWS Severe Weather Links

• NOAA/National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center
• NOAA/NWS Severe Weather Awareness Page
• Lightning Safety Awareness
• WFO BTV Local Flooding Awareness Page
• NOAA What's a Watch? Video
• PlanIt Now - Young meteorologist Program:
• Red Cross Thunderstorm Preparedness
• Red Cross Tornado Preparedness

The National Weather Service categorizes a hot day when temperatures reach 90 degrees or warmer. In the North Country, we average between 6 and 10 such days a year, with some years witnessing more than 20 days. In Burlington, the most 90 degree or above days observed was 26 days in 1949. In 2013, 9 days of 90 degree or warmer temperatures were observed. An "official" heat wave is defined as three or more consecutive days with the temperature reaching or exceeding 90 degrees. The longest heat wave in Burlington was 8 days in August 1944. In 2013, there was one heat wave, a 5 day heat wave from July 15 temperatures approaching 100 degrees.

The Hazards of Excessive Heat Although an "official" HOT DAY is classified when temperatures reach 90 degrees or warmer, heat related health effects can occur with temperatures in the 80s, combined with high humidity and prolonged sun exposure. During extremely hot and humid weather, the body's ability to cool itself is affected. When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperature rises and heat-related illnesses may develop. Heat-related illnesses can range from heat cramps to heat exhaustion to more serious heat stroke. Heat stroke can result in death and requires immediate medical attention.

Factors or conditions that can make some people more susceptible to heat-related illnesses include age (older adults and young children), obesity, fever, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, prescription drug and alcohol use, and sunburn.

Please refer to the following page for heat-related illness symptoms and first aid - http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml
 

• Slow down and reduce strenuous activities
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight
• Drink plenty of water, non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids.
• During excessive heat periods, spend more time in air-conditioned places if available.
• If you must be outside, try to lessen your exposure by seeking shade frequently and limiting your activities to the early morning or late evening.
• NEVER leave children, disabled adults, or pets in parked vehicles. "Beat the heat, check the back seat!"

The National Weather Service in Burlington, Vermont will issue Excessive Heat Watches, Heat Advisories or Excessive Heat Warnings when the Heat Index (Apparent Temperature) is expected to exceed 105°F for several hours or more. The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

IMPORTANT: Since heat index values were devised for shady, light wind conditions, exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 15°F. Also, strong winds, particularly with very hot, dry air, can be extremely hazardous.

The Heat Index Chart shaded zone above 105°F (orange or red) shows a level that may cause increasingly severe heat disorders with continued exposure or physical activity.

NWS BTV Heat Awareness Video

For more information and forecasts - visit us at http://www.weather.gov/btv/

Join us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Burlington.gov

Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/NWSBurlington

Other links –

NY Health Department Heat Message - http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1243.pdf

VT Department of Health - http://healthvermont.gov/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/

Rip Currents: Break The Grip of The Rip!^®

For families that are planning a trip to the beach this summer, it is important to realize the dangers of rip currents before swimming in the ocean. The majority of rip current fatalities each year are visitors from non coastal locations. Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore and are the leading surf hazard for all beachgoers, especially for weak or non swimmers. According to the united states lifesaving association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents and more than 100 people die annually from drowning when they are unable to escape a rip current. Rip currents form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves at the beach. One of the ways this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow jet of water that moves swiftly offshore, roughly perpendicular to the shoreline. Under most tide and sea conditions the speeds are relatively slow, however under certain wave, tide and beach profile conditions, The speeds can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf, Even the most experienced swimmers. Rip currents can be very narrow or extend in widths to hundreds of yards. The seaward pull of rip currents varies from just beyond the line of breaking waves to hundreds of yards offshore. Some of the clues beachgoers can use to identify rip currents including: a channel of churning, choppy water, an area having a notable difference in water color, A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving steadily seaward, or a break in the incoming wave pattern. The above clues may or may not indicate the presence of rip currents and rip currents are often not readily or easily identifiable to the average beachgoer. If you are concerned about the possibilities of rip currents occurring in the surf, it is best to ask an on duty lifeguard before entering the water. If you are caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly. Never fight against the current. Swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle away from the current and toward the shore. If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim toward shore. If you are unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arms and yelling for help. If you see someone in trouble, don't become a victim yourself, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current. Get help from a lifeguard, or f one is unavailable, have someone call 9 1 1. Throw the rip current victim something that floats such as a life jacket, cooler or inflatable ball. Yell instructions on how to escape. It is important to note that under any conditions rip currents can occur and beachgoers should know how to swim and to heed the advice of beach patrol before entering the surf. For more information about rip currents, please visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov or if you are at the beach, ask a lifeguard.

Rip Current Social Media Graphics
Look for these and other messages on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, then "Share"/"Retweet"!

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What Weather-Ready Looks Like: Beach	Shallow Water	Wave Safe Video Series	What are Rip Currents?
Break the Grip of the Rip!	Survive a Rip Current	Beach Dangers	Stay Dry When Waves are High
Survivor Story: Rip Current		Only Swim at a Beach with Lifeguards

The National Weather Service and EPA have designated April 29 - May 3, 2019 as Air Quality Awareness Week in the United States. This week was established to remind persons of the importance air quality and air quality forecasts can play in their daily lives. This year's theme is Check the AQI and Get Outside!

There are two kinds of pollutants commonly found in our area. The first is ozone, which is formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are heated by the sun. As a result, ozone levels are usually highest in the summer. The second pollutant is particle pollution, which consists of microscopic particles in the air. Not only is particle pollution a problem in the summer, it is also found in the winter due to wood smoke from stoves and furnaces.

Ozone- and particle-forming pollutants come from a wide variety of sources, including cars, buses, power plants, and industries. Natural sources such as wildfires and dust storms contribute to particle pollution. Trees and other vegetation also emit organic compounds that contribute to particle and ozone pollution.

A perfect example of particle pollution occurred on Memorial Day 2010. Smoke from wildfires in Quebec spread south into Vermont and Northern New York resulting in poor air quality across much of the North Country. For a detailed explanation of the 2010 Memorial Day Smoke Out visit http://www.weather.gov/media/btv/events/31May2010.pdf

Weather plays a big role in the levels of ozone and particle pollution. Sunlight and heat promote ozone formation. Light winds and temperature inversions can keep pollution concentrated near the ground. The wind can bring in more pollution, sometimes from hundreds of miles away. Geography can affect pollution levels, too. Mountain ranges can prevent pollution from dispersing, with the pollutants settling in the surrounding valleys. 

Exposure to high levels of ozone and particle pollution is linked with a number of significant health problems. Children, people with lung disease, older adults, and people with heart disease tend to be more vulnerable. When pollution reaches high enough levels, the air can be unhealthy for everyone, especially those who are active outdoors.

Use the Air Quality Index (AQI) and daily air quality forecasts to help you determine when pollutant levels are high and what steps you should take to protect yourself. The AQI is a color-coded scale that tells you who will be most affected by current or forecast pollution levels. Local air quality forecasts and the AQI can be found at www.airnow.gov and you can subscribe to the daily AQI forecast at www.enviroflash.info.



You can help reduce pollution by following these steps:

• Carpool or use public transportation
• Delay using lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered lawn equipment until later in the day
• Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials
• Keep your car in good operating condition and get regular tune ups.