DARKNESS ADDS DANGER TO ONGOING SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK
Now Is the Time to Ensure Your NOAA Weather Radio is Operating

March 1, 2007 — Tornadoes, large hail and destructive thunderstorm winds will remain a threat in parts of the Southeast and possibly even the mid-Atlantic through Thursday evening and during the overnight hours—long after the sun sets. NOAA meteorologists warn that tornadoes can blend into the darkness, and those going to sleep may not be aware of impending severe weather as to seek adequate shelter. (Click NOAA image for larger view of NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather outlook as of 4:14 p.m. EST on March 1, 2007. Click here to see latest outlook. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Tornado Warnings will be issued by local offices of the NOAA National Weather Service when a tornado is indicated on Doppler radar or by trained storm spotters or law enforcement officials. The amount of advance warning will vary by storm but can be as short as a few minutes in instances of developing tornadoes.

All warnings will be broadcast via NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards in addition to local radio and television outlets and Internet, such as the NOAA National Weather Service.

NOAA Weather Radio is especially beneficial at night since it will sound an awaking tone when a warning is issued and alert listeners to the potentially life-saving warning issued by the NOAA National Weather Service providing critical time to react.

Broadcasts of tornado warnings, flood warnings, AMBER Alerts for child abductions, chemical spill messages and many other notifications, in addition to routine weather observations and forecasts, make NOAA Weather Radio an essential item for every home, business and public area. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers are available at many electronic retailers.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is celebrating 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAAWatch

NOAA Storm Prediction Center

NOAA National Weather Service

NOAA Storm Watch

NOAA Weather Portal

Media Contact:
Dennis Feltgen, NOAA National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622