26 JULY 2012 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTBREAK POSSIBLE TODAY
THERE IS A THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN HAZARDS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL AND EVEN ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE AREA WITH THE GREATEST THREAT APPEARS TO BE JUST SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL REGION...ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE REGION OF EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE THREAT WILL BE GREATEST WILL BE FROM AROUND 2 PM THROUGH MIDNIGHT.
EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER THIS MORNING WILL GIVE WAY TO AT LEAST PARTIAL SUNSHINE BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY FROM THE MOHAWK VALLEY AND CAPITAL REGION SOUTHWARD. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR INSTABILITY TO DEVELOP...ALONG WITH HUMIDITY SURGING NORTHWARD INTO THE REGION ASSOCIATED WITH A WARM FRONT. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA.
KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND BE AWARE OF POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPING TODAY.
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED THIS AFTERNOON. FOR THE LATEST UPDATES...PLEASE VISIT THE WEBPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ALBANY
A frontal system is on the move out of the Great Lakes and is set to bring a significant threat of severe thunderstorms from the Northeast to the Ohio Valley on Thursday.
The potential exists for widespread damaging winds from parts of southern New England to Indiana. At least 36 million people are in this zone of enhanced severe risk.
Severe thunderstorms are expected to be most numerous from late afternoon into the evening in the above-mentioned areas. Parts of southern New York and southern New England may see multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms during this period.
There is also a threat for tornadoes with any discrete thunderstorms forming along and near the warm front.
Bottom Line: Be Alert and Prepared
Now is the time to prepare for the threat of severe weather. Thursday's thunderstorms have the potential to produce widespread straight-line wind damage, so keep these tips in mind (and share them with your friends and family):
- Falling trees can be deadly! It's an underrated danger, but it doesn't take a tornado or even a severe thunderstorm to knock down trees and tree limbs. Avoid driving or walking in heavily forested areas during thunderstorms - find a sturdy building. If driving and no shelter is nearby, find an open parking lot or field away from trees and power lines that could fall on your vehicle.
- Take severe thunderstorm warnings seriously. As we saw in late June, severe thunderstorms with damaging winds can create a lot of havoc. Pay attention to any enhanced wording in severe thunderstorm warnings, such as "destructive winds expected."
- Have a plan. If you have outdoor plans, know where to go for safe shelter if dangerous weather threatens, and know how you will get your severe weather warnings. This is especially true if you're in a vulnerable or remote area such as a campsite.
Thunderstorms, Lightning & Hail: During the Storm
When you notice darkening clouds in the sky accompanied with sudden wind shifts, a thunderstorm may be approaching. If local authorities have issued a watch or warning, heed their instructions on what to do and whether you need to take cover.
Outdoor Safety
When thunderstorms are likely, postpone outdoor activities and avoid going outdoors if at all possible. If you are caught outdoors in a thunderstorm, follow these tips to stay safe until the storm passes:
· If you are in an open area, find a low place such as a ravine or valley. Be alert for flash floods.
· If you are in a forested area, find shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees, if possible.
· If you are on open water, get to land immediately and seek shelter.
· If you are in a car, keep the windows closed.
· If you are outdoors and feel your hair stand on end (an indication that lightning is about to strike), do not lie flat on the ground, as your fully-extended body will provide a larger surface to conduct electricity. Instead, squat low to the ground and place your hands over your ears and your head between your knees. The goal is to make you the smallest target possible and minimize contact with the ground.
· Stay away from anything made of metal ”“ bicycles, golf clubs, golf carts, motorcycles, tractors and farm equipment.
· Stay away from natural lightning rods, such as a tall tree in an open field, and avoid hilltops, the beach or boats on open water.
Hail
In addition to heavy rains and the threat of lightning, hail can pose a big danger during a thunderstorm. Hail can be as small as the size of a pea, or as large as a softball. Because it falls from the sky, it can reach extremely high speeds as it barrels toward earth and damage anything in its path ”“ cars, windows and especially plants and agricultural crops.
If you see or hear hail hitting the ground during a thunderstorm, take it as an unmistakable sign that you need to remain inside if you're already indoors, or find shelter quickly if you're outdoors. A few facts about hail:
· Though hail rarely causes fatalities, more than 20 people are injured by falling hail each year in the United States.
· Hail size is measured by National Weather Service Doppler radar, which estimates the size of hail according to its diameter. Sizes range from pea-size (1/4 inch), to quarter size (1 inch) and golf-ball size (1 3/4 inches), all the way up to softball-size (4 1/2 inches). Hail larger than quarter-size (1 inch in diameter) is considered severe.
· The larger the thunderstorm, the greater the chance for larger hail to be produced ”“ so stay alert if you notice especially large thunderstorm clouds developing in your area.
· The majority of hail damage each year occurs to agricultural crops, as the area of the U.S. most at risk for large hail lies in the western Great Plains states. This 625-square-mile-wide area sees an average of 7 to 9 days with hail each year.
Indoor Safety
If you're indoors when thunderstorms are imminent or occurring in your area, stay inside and follow these tips to secure your home and property:
· Shutter windows and secure outside doors. Also, close your window blinds, shades or curtains, and keep a safe distance from them.
· Secure any objects outside your home that could blow away or cause damage.
· Stay away from faucets, sinks, showers and bathtubs. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.
· Avoid using a corded (landline) telephone during a thunderstorm, for the same reason. Cellular/mobile phones are safe to use.
· Unplug electrical appliances such as televisions, computers and corded phones, and turn off air conditioners. Power surges that occur as the result of lightning can cause severe damage to plugged-in electronics and appliances.
· Keep pets inside, on a leash or in a crate or carrier.
· Make sure you have a battery-powered radio or NOAA Weather Radio so you can receive weather alerts and storm updates if you lose power.
Know Your Terms
A severe thunderstorm watch is issued when conditions are conducive to the development of severe thunderstorms in and around the watch area, and indicates when a severe thunderstorm is likely to occur.
· A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm has been observed by spotters or indicated on radar. Warnings indicate that a severe thunderstorm is occurring or imminent in the warning area, and is a danger to life and property in the path of the storm.
The Dutchess County Department of Health will host a FREE Rabies Vaccination Clinic for pets on Thursday, July 26th at the Town of Poughkeepsie Community Room located at 19 Tucker Drive in Poughkeepsie from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Dutchess County residents will be able to obtain rabies shots free of charge for their dogs and cats, as well as domestic ferrets, at least 3 months of age. Non-Residents will be charged $10 for each pet they have vaccinated. To ensure the safety of pets, owners, and clinic staff, all dogs must be on leashes. Additionally, cats and domestic ferrets must be in a carrier. This vaccination will be good for three years for pets with proof of a prior immunization. For those pets without proof of previous vaccination, it will be good for one year.
In New York State, rabies shots are now required for all cats, dogs, and domestic ferrets by the age of four months. Owners can be fined up to $200 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up-to-date.
If a pet is found to not be up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and it bites someone, the law requires the owner to either have the pet destroyed and tested for rabies; or confine the pet at the owner’s expense at an appropriate facility such as a veterinary hospital, kennel, or shelter for a ten-day observation period to ensure that it is healthy and does not have rabies. Currently vaccinated pets that bite someone may be confined and observed from home in most cases.
As in the past, if a rabid or suspect-rabid animal fights with a pet that is not up-to-date on its rabies immunizations, the pet must be promptly destroyed or placed in quarantine for six months to protect other animals and people in case the pet develops rabies. Neither of these is required for a vaccinated pet in the same situation, only a booster dose of vaccine within 5 days is required.
The Dutchess County Department of Health is available around the clock to help anyone who may have been exposed to rabies or who has questions about the disease. Residents with urgent inquiries may call (845) 431-6465 if an incident occurs after business hours, and (845) 486-3404 during normal business hours.
For more information about pet vaccination clinic schedules or other rabies-related information call (845) 486-3404 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm or email the Department at HealthInfo@DutchessNY.gov.
On Saturday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dia: Beacon will host Community Free Day. All Hudson Valley residents are invited to visit free of charge. Bring government-issued identification. For more information, click here.
Rebuilding Together Dutchess County is accepting applications for cost-free home repairs from July 1 through October 31. Click here for more information.
The Water Department will continue with its fire hydrant maintenance program over the next couple of months. This work may result in isolated incidents of discolored water at various times during the day. If you have any problems or questions, please call the Water Department at 831-3136.
Designer Michael Bastian makes Beacon his weekend home, and CNN.com recently featured a video that showcases some of the city's highlights through Bastian's eyes. Click here for the site - then scroll down to the "Drive" section, click the right-facing arrow, and then launch the video that appears.
All are invited to attend the 2nd annual July 4th Reading of the Declaration of Independence. This will take place in front of City Hall - 1 Municipal Plaza - at 11:00 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Due to city budgetary constraints we need your help to hold the annual fireworks display this year. The 2011 display was secured through private donations from local businesses, organizations and residents. All the more reason to join in at this celebration of civic pride. Help bring the rockets red glare to Memorial Park!
Checks should be made payable to "City of Beacon" and write in the memo section "Fireworks Fund." Questions can be directed to Mayor Randy Casale at (845) 838-5010.
We would like to thank these Business, Vendors, Council Members, Residents, and Supporters who have already contributed to the 2012 Fourth of July fireworks fund:
- Skyrocket Club - $500.00 Donation
- Fireworks Club - $100.00 Donation
- Sparklers Club - $50.00 Donation
- Firecracker Club - $ 25.00 Donation
School of Jellyfish is organizing a symposium and exhibition of Parametric City: Beacon - City as Live Organism. This is a project to explore and promote the vision of an ecological and intelligent urban America.
To read the press release, click here.
Parametric City: Beacon
