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The
National Weather Service mission
The National Weather Service provides
weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the
United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for
the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the
national economy. The NWS is the sole official United States
voice for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather
situations.
Hazardous
winter weather impacts
On average, 47 people in the United
States lose their lives each year due to winter storms. This ranks
No. 4 on the list of storm-related fatalities, behind flooding,
lightning and tornadoes.
Bitterly cold weather has resulted in
26 fatalities each year on average in the United States. This is
nearly twice the number of people who die from hurricanes in this
country.
About 70 percent of the people who are
killed or injured due to winter storms are in automobiles. About 25
percent of the people who are killed or injured in winter storms are
caught out in the storm with no place to take shelter.
Many deaths and injuries are indirectly
related to winter weather occurrences that are not classified as
winter storms. These include:
1. Traffic accidents on hazardous
roads.
2. Heart attacks from shoveling snow or
other outdoor activities.
3. Hypothermia from prolonged exposure
to cold.
4. Frostbite.
5. Avalanches.
Central
Illinois winter weather warning statistics
Since 1998, nearly 85 percent of all
winter weather storms (heavy snow and significant icing) in central
Illinois have had advance warning by the NWS in Lincoln, with an
average lead time of 15.4 hours.
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Interesting winter weather facts
In the Midwestern United States, the
snowiest city is Marquette, Mich., with an average annual snow
accumulation of nearly 130 inches! In central Illinois, the town of
Minonk (northeast Woodford County) has the highest average annual
snowfall, with 27.1 inches.
The biggest snowstorm to affect central
Illinois occurred Dec. 18-20, 1973, when 14 to 22 inches of snow was
measured along and just south of Interstate 72. The highest total
was in Paris (Edgar County), which had 21.5 inches of snow.
In the Midwest, it usually takes about
13 inches of snow to yield 1 inch of water. This ratio can change
from storm to storm. "Dry" snow accompanied by very cold
temperatures may take as much as 25 inches of snow to yield an inch
of water, while "wet" snow from weather systems that originate near
the Gulf of Mexico can produce an inch of water for every 4 inches
of snow.
The coldest temperature to be recorded
in the state occurred in the central Illinois town of Congerville
(Woodford County), when the mercury dipped to minus 36 F on Jan. 5,
1999.
The coldest temperature ever recorded
in the continental U.S. was minus 70 F in Rogers Pass, Mont.
Alaska's coldest reading was minus 80 F at Prospect Creek. The world
record coldest temperature was minus 129 F at the South Pole.
Economic
impacts of weather forecasts and warnings
33 percent of the U.S. Gross National
Product is affected by National Weather Service forecasts.
Economists have estimated that improved
El Nino forecasts have resulted in annual savings of nearly $300
million for U.S. agriculture by altering planting decisions.
A 1 degree improvement in temperature
forecasts could decrease the annual cost of electricity by at least
$1 billion.
Visit the
Lincoln NWS home page at
www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx for the latest weather and river forecasts,
warnings, current conditions, radar and satellite imagery, and
climate information.
[Lincoln
NWS office] |
