Georgia DOT Urges Avoid All Travel Until Tuesday

12:20 pm Mon. Jan. 10: A winter storm warning is in effect through Monday evening for all of north and central Georgia. Extremely hazardous driving conditions, major accidents, and impassable roads have been reported throughout the warning area. Motorists are urged to AVOID ALL TRAVEL until at least Tuesday.

Source:  Georgia DOT

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Cold Georgia winter leads to soaring heating demand

Since Dec. 1, Georgians have experienced abnormally cold and wet weather, resulting in very high heating demands across the state.

For the first half of the climatological winter, Dec. 1 through Jan. 15, heating demand has been well above normal and last year’s levels.

In south Georgia, for example, heating demand has ranged from 19 percent above normal in Savannah to 43 percent above normal in Alma, or 80 percent to 100 percent more than this time last year for the region.

The percentages are based on heating degree days, which reflects the amount of energy needed to heat a building to a comfortable level considering the daily outside temperature.

Across the piedmont, the demand has been 30 percent above normal for Atlanta and 25 percent above normal for Athens, or 50 percent to 60 percent more than last year for the region.

In middle Georgia, the demand has been 39 percent above normal for Columbus, 28 percent above normal for Macon and 24 percent above normal for Augusta, or 75 percent to 90 percent more than last year for the region.

For the first half of January, heating demand across the state was even greater than for the winter as a whole. This means that January heating bills are expected to be much higher than last year.

Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, heating demand in the piedmont has ranged from 40 percent to 50 percent above normal, or 75 percent to 100 percent more than the same period last year.

For middle Georgia, it has been 50 percent to 70 percent above normal for January so far, or 100 percent to 140 percent more than the same period last year.

For south Georgia, it has been 60 percent to 90 percent above normal, or 140 percent to 180 percent more than same period last year.

In addition to low temperatures, there is an increased risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes through the spring. Tornadoes in late January and February are not unusual in Georgia. These tornadoes can form anytime, day or night.

The current El Niño winter pattern is expected to continue through March.

By David E. Stooksbury
University of Georgia

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Georgia cities set rainfall records in December

Georgia ended 2009 on a cold, rainy note, setting several records for December across the state, including some annual records. Strong fronts brought severe weather, too.

Rainfall was well above normal, according to radar estimates. Many areas south of the fall line from Columbus to Augusta and in the northeast mountains received more than 10 inches of rain.
The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 13.62 inches in Columbus (9.22 inches above normal). The lowest was in Brunswick at 4.02 inches (1.19 inches above normal). Atlanta received 9.10 inches (5.28 inches above normal), Macon 8.98 inches (5.05 inches above normal), Athens 8.87 inches (5.16 inches above normal), Augusta 8.97 inches (5.83 inches above normal), Savannah 10.71 inches (7.90 inches above normal), Valdosta 7.45 inches (3.79 inches above normal) and Alma 7.51 inches (3.84 inches above normal).

The highest monthly totals from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network stations were 16.27 inches in Clay County in southwest Georgia and 13.06 inches in Rabun County in far northeast Georgia.

The Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring system reported 11.79 inches at Tiger in Rabun County, 13.85 inches at Plains in Sumter County and 16.72 inches in Georgetown in Quitman County for the month.

Daily record maximum rainfalls occurred Dec. 2 across many areas with the passage of a Gulf of Mexico low. The highest daily record of 3.63 inches was set at Columbus. Record daily rainfalls were also measured at several locations Dec. 13, 14 and 18 in areas associated with warm fronts ahead of lows from the gulf.

Augusta, Columbus and Savannah all broke their all-time December precipitation records. Augusta’s Bush Field airport recorded 8.97 inches, beating 8.65 inches set in 1981. Columbus recorded 13.62 inches, beating 9.39 inches set in 1953. Savannah recorded 10.71 inches, beating 9.44 inches set in 2007. In addition, Macon reported its third wettest December ever, falling just short of 10.39 inches set in 1972.

Several stations in Georgia set annual rainfall records in 2009, including Columbus with a preliminary annual total of 80.23 inches, washing away the old record of 73.22 inches set in 1964. A final annual report will be issued later this month.

Temperatures were cooler than normal, with the exception of coastal cities. No temperature records were set. The monthly average temperature in Atlanta was 42.3 degrees F (3.1 degrees below normal), in Athens 42 degrees (2.8 degrees below normal), in Columbus 46.1 degrees (3 degrees below normal), in Macon 45.9 degrees (1.9 degrees below normal), in Savannah 52 degrees (.6 degree above normal), in Brunswick 54.4 degrees (.2 degree above normal), in Alma 51.3 degrees (2.3 degrees below normal), in Valdosta 51.4 degrees (average) and in Augusta 45.6 degrees (1.3 degrees below normal).

Georgians experienced four days of severe weather in December. Four weak tornadoes occurred Dec. 2 in central and southeast Georgia, including one that injured two people in a mobile home in Pierce County. Several other structures were damaged in the storms.

Strong winds were reported Dec. 8, causing scattered damage to trees and power lines. Another tornado was reported Dec. 9 in Wayne County, damaging a mobile home and slightly injuring the resident. Strong winds and some funnel clouds were also reported Dec. 14.
Rivers were reported to have minor to moderate flooding on several dates. The moderate flooding was mainly confined to the larger rivers below the fall line.

The wet month caused problems for farmers trying to harvest hay and other crops. Up to 71 percent of the soils were considered to have surplus moisture. Wheat planting was down by up to 30 percent in some areas due to the inability of farmers to run equipment in the waterlogged fields. Some areas still had up to 25 percent of their cotton to harvest.

Though we are only half way through the month, it already looks like January could set some weather records, too.

By Pam Knox
University of Georgia

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Wetter, cooler winter headed to Georgia

There is a high likelihood that Georgia’s winter will be wetter and cooler than normal.

The exception will be Georgia’s mountain region, which is near the transition from wetter-than-normal conditions to the south and drier-than-normal conditions to the north. Temperatures in the mountains will likely be below normal.

Due to heavy September and October rains, soils are already near saturation. Streams that are usually at their lowest flows during October are at levels normally seen in March, which is the month that generally has the highest flows. Because of this, the potential for winter flooding is higher than normal.

The ocean-atmosphere system is currently in the El Niño pattern. This pattern is expected to persist through the winter. Following an El Niño winter, it is not unusual for a drier-than-normal trend in spring.

El Niño’s influence is especially strong in the southern two-thirds of the state. The mountainous region of north Georgia and middle and east Tennessee is a transition zone. Depending on where the transition zone occurs this winter, the mountains will experience drier-than-normal, near-normal or wetter-than-normal conditions.

While the outlook is for a cooler winter, this does not mean that cold arctic outbreaks are likely. The coolness is primarily caused by the increase in cloudiness. This means that the daily high temperatures tend to be cooler than normal. However, the nighttime lows have a tendency to be slightly warmer than normal because of the increase in cloudiness.

It is very rare to experience temperatures in the low teens along the coast and coastal plain during an El Niño winter. Across the piedmont, single-digit temperatures are very rare. The mountains rarely experience temperatures around zero during an El Niño winter.

It is not unusual for the middle or late spring that follows an El Niño winter to be drier than normal. Thus, water managers are going to have a difficult time regulating reservoirs for an expected wet winter, knowing that from the middle of spring onward there is a good chance Georgia will experience drier-than-normal conditions.

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Are You Ready? Storm Safety For Your Family

(NAPSI)-Severe storms, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes can bring about several problems-such as power outages-that your family can be prepared to handle.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Energizer and 6,100 fire departments urge families to get ready for severe weather by preparing emergency power kits.

"An emergency power kit can literally be a beacon of light in a storm," says Chief Larry J. Grorud, CFO, MIFireE and President of IAFC. "It's very important to have flashlights on hand during power outages; they are always safer than candles in these situations and can significantly reduce a family's risk of injury."

Important Tips for Building a Power Through It All™ kit:

• Include at least one flashlight for every member of the household.

• Include a battery-powered lantern for illuminating larger spaces and rooms, such as an Energizer Dual Power Lantern.

• Include a battery-operated weather radio to track the storm.

• Include extra batteries in a variety of cell sizes for extended power outages, specifically Energizer MAX Batteries (AA, C and D), as well as specialty batteries for critical devices such as glucose monitors and hearing aids.

• Include battery-operated cell phone chargers like an Energizer Energi To Go and extra lithium batteries, to keep your family safe and connected during severe weather.

Other Important Items

After your power kit is complete, here are some additional items to consider when preparing for severe weather:

• Blankets and pillows

• Clothing: seasonal / rain gear / sturdy shoes

• First-aid kit, including medicines and prescription drugs

• Cash (with some small bills): banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods

• Keep important documents in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag: insurance papers, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card(s), etc.

• Put the kit in a spot that is easily accessible to every family member.

Each year, when you change your clock in the spring and fall, check the batteries in your flashlights and emergency power kit.

Flashlights Instead of Candles

According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles are the third-leading cause of injuries from home fires, following cooking and heating. On average, one home fire caused by candles is reported every 34 minutes. Therefore, the IAFC encourages families to use only battery-operated lighting devices when a power outage occurs.

"All too often, home fires are ignited by candles used for light when the power goes out. We are reminding families to stay prepared for blackouts by preparing emergency power kits that include flashlights for every member of the family, battery-operated radios, portable cell phone chargers and extra batteries," says Grorud.

In addition to having an emergency power kit, there are other steps you can take to get your home and family prepared.

Other Ways to Stay Safe at Home in a Power Outage

• Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out. Just leave one light on in the house so you'll know when the power comes back on.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to prevent food spoilage.

• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.

• Know how to shut off water valves.

Keep Safe. Keep Going®

Building an emergency power kit is part of the Energizer year-long, family preparedness Keep Safe. Keep Going® disaster preparedness program and the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery fire preparedness program.

Learn More

For more tips on preparing for storms and home fire safety, visit www.energizer.com/preparedness and www.iafc.org.

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Georgia’s Winter Weather will be Extreme

Georgians can expect a roller coaster winter with temperatures jumping between warm and extremely cold.

The southeastern United States is currently in what is called a neutral phase of the El Niño - Southern Oscillation. The ENSO refers to the surface temperatures around the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The ENSO’s other two phases are El Niño and La Niña.

Last winter, a La Niña ENSO phase influenced Georgia’s weather.

The neutral phase normally brings a winter with wide swings in temperatures. This means that Georgia can expect extremely cold periods with single digits in the mountains and the lower 20s in south and coastal Georgia. Between the extremely cold periods, warm temperatures in the 70s can be expected.

All devastating freezes that have affected the Southeast have occurred during neutral winters. Devastating freezes for Georgia have been ones with temperatures below zero in the mountains, around 10 degrees along the coast and single digits in south Georgia.

This does not mean that every neutral winter will have a devastating freeze, but the odds are greatly increased. Because of the greater likelihood of a devastating freeze this winter, all Georgians are urged to take necessary precautions to protect life and property.

The rainfall outlook is less certain. Rainfall during neutral winters is very variable. Some neutral winters are very wet while other are very dry. At this time, we don’t know what we’ll get. Whether Georgia experiences a wet or dry winter will depend on the number of low-pressure systems that develop in the northern Gulf of Mexico and move across the state.

We do know, however, that the past 15 winters have been drier than the long-term average. Given this trend, the best rainfall outlook for the winter is to hedge our bets that the winter will be drier than the long-term average.

A dry winter is not what the state needs. Northeast and north-central Georgia are still in extreme drought. Lakes Lanier, Hartwell, Russell and Clarks Hill are near or below their record lows. A very wet winter is needed for these lakes to fully recover.

Additionally, a dry winter will set the state up for another drought. Georgia depends on winter rains to recharge the soil moisture, groundwater and reservoirs for the heavy water use in summer. If the state does not receive adequate rains this winter, the probability of the drought expanding will increase.

By David E. Stooksbury
University of Georgia

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Severe Weather Preparedness Still Needed, October Predicted to Remain Active Hurricane Month

PRNewswire/ -- October is predicted to be another rough hurricane and strong tropical storm month, according to national weather forecasters, so there is plenty of bad weather lurking as we move into the fall and winter months.

Brigade Quartermasters, a supplier of emergency and survival equipment for the military and law enforcement, is advising homeowners and business owners to take severe weather preparedness a step further than extra water and batteries -- especially if it means evacuation, travel and/or living without power for an extended period of time.

"Severe weather this time of year such as tornadoes, thunderstorms and flooding can cause power outages and extensive damage to homes and businesses. These storms should not be taken lightly when it comes to stockpiling emergency provisions," said Mitchell L. WerBell, IV, President of Brigade Quartermasters.

"It goes without saying that hurricane and major storm preparation should include back up reserves of food, water and battery-operated power. What catches people by surprise is when they realize living away from home or without power for a long period of time requires the same provisions you might take on a camping trip," he said.

WerBell suggests families take note of how members of the armed services and law enforcement agencies are trained and equipped to survive in remote locations and hazardous weather. His top-10 list of must-have items for anyone without power or required to evacuate a storm includes:

1. Weather radio and/or emergency radio
2. Bags/duffels/travel gear
3. Ponchos/rain gear/insulated coats
4. Bedding (blankets, cots, sleeping bags)
5. Flashlights/batteries/emergency lamp/light sticks
6. Camp tools (cutting, digging, shoveling)
7. Water/fuel storage containers/water purification tablets
8. Hydration packs/containers
9. Cell phone/laptop accessories (chargers, zip drives)
10. GPS receiver/compass


"Hopefully you won't be inconvenienced or away from home for too long, but it's smart to have quick access to proper supplies should an emergency occur," said WerBell, whose company offers a severe weather information and preparedness section on its Web site at www.brigadeqm.com.

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Stay Safe During Severe Weather Season

Though Georgia can get bad weather any time, the heart of severe weather season is now until mid-May. To keep you and your family safe, be prepared with a weather radio and a little knowledge, says a University of Georgia expert.

The No. 1 way to stay informed is to have a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, radio, said David Stooksbury, state climatologist and associate professor of engineering and atmospheric sciences with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

SAME radio

A NOAA weather radio sounds an alarm and broadcasts up-to-date details about tornadoes, thunderstorms, flash floods or tropical weather. Make sure you buy one with the Specific Area Message Encoding, or SAME, technology. It can be programmed for particular counties.
“You can buy NOAA weather radios at most electronic stores and even some grocery stores,” Stooksbury said.

It is common for severe weather to strike at night in Georgia. For this reason, place the radio in the bedroom to warn sleepers.

“Outdoor warning sirens aren't a good way to monitor severe weather,” he said. “Don't depend on them. Outdoor sirens are to warn people working or playing outside of approaching severe weather. They're not intended to warn people in cars, buildings or people who are sleeping.”

In the event of a tornado, seek shelter in a sturdy building. The lowest level away from windows is the safest place, he said. If one isn't around, lie down in a ditch or low spot where cars or trees won't blow on top of you. Don't stay in a car.

“Regardless of where you seek shelter, protect your body, especially your head and neck, from flying debris,” he said. “Use pillows, blankets, coats or whatever you can find to protect yourself.”

Turn around, don’t drown

Turn around. Don’t drown, he said. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm hazard.

“Most people literally drive right into the water,” Stooksbury said. “If you can’t see the bottom of the road, turn around.”

As little as six inches of water can cause someone to lose control of a vehicle.

Lightning

An estimated 25 million lightning flashes strike the United States each year, killing 62 people annually, according to the National Weather Service. Using the simple 30-30 rule can help keep you safe during thunderstorms.

“The 30-30 rule for thunderstorm safety is simple,” he said. “When you hear thunder within 30 seconds of a lightning flash, seek shelter and stay there at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash.”

Since sound travels one mile in five seconds, a 30-second count means lightning has struck within six miles of you. That's within the striking distance of lightning.

Small sheds, picnic shelters, baseball dugouts and bleachers don't offer adequate protection from lightning, Stooksbury said.

“If you're outside, avoid water, open high ground, metal fences and isolated large trees,” he said. “Lightning often, but not always, strikes the highest point in the area, so don't let yourself be the tallest object around.”

Stay clear of windows, landline phones, running water and computers indoors, too. Cell phones and wireless laptops are OK.

“If you have time, unplug everything,” Stooksbury said. “Surge protectors will not protect electrical devices from a direct hit.”

by April Sorrow
University of Georgia

April R. Sorrow is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.