Full Notification

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a blizzard
watch... which is in effect from Tuesday evening through Wednesday
morning. The Winter Storm Watch has been cancelled.

* Snowfall amounts: the location of the rain snow line will be
critical for determining snowfall amounts. Based on the current
expected storm track... the rain snow line will extend from
around New Madrid Missouri... northeast across Paducah
Kentucky... to around Evansville Indiana. Snowfall around one
foot is quite possible where the precipitation is all snow. Near
the rain snow line... snowfall amounts are much less certain. Due
to potential errors in the forecast storm track... pay close
attention to later forecasts.

* Winds: winds on Christmas night will increase to around 25
mph... with frequent gusts from 35 to 45 mph. These strong winds
will persist into Wednesday morning.

* Timing: the heaviest snow and strongest winds are expected to
develop between 8 PM and midnight on Christmas night. Conditions
will begin to improve between 5 am and 10 am on Wednesday.

* Impacts: blizzard conditions are possible in the watch area.
Should the watch be upgraded to a Blizzard Warning... expect
travel to become very difficult or impossible. Blowing and
drifting snow could make roads impassable, whiteout conditions
may create a life threatening situation for those venturing
outdoors.

* Other impacts: the heavy wet snow and strong winds may bring
down some trees and power lines. In addition... shovelling heavy
wet snow has caused heart attacks... back problems... and other
issues in past winter storms.


Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A blizzard watch means there is a potential for falling and/or
blowing snow with strong winds and extremely poor visibilities.
This can lead to whiteout conditions and make travel very
dangerous.

http://www.wunderground.com/US/MO/112.html#WIN


*****************************************************
Robert E. Hearnes, Director
Charleston Department of Public Safety
204 N. Main St.
Charleston, MO 63834
(573) 683-3737
http://www.facebook.com/charlestondps
http://local.nixle.com/charleston-mo-department-of-public-safety/