
    Topics: Winter Weather and Tips
	    Summer Weather and Tips

    Adapted from the Forecast Weather Computer Bulletin Board by
    George Kasica.
 

		      Summer Weather Safety Tips
		      --------------------------                
 
			HEAT WAVE SAFETY RULES
			   By George Kasica
 
   Due to sudden and sometimes intensely hot weather here is a little bit
   of information on heat waves, safety rules to observe during them, and
   some of the terms you may hear on the evening weathercast referring to
   how comfortable it is.
 
   First the safety rules:
 
   1. Slow down. Your body can't do it's best in high temperatures and
      humidities and it might do its worst.
 
   2. Heed your body's early warnings that heat syndrome is on the way.
      Reduce your level of activities immediately and get to a cooler
      environment.
 
   3. Dress for summer.  Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat 
      and sunlight, and helps your thermoregulatory system maintain normal
      body temperature.
 
   4. Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods like proteins, that increase
      metabolic heat production, also increase water loss.
 
   5. Don't dry out. Heat wave weather can wring you out before you know it.
      Drink plenty of water while the hot spell lasts.
 
   6. Stay salty. Unless your on a salt restricted diet, take an occasional
      salt tablet or some salt when you've worked up a sweat.
 
   7. Avoid thermal shock. Acclimatize yourself gradually to warmer weather.
      Treat yourself extra gently for those first critical two or three hot 
      days.
 
   8. Vary your thermal environment. Physical stress increases with exposure
      time in heat wave weather. Try to get out of the heat for at least a
      few hours each day. if you can't do this at home, drop in on a cool
      store, restaurant, or theater - anything to keep your exposure time
      down.
 
   9. Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation
      that much more difficult.
 
 
   Well, now that you know some safety rules to follow, here are some terms
   that you may be seeing on the evening news.

  Temperature Humidity Index (or T.H.I.): This index is a measure of comfort
  which is based on the outdoor temperature and humidity. If the index is
  below 70, most people feel comfortable. Above 73, air conditioning may be
  appropriate. At 75 over 50% of the people will feel uncomfortable. Nearly
  everyone feels uncomfortable at a value of 79 with some experiencing acute
  discomfort. At this point clothing worn makes a big difference. With values
  in the 80's discomfort is acute for all, and work efficiency drops, accident
  rates also rise sharply. With a T.H.I. in the 90's the situation is very
  dangerous and all should move to cooler areas or stop activities at once!
  Here is a simple method for finding the T.H.I., all you need is the air
  temperature and relative humidity:

       T.H.I.=T-(.55-.55*H)*(T-58)

  Where T is the temperature and H is the relative humidity as a decimal
  (ie 80% is .8).
 
  Humiture: Better known as Apparent Temperature, humiture is a better heat
  index than the T.H.I. It will tell you what it feels like when you take the
  humidity into consideration. With readings in the 80-90 range, fatigue is
  possible with prolonged exposure and physical activity. In the 90-105 area,
  sunstroke and heat exhaustion are possible with prolonged exposure and 
  physical activity. In the 105-130 range sunstroke or heat exhaustion are
  likely. Heatstroke is possible with prolonged exposure and physical 
  activity. Above 130 conditions are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and heatstroke is
  imminent unless you get to cooler surroundings or stop all activities.
  
  Here is how to compute Humiture or Apparent Temperature:

    Humiture=Air Temperature + Humits from chart
 
  Humits:
   
   Dew Point    50    55    60    65   70    75    80    85
   Humits        2     5     8    11   15    19    25    31
 
  Values between those given can be estimated.
 
  Well, there you have some heat wave safety rules and information. I would
  like to thank the following people for being helpful at the early hour of
  the morning when this guide was put together:
 
  The staff of the National Weather Service Forecast Office at Gen. Mitchell
  International Airport, Milwaukee WI.
 
  Vince Condella, Jack Boston, and Bart Adrian of WITI-TV6 Milwaukee, WI
 
  Paul Joseph, Jim Ott, and Carl Boenek of WTMJ-TV Ch. 4 Milwaukee, WI

		    Winter Weather Safety Tips
		    --------------------------
 
   Below is a winter guide to help you safely survive our coldest season.
   Along with the safety tips is a definition of wind chill.
 
     Wind chill is the effects of both temperature AND wind on the
   rate of cooling on a human body. For example, if the air temperature
   is 20 degrees, and the wind speed is 15 mph, our skin would feel an
   equivalent temperature of -5 degrees, AND also lose heat at that rate.
   Windchill IS NOT actual temperature, if it is 10 degrees, with a wind
   chill of -40, your car will still only get to 10 degrees. As for
   windchill safety, here are some guidelines: Windchills above -20
   present little danger to properly clothed persons, between -20 and
  -70 windchills present increasing danger of freezing exposed flesh.
   At windchills below -70, there is GREAT DANGER of freezing any exposed
   parts of the body.
 
   Some winter weather terms you may hear are defined below:
 
   Advisory for Snow, Ice, Fog, etc...
     Weather conditions may be hazardous due to one or more weather
     elements such as snowfall, ice-covered roadways and sidewalks,
     dense fog, etc.
 
   Winter Storm Watch...
     Winter storm is possible in 24 to 36 hours.
 
   Winter Storm Warning...
     An ice storm, sleet, or heavy snow are imminent.
 
   Heavy Snow...
     Four or more inches of snow in the next 12 hours, or 6 or more
     inches in the next 24 hours.
 
   Blizzard...
     Winds of at least 35 mph along with heavy snow for an extended
     period of time. THE TEMPERATURE NO LONGER HAS TO BE BELOW 20
     DEGREES TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A BLIZZARD.
 
   Lake-Effect Snow...
 
     Snowfall that results from cold, arctic air moving over the
     relatively warmer waters of Lake Michigan.  Snow amounts are
     heaviest within a mile of the shoreline, tapering off to just
     a trace of snow 30 miles inland.
 
   For those of you that are traveling this winter and are unlucky enough
   to be caught out in a winter storm situation, here is what the National
   Weather Service recommends you carry with you at all times in your car:
 
   Shovel, ax & knife, sack of sand, windshield scraper, catalytic heater-
   heats by chemical action like glove warmers, two tow chains, battery
   booster cables, flashlight or signal light, fire extinguisher, first
   aid kit, extra clothing, blankets or sleeping bags, compass and road
   maps, facial tissue and paper towels, matches and candles, high-calorie
   non-perishable food items (candy is a good example).
 
   Here are some parting winter weather safety tips:
 
  1) DRESS RIGHT!  Wear layers of clothing with an outer garment of a tightly
     woven and water repellent material. Mittens are warmer than gloves.
 
  2) Become Independent.  Keep plenty of food and fuel on hand, and check
     all battery powered equipment.
 
  3) Guard your Health!  Shoveling snow is hard work and can bring on a heart
     attack, a major cause of death during winter storms...TAKE IT EASY!
  
  4) Drive with care.  Keep your car winterized and carry a winter storm kit.
     If you get trapped in your car during a winter storm, STAY IN YOUR CAR,
     but keep it ventilated. Exercise, turn on the dome light at night, stand
     watch for possible rescuers, and above all, DON'T PANIC.
 
 
 The above winter weather safety tips are brought to you courtesy of WITI-TV6
 and meteorologists Vince Condella, Jack Boston, and Bart Adrian in Milwaukee.


