PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 301 PM EDT SUN OCT 18 2009 .
..A REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FROST/FREEZE PROGRAM…
FORECASTERS AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMELY ISSUANCE OF WATCHES…WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR FROST AND FREEZE CONDITIONS FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND MUCH OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE USED TO DETERMINE WHEN THESE PRODUCTS ARE ISSUED… .
.FREEZE WATCH A FREEZE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THERE IS A 50 PERCENT OR GREATER PROBABILITY THAT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO 32 DEGREES OR LOWER FOR ANY DURATION…USUALLY WITHIN 12 TO 48 HOURS.
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.FREEZE WARNING A FREEZE WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN THERE IS AN 80 PERCENT OR GREATER PROBABILITY THAT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO 32 DEGREES OR LOWER FOR ANY DURATION…USUALLY WITHIN 12 TO 24 HOURS.
..FROST ADVISORY A FROST ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN THERE IS AN 80 PERCENT OR GREATER PROBABILITY THAT CONDITIONS WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCATTERED OR WIDESPREAD FROST. PATCHY FROST DOES NOT NECESSITATE THE ISSUANCE OF A FROST ADVISORY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL DECLARE AN END TO THE GROWING SEASON FOR A PARTICULAR FORECAST ZONE WHEN AT LEAST 1/2 OF THAT ZONE EXPERIENCES FREEZING TEMPERATURES OR 3 HOURS OR MORE. ONCE THE END OF THE GROWING SEASON IS DECLARED…
FREEZE WATCHES…
FREEZE WARNINGS AND FROST ADVISORIES WILL NO LONGER BE ISSUED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SPRING…USUALLY AROUND MARCH 15TH. A COLORED MAP SHOWING THE AVERAGE FIRST FREEZE DATES FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT… http://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CHS/IMAGES/FIRSTFREEZE.PNG /ALL LOWER CASE LETTERS/
BELOW ARE SOME AVERAGE FIRST FREEZE DATES FOR A FEW COMMUNITIES ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA
ALLENDALE…............... NOVEMBER 7
WALTERBORO….............. NOVEMBER 7
YEMASSEE…................ NOVEMBER 10
SUMMERVILLE…............. NOVEMBER 11
HAMPTON…................. NOVEMBER 12
RIDGELAND…............... NOVEMBER 13
PINOPOLIS DAM…........... NOVEMBER 15
NORTH CHARLESTON /KCHS/.... NOVEMBER 27
BEAUFORT…................ DECEMBER 1
DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON…..... DECEMBER 18
