Hazards: Take Control Weather Terms By NEMO Saint Lucia

THE KEY IS: 1) KNOW THE DISASTER HISTORY OF YOUR REGION 2) REMEMBER THE WEATHER SYSTEMS WHICH AFFECT YOU Preparing to understand Weather Terms

Discuss with your family. Discuss with you staff. Discuss in the schools. Understanding Weather Terms

Humidity Hazard: Weather Terms Humidity: Is the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. Translation: H for humidity. H for hot.

Relative Humidity Hazard: Weather Terms The ratio of the amount of moisture in the atmosphere at a given temperature and pressure expressed as a percentage. Translation: It still HOT!

Continuous Rain Hazard: Weather Terms Is that which lasts for one hour or more without break. Translation: La plis ca yen-yen

Intermittent Rain: Is that which falls in spells each lasting less then one hour. Hazard: Weather Terms Isolated Showers: Shower which is physically remote from others. Widely Scattered Showers: Showers which are considerable distance apart either in space or time. Scattered Showers: Showers which are not clustered together either in space or time. Occasional Showers: Showers which occur irregularly and infrequently. Translation: It rained today. Somewhere on the island. But not necessarily where you were!

SOURCE: SLU Met Service Hazard: Weather Warnings Some changes have been made to give greater lead times for action in tropical storm watches and warnings effective the 2010 Hurricane Season. WATCHES Tropical storm and Hurricane watches will be issued when Tropical Storm/Hurricane conditions are possible along the coast within 48 hours (instead of 36 hours which was previously used). WARNINGS Tropical Storm/Hurricane warnings will be issued when Storm/Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours (instead of 24 hours which was previously used).

Hazard: Weather Warnings ADVISORY Issued at regular intervals when a tropical storm or hurricane is first detected in the area ‑ keep listening; ADVISORY “Get Ready”

Hazard: Weather Warnings Issued when the hurricane continues its advance and hurricane conditions are a real possibility. It does not mean that they are imminent; Watch HURRICANE WATCH “Get Set”

Hazard: Weather Warnings Warning Issued when once it is established that hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours; HURRICANE WARNING “Go!”

SOURCE: NOAA ADVISORY “Ready” HURRICANE WATCH “Set” HURRICANE WARNING “Go!” EVENT Hazard: Weather Warnings

Areas prone to flooding Hazard: Weather Systems When flooding is expected in low lying areas and near the river banks due to a continuous downpour of rain (of many hours duration) a flood warning will be issued. This warning is not necessarily associated with Depressions, Storms or Hurricanes, and strong winds do not always accompany the rain. Translation: If your neighbourhood is known to flood then watch out. The Met Office has warned you it can happen. Leave the area for a while.

Trough Hazard: Weather Systems A large scale anti- clockwise turning of the wind associated with low pressure systems and may exist as an elongated extension from a low pressure centre or without any connection to a low pressure centre. Translation: L for low pressure system. L for lousy weather

Low Pressure System Hazard: Weather Systems In the northern hemisphere it is characterised by the anti-clockwise circulation of the wind into a centre of relatively low pressure. Translation: L for low pressure L for lousy weather

High Pressure System Hazard: Weather Systems In the northern hemisphere it is characterised by the anti-clockwise circulation of the wind out of the centre of relatively high pressure. Translation: H for high pressure system. H for hot and happy weather

Atlantic High Pressure System Hazard: Weather Systems This is a feature at low levels over the Atlantic Ocean. Translation: H for high pressure system. H for hot and happy weather This time over the Atlantic but it can influence our weather too.

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone Hazard: Weather Systems Also called ITCZ is a narrow east-west band of deep convection near the equator. Translation: Where the winds from northern hemisphere meets that from the southern hemisphere the weather tends to get active with lots of rain. Sometimes it happens over us.

Jet Stream Hazard: Weather Systems Is a narrow stream of relatively strong winds usually located in the upper atmosphere. The winds must be 50 knots (63mph) or more. Translation: Fast flowing, narrow air currents located around kilometers above the surface of the Earth. Aircraft pilots use it to speed up their flight.

Tropical Disturbance Hazard: Weather Systems An area of organised convection in the tropics or sub-tropics which has maintained its identity for at least twenty-four (24) hours. Translation: RAIN!

Tropical Wave Hazard: Weather Systems This is a low pressure trough or a weak low pressure circulation in the trade wind easterlies. Translation: REMEMBER L for low pressure system. L for lousy weather

Formed over open seas and is characterised by extreme wind damage, intense downpours of rain, wave, storms at sea, sever coastal wave action, marine flooding, riverine flooding, lightening and thunderstorms, with winds 39 mph – 73 mph. Translation: Lousy Weather Tropical Depression Hazard: Weather Systems

Hurricane Hazard: Weather Systems A large closed circulation system in the atmosphere with low barometric pressure, strong winds that rotate counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. There are five categories of hurricanes based on sustained wind speeds. Translation: REMEMBER L for low pressure system. L for lousy weather …and so low barometric pressure will give us???

Hazard: Weather Systems

Supplied by Saint Lucia Met Service Early Warning Systems

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