Signal Summer 2019 Newsletter

6 www.alliancecom.net How to Have Fun on a Rainy Day Don’t let rain spoil your day. Sure, you may not be able to get to enjoy the outdoor activities you had planned, but there’s still plenty to do inside: • Play board games. Get out Monopoly, Sorry, Clue, or any other old-school board games you have around. Make some snacks, get comfortable, and invite the whole family to play. • Have a spa day. Treat yourself to a relaxing bubble bath, foot scrub, facial, or manicure. • Get baking. Whip up something that will make the whole house smell delicious like chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, or bread. • Go “camping”with the kids. Some of the things you love about camping can be done indoors like making s’mores, telling ghost stories, and pitching a tent. • Catch up on your reading. Whether it’s news articles or that novel you never seem to have time for, bad weather creates a good opportunity for a long, guilt-free reading session in your favorite comfy chair. If you don’t feel like doing anything, a rainy day can also be the perfect time for a nap. The sound and smell of rain can be soothing and make us feel sleepy. The NWSWorks 24/7 to Keep America Informed Weather is important to U.S. citizens for many reasons, which is why it makes sense to have a national service dedicated to it. The National Weather Service (NWS) is exactly that. Its mission is to “provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.” Billions of Observations Active for over a century, the NWS is headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., and has offices in areas across the U.S. and its territories. Local Weather Fore- cast offices are responsible for issuing advisories, warnings, statements, and short-term forecasts for their local areas to help people make smart decisions. River Forecast Centers are particularly critical in creating timely flood warnings and river forecasts to keep people and property safe. Employees work around the clock to share the most accurate forecasts for the use of states, counties, businesses, and individuals. According to the NWS website, “The NWS collects and analyzes more than 76 billion observations and releases about 1.5 million forecasts and 50,000 warnings each year.” Forecasters use a variety of methods to collect data including surface stations, weather bal- loons, and satellites. Critical Information for All The NWS also includes the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), which produces analysis, guidance, forecasts, and warnings, and includes nine subcenters that focus on aviation, hurricanes, space weather, and other specialties. NWS information is shared with other governmental agencies, as well as com- panies, individuals, and entities across the world. For more on the National Weather Service, visit its website at weather.gov. FAST FACT: The coldest temperature ever officially recorded was -128.6°F.