NPWAKQ

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
824 AM EDT WED AUG 17 2011

...DENSE SMOKE FROM THE DISMAL SWAMP FIRE...

NCZ014-VAZ096-171500-
/O.NEW.KAKQ.SM.Y.0001.110817T1224Z-110817T1500Z/
GATES-SUFFOLK-
824 AM EDT WED AUG 17 2011

...DENSE SMOKE ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A DENSE
SMOKE ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING.

* AREAS AFFECTED: LOCATIONS ACROSS SOUTHERN SUFFOLK AND NORTHERN
  GATES COUNTIES. DENSE SMOKE WILL OCCUR AS FAR SOUTH AS HIGHWAY
  158 IN NORTH CAROLINA ALSO IMPACTING HIGHWAY 32 AND HIGHWAY 13
  ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA...VIRGINIA BORDER.

* HAZARDS: FIRE CREWS ARE REPORTING NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN
  LOCATIONS ADJACENT TO THE FIRE AND SOUTH INTO NORTH CAROLINA.

* VISIBILITIES: VISIBILITIES WILL REMAIN LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A
  MILE TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.

* TIMING: DENSE SMOKE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 11 AM IN AREAS NEAR
  THE FIRE AS WELL AS JUST TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF THE FIRE.

* IMPACTS: MOTORISTS IN THE AREA WILL EXPERIENCE DRASTIC REDUCTIONS
  IN VISIBILITY WHEN TRAVELING ALONG PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY
  58...HIGHWAY 13 AND HIGHWAY 32 IN THE VICINITY OF THE FIRE.
  REDUCE SPEEDS WHEN ENCOUNTERING THE DENSE SMOKE AND AVOID SUDDEN
  BRAKING OR STOPPING IN AREAS WHERE OTHER VEHICLES MAY NOT BE
  ABLE TO SEE YOU.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A DENSE SMOKE ADVISORY MEANS WIDESPREAD FIRES WILL CREATE SMOKE...
LIMITING VISIBILITIES. IF DRIVING...SLOW DOWN...USE YOUR
HEADLIGHTS...AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU IN CASE A
SUDDEN STOP IS NEEDED.

&&

$$