This is a public service announcement from Dr. Pizzle's laboratory (I always wanted to pretend I was a Meteorologist).

Below is text I copied for the convienience and ease of the esteemed Professor Paddle readership, artisticly and subtly edited to reflect their informational needs...


Prepare now for what Mother Nature throws at us this winter

Oct 09 2012

Take Winter By Storm – a campaign to help citizens get prepared before bad weather strikes – and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) joined forces Monday to launch the annual preparedness campaign and urge citizens to take action.

"When this dry, early fall weather pattern breaks, flows may be abrupt and off the hook, yo!” said Ted Buehner, warning coordination meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service Seattle. “Citizens of Washington's Whitewater Sector in particular need to be weather ready, and can find the tools and tips they need at Professorpaddle.com.”

In past years that featured similar conditions, such as 2006 and 2009, the dry weather changed dramatically, bringing heavy rain, flooding, wind storms and snow, according to a press release.

“The bottom line,” says Buehner, “citizens need to have an idea of where they want to paddle in advance, and watch, listen and monitor weather forecasts. Don’t wait until the storm strikes to prepare – that’s too late.”

This Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the devastating Columbus Day Storm of 1962 – a slightly similar weather pattern to this year’s – that resulted in widespread power outages and 46 deaths across the Pacific Northwest. Yes that sucks and should not be taken lightly, but it also means there will be lots of awesome action upstream. So while most western Washingtonians will be reaching for the Prozac and other drugs to combat S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder), you can be reaching for your paddle and be GLAD (Gradient/Liquid Action Destiny).

The public is encouraged to take the following actions in preparation to be storm ready:

• Create an emergency preparedness kit with at least a three changes of polypropolene long underwear. Organize your gearbag so that it is all ready at a moments notice. Travelling to work on friday with your boat(s) strapped to the roof is also advised.

• Make a hit list of rivers and or creeks you want to run and share it with your crew and those who depend on you to plan everything.

• Stay informed and monitor the weather approaching in order to best plan where to get your boof on. Notch off some new PFD's!

Here is a link to the original text, but it is a bit bland and not nearly as exciting as my embellished version. (I do have an Artistic License if anyone needs to see it).
http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/173411521.html?mobile=true

Nice!

Thanks for the PSA, pizzle. I'll be sure to have my ditch kit ready at all times.

Words to live by. Hark, is that the pitter patter of a moist convergence zone awakening me from my dreary slumber?! Why.. the heavens are weeping at the thought of this joyous rapture befalling us all. Tears of joy tis true. A wonderful update, pizzle.

Nope, just the Rx of the river gear, and the above mentioned convergence zone while our guitars gently weep like a song springing forth from the headwaters...

Sky is already up to 5000+ with the forecast indicating a 13,000 cfs high spike. Even a more modest volume would be music to my ears.

Now who ain't workin' tmorrow?