307 
NOUS43 KLSX 192344 CCA
PNSLSX

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE...CORRECTION TO TRANSFER DATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
430 PM CDT WED NOV 19 2008

TO:      FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...
         NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERIVCE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...             
         EMERGENCY MANAGERS...WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
         /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAAPORT SUBSCRIBERS...
         OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ USERS
         AND PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:    MARK FUCHS
         SERVICE HYDROLOGIST

SUBJECT: RELOCATION OF RIVER FORECAST SERVICES TO NEW RIVER 
         GAUGE IN WASHINGTON, MO.

AFTER COORDINATION WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL 
SURVEY...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL MOVE FORECAST SERVICES 
FROM THE SLOPE AND STAFF GAUGES LOCATED NEAR THE CITY OF WASHINGTON 
PUBLIC BOAT RAMP TO THE NEW USGS AUTOMATED RIVER GAUGE LOCATED ON 
THE SOUTHEAST END OF THE RIVERFRONT PARK IN WASHINGTON...ABOUT A 
THOUSAND FEET DOWNSTREAM FROM THE PUBLIC BOAT RAMP.  THIS CHANGE IN 
SERVICES WILL OCCUR ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3 AT 10 AM CDT.

THE ZERO GAUGE HEIGHT AT THE NEW LOCATION HAS BEEN ADJUSTED SO THAT 
FLOOD STAGE...LEVELS OF MODERATE AND MAJOR FLOODING...ALONG WITH 
LEVELS OF VARIOUS CRITICAL IMPACTS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.  
HOWEVER...COMPARABLE LOW FLOWS WILL INDICATE VALUES 0.3 TO 0.5 FEET 
HIGHER AT THE NEW GAUGE THAN AT THE PREVIOUS SLOPE GAUGE.

THIS SERVICE CHANGE WILL ALSO MEAN MORE FREQUENT OBSERVATIONS.  THE 
PREVIOUS GAUGE REQUIRED AN OBSERVER TO TAKE A GAUGE READING AT THE 
BOAT DOCK.  THESE READINGS WERE TYPICALLY PROVIDED JUST ONCE EACH 
DAY.  THE NEW AUTOMATED GAUGE PROVIDES AN OBSERVATION EVERY 15 
MINUTES.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE DAILY RIVER 
FORECASTS FOR THIS LOCATION.  THE WEATHER SERVICE WILL ALSO ISSUE 
FLOOD WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS WHENEVER THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO 
EXCEED THE FLOOD STAGE OF 20 FEET.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WELCOMES PUBLIC FEEDBACK.  IF YOU HAVE 
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THESE SERVICE CHANGES...PLEASE 
CONTACT: 

MARK FUCHS
SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE
12 MISSOURI RESEARCH PARK DRIVE
ST. CHARLES, MO 63304

PHONE:  (636) 447-1876
EMAIL:  MARK.FUCHS@NOAA.GOV