...FLOOD STAGE HAS CHANGED ON THE RED RIVER AT ARTHUR CITY...


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1131 AM CDT FRI OCT 24 2008

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY...THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY /USGS/ HAS
CHANGED THE GAGE ZERO DATUM ON THE RIVER GAGE AT ARTHUR CITY ON
THE RED RIVER FROM 380.070 FEET TO 375.070 FEET. THIS CHANGE WAS
NEEDED DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT EROSION THAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE
RIVER CHANNEL AT THIS LOCATION CAUSING THE GAGE READINGS TO RECORD
IN NEGATIVE VALUES. NOTE THIS IS SIMPLY A CHANGE TO THE GAGE ZERO
REFERENCE POINT AND NOT A MODIFICATION TO THE VERTICAL DATUM
REFERENCE. THE USGS IS STILL REFERENCING NGVD29 FOR THIS LOCATION
AS NOTED ON THEIR WEBSITE.

IN ADDITION...EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE
GAGE ZERO HEIGHT...THE FLOOD CATEGORY STAGES CITED IN NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST PRODUCTS FOR THE RED RIVER AT ARTHUR CITY 
HAVE BEEN CHANGED AS FOLLOWS...

1. ACTION STAGE IS 25.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.
PREVIOUS ACTION STAGE WAS 20.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.

2. FLOOD STAGE IS 27.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.
PREVIOUS FLOOD STAGE WAS 22.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.

3. MODERATE FLOOD STAGE IS 30.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.
PREVIOUS MODERATE FLOOD STAGE WAS 25.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.

4. MAJOR FLOOD STAGE IS 33.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.
PREVIOUS MAJOR FLOOD STAGE WAS 28.0 FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO.

OBSERVATIONS AND FORECASTS EXPRESSED AS FEET ABOVE GAGE ZERO FOR
THE RIVER GAGE AT ARTHUR CITY ON THE RED RIVER CAN BE USED BY
PERSONS FROM THE U.S. HIGHWAY 271 CROSSING SOUTH OF HUGO 
OK...DOWNSTREAM TO NEAR PECAN POINT OK.THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 
WELCOMES PUBLIC FEEDBACK.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE RED RIVER
ARTHUR CITY CAN BE FOUND AT: WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TULSA AND THEN CLICKING
ON THE "RIVERS & AHPS" LINK ON THE LEFT SIDE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS CHANGE PLEASE CONTACT...
NICOLE MCGAVOCK
SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE
10159 E. 11TH ST. SUITE 300
TULSA OK 74128