The NOAA National Weather Service forecast offices serving the Pacific Northwest will host the region’s annual Winter Weather Awareness Week Oct. 18-24.

During the week, meteorologists will educate the public about the dangers of winter weather in the Pacific Northwest and encourage them to take action when life and property are at risk.

“Knowing what type of dangerous winter weather your community is prone to is essential in preparing for a weather emergency,” said Bob Tibi, director of the National Weather Service’s Western Region. “Residents of the Pacific Northwest need to stay informed of quickly changing weather situations through local news and NOAA Weather Radio and heed all orders issued by local officials.”

The Pacific Northwest experiences weather ranging from mild to extreme throughout the year. National Weather Service meteorologists educate people everyday about the region’s climate and weather, but this winter weather campaign offers people an opportunity to refresh their knowledge about winter weather threats.

Activities associated with the awareness week are available on a special Web site hosting weather education materials: www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/winterawareweek.php.

The campaign will focus on specific winter weather each day of the week, including safety and preparedness information. The topics include snow storms, wind chill, blizzards, ice storms and floods.