| Winter Weather Warnings and Advisories |
| |
|
Watches
A watch is issued whenever severe winter conditions are expected but not imminent. A watch alerts the public to the possibility of severe winter conditions. Watches are typically issued anywhere from 12 to 48 hours in advance of a winter storm. However, in some circumstances, watches may be issued longer than 48 hours in advance.
|
|
Warnings
A warning is issued whenever severe winter weather conditions are expected, that could cause death, injury or significant property damage. Various warning types include:
|
| Winter Storm Warning |
A Winter Storm Warning is issued for winter weather precipitation events that could cause death, injury or significant property damage. A winter storm warning is issued for any individual or combination of more than one of the following hazards:
• A mix of freezing and/or frozen precipitation which causes life-threatening conditions (e.g., several inches of snow with freezing rain).
• Heavy snow criteria (6 inches or more in 12 hours, 8 inches or more in 24 hours) and wind that also results in blowing snow
• Sleet accumulation greater than or equal to 1/2 inch.
• Any other combination of winter weather warning criteria.
|
| Ice Storm Warning |
•Damaging accumulations of ice 1/4 inch or greater. |
| Blizzard Warning |
•Sustained wind gusts to 35 mph or higher, and
•Considerable snow and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to a 1/4 mile or less.
Both of these must occur for a period of 3 hours or longer. |
| Wind Chill Warning |
•Wind chill indices are expected to reach -25 degrees or colder for one hour.
|
|
Advisories
Advisories are used for winter weather precipitation events that cause significant inconveniences, but are not considered life-threatening -if- caution is exercised. Winter weather conditions in an advisory can lead to many travel problems. Various advisory types include:
|
| Winter Weather Advisory |
•Used for winter weather precipitation that is not expected to reach warning criteria, but that will lead to significant inconveniences. A winter weather advisory will be issued when:
•New snow accumulation is sufficient to cause travel problems, but is less than 6 inches in 12 hours or 8 inches in 24 hours. In all cases forecaster discretion will be used to issue an advisory.
•Blowing snow which intermittently reduces visibility less than 1/2 mile, or produces drifting snow which closes roadways.
•A combination of snow and blowing snow.
•Sleet accumulations less than 1/2 inch.
|
| Freezing Rain Advisory |
•Freezing rain or freezing drizzle with accumulations less than 1/4 inch. |
| Wind Chill Advisory |
•Wind chill indices are expected to range between -15 to -24 degrees for one hour. |
RSS Feeds
