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Scale of threat levels

for South Central and Southeast Wisconsin
Extreme Cold Threat
Hazard Map Threat Levels Safety & Impact

The "Excessive Cold Hazard Map" depicts the local threat of expected winter weather conditions for specified areas.  It is largely based on one or more of the following: minimum temperature relative to freezing, lowest wind chill, measurable freezing/frozen precipitation, and frost.

Excessive Cold Threat Level

Threat  Level Descriptions

Extreme

"An Extreme Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."

An extreme likelihood (36% or greater probability) that wind chill values will drop to -200 F or below for 3 hours or more when sustained winds are greater than or equal to 10 mph, or lowest air temperatures below -100 F.

High

"A High Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."

A high likelihood (26% to 35% probability) that wind chill values will drop to -200 F or below for 3 hours or more when sustained winds are greater than or equal to 10 mph, or lowest air temperatures below -100 F.

Moderate

"A Moderate Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."

A moderate likelihood (16% to 25% probability) that wind chill values will drop to -200 F or below for 3 hours or more when sustained winds are greater than or equal to 10 mph, or lowest air temperatures below -100 F.

Low

"A Low Threat to Life and Property from Dense Excessive Cold."

A low likelihood (6% to 15% probability) that wind chill values will drop to -200 F or below for 3 hours or more when sustained winds are greater than or equal to 10 mph, or lowest air temperatures below -100 F.

Very Low
"A Very Low Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."

A very low likelihood (2% to 5% probability) that wind chill values will drop to -200 F or below for 3 hours or more when sustained winds are greater than or equal to 10 mph, or lowest air temperatures below -100 F.
Non-Threatening
"No Discernable Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Cold."

Cold season weather conditions are non-threatening.   

Note: Cold season weather conditions become hazardous when the associated cold is considered to be "excessive" according to local standards.  Cold temperatures may support the occurrence of a freeze, low wind chills, freezing/frozen precipitation, and/or frost.

Determining Likelihood

  • National Weather Service
  • Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI Weather Forecast Office
  • N3533 Hardscrabble Road
  • Dousman, WI 53118
  • 262-965-2074
  • Page Author: MKX Webmaster
  • Web Master's E-mail: w-mkx.webmaster@noaa.gov
  • Page last modified: 2-Nov-2005 10:23 PM UTC
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