A winter weather event is a winter weather phenomenon (such as snow,
sleet, ice, wind chill) that impacts public safety, transportation, and/or commerce.
It typically occurs during the climatological winter season between October
15 and April 15.
Outlook - Winter weather that may cause significant impact in the day 3 to 7 forecast time period and eventually lead to the issuance of a watch or warning is contained in the Hazardous Weather Outlook. More scientific discussion on the event can also be found in the Area Forecast Discussion. Forecasts in the day 3 to 7 time period typically have a lot of forecast uncertainty. Uncertainty is generally in the 30 to 50% range that the event will occur and reach warning criteria. It is intended to provide information to those who need considerable lead time to prepare for the event.
Watch - A watch is generally issued in the 24 to 72 hour forecast time
frame when the risk of a hazardous winter weather event has increased (50 to
80% certainty that warning thresholds will be met). It is intended to provide
enough lead time so those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. A
watch is issued using the WSW Winter Weather Message product and will appear
as a headline in some text products such as the Zone Forecast. It will change
the color, as shown in the table below, of the counties on the NWS front page map according to what type of
watch has been issued.
| Watch Type |
Description |
| Blizzard Watch |
Conditions are favorable for a blizzard event in the next 24 to 72 hours.
Sustained wind or frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph will
accompany falling and/or blowing snow to frequently reduce visibility
to less than 1/4 mile for three or more hours. |
| Lake Effect Snow Watch |
Conditions are favorable for a lake effect snow event to meet or exceed
local lake effect snow warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours. Widespread
or localized lake induced snow squalls or heavy snow showers which produce
snowfall accumulation to 7 or more inches in 12 hours or less. Lake effect
snow usually develops in narrow bands and impacts a limited area within
a county or forecast zone. Use "mid-point" of snowfall range
to trigger a watch (i.e 5 to 8 inches of snow = watch). |
| Wind Chill Watch |
Conditions are favorable for wind chill temperatures to meet or exceed
local wind chill warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours.Wind chill
temperatures may reach or exceed -25°F. Use lower bound of criteria
to trigger a watch (i.e -15F to -25F = watch). |
| Winter Storm Watch |
Conditions are favorable for a winter storm event (heavy sleet, heavy
snow, ice storm, heavy snow and blowing snow or a combination of events)
to meet or exceed local winter storm warning criteria in the next 24 to
72 hours. Criteria for snow is 7 inches or more in 12 hours or less; or
9 inches or more in 24 hours covering at least 50 percent of the zone
or encompassing most of the population. Use "mid-point" of snowfall
range to trigger a watch (i.e 5 to 8 inches of snow = watch). Criteria
for ice is 1/2 inch or more over at least 50 percent of the zone or encompassing
most of the population. |
Warning/Advisory - These products are issued when a hazardous winter
weather event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurrence
(generally greater than 80%). A warning is used for conditions posing a threat
to life or property. An advisory is for less serious conditions that cause significant
inconvenience and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that
may threaten life and/or property. Warnings and advisories are issued using
the WSW Winter Weather Message product and will appear as a headline in some
text products such as the Zone Forecast. It will change the color, as shown in the table below, of the counties
on the NWS front page map according to what type of warning/advisory has been
issued.
| Warning Type |
Description |
| Blizzard Warning |
Blizzard event is imminent or expected in the next 12 to
36 hours. Sustained wind or frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35
mph will accompany falling and/or blowing snow to frequently reduce visibility
to less than 1/4 mile for three or more hours. |
| Ice Storm Warning |
An ice storm event is expected to meet or exceed local ice
storm warning criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours. Criteria for ice is
1/2 inch or more over at least 50 percent of the zone or encompassing
most of the population. |
| Lake Effect Snow Warning |
A lake effect snow event is expected to meet or exceed local
lake effect snow warning criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours. Widespread
or localized lake induced snow squalls or heavy snow showers which produce
snowfall accumulation to 7 or more inches in 12 hours or less. Lake effect
snow usually develops in narrow bands and impacts a limited area within
a county or forecast zone. Use "mid-point" of snowfall range
to trigger warning (i.e 5 to 8 inches of snow = warning). |
| Wind Chill Warning |
Wind chill temperatures are expected to meet or exceed
local wind chill warning criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours.Wind chill
temperatures may reach or exceed -25°F. Use lower bound of temperature
range to trigger the warning ( i.e -15F to -25F = warning). |
| Winter Storm Warning |
A winter storm event (heavy sleet, heavy snow, ice storm,
heavy snow and blowing snow or a combination of events) is expected to
meet or exceed local winter storm warning criteria in the next 12 to 36
hours. Criteria for snow is 7 inches or more in 12 hours or less; or 9
inches or more in 24 hours covering at least 50 percent of the zone or
encompassing most of the population. Use "mid-point" of snowfall
range to trigger warning (i.e 5 to 8 inches of snow = warning). Criteria
for ice is 1/2 inch or more over at least 50 percent of the zone or encompassing
most of the population. |
| Advisory Type |
Description |
| Winter Weather Advisory |
A winter storm event (sleet, snow, freezing rain, snow and
blowing snow, or a combination of events) is expected to meet or exceed
local winter weather advisory criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours but
stay below warning criteria. Criteria for snow is 4 inches or more in
12 hours or less covering at least 50 percent of the zone or encompassing
most of the population. Use "mid-point" of snowfall range to
trigger advisory (i.e 2 to 5 inches of snow = advisory). Criteria for
ice is any ice accumulation less than 1/2 inch over at least 50 percent
of the zone or encompassing most of the population. Winter Weather Advisory
can also be issued for black ice. This is optional. |
| Freezing Rain Advisory |
Any accumulation of freezing rain is expected in the next
12 to 36 hours (but will remain below 1/2 inch) for at least 50 percent
of the zone or encompassing most of the population. |
| Lake Effect Snow Advisory |
A lake effect snow event is expected to to meet or exceed
local lake effect snow advisory criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours.Widespread
or localized lake induced snow squalls or heavy snow showers which produce
snowfall accumulating to 4 or more inches in 12 hours or less, but remain
less than 7 inches. Lake effect snow usually develops in narrow bands
and impacts a limited area within a county or forecast zone. Use "mid-point"
of snowfall range to trigger advisory (i.e 2 to 5 inches of snow = advisory). |
| Wind Chill Advisory |
Wind chill temperatures are expected to meet or exceed
local wind chill advisory criteria in the next 12 to 36 hours.Wind chill
temperatures may reach or exceed -15°F. Use lower bound of temperature
range to trigger the advisory ( i.e -5F to -15F = advisory). |
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