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NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
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warning because 7 inches would be possible.  This year, the same forecast will only result in a winter weather advisory.  The reason for this is that the mid-point of this range is less than 7 inches.

That means that this year, it will take a forecast of at least 6 to 8 inches of snow within 12 hours, or 8 to 12 inches of snow within 24 hours to result in a winter storm warning.

It is hoped that these changes will make winter storm warnings for snow more meaningful to the public and emergency managers. By using a 12 and 24 hour criteria, these snowfall rates, and therefore the impact on the community will be accounted for in much better terms.

A detailed listing of our watch /warning /advisory criteria can be obtained by visiting the below WEB site:

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/car/WCM/ Waring_and_Reporting_Criteria_files/eventdef.htm   

This winter residents of northern and eastern Maine may notice some changes in winter storm warning products issued by the National Weather Service office in Caribou. 

Prior to this season, if forecasters expected seven inches of snow or more to fall in a 24 hour period, then  a winter storm watch or warning would be issued. 

Beginning this season, it will take a forecast of 7 inches or more of snow in 12 hours, or 10 inches or more of snow in 24 hours to result in either a winter storm watch or warning. 

A second change that will be implemented is that the mid-point of the snowfall forecast range determines whether a watch or warning will be issued.  Prior to this season it was the highest value forecast that determined whether or not a watch or warning would be issued. 

For example, last season, a 12 hour snowfall forecast of 4 to 7 inches of snow would have resulted in the issuance of a watch or

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