In an effort to improve National Weather Service (NWS) winter
weather products and services, an adjustment will be forthcoming
to the headlines of several winter weather products beginning
this 2008-09 winter season. Below is a description of the
changes showing the former and current winter weather product
“headlines”.
Before (old) |
After (new) |
Snow Advisory |
Winter Weather Advisory |
Sleet Advisory |
Winter Weather Advisory |
Heavy Snow Warning |
Winter Storm Warning |
Heavy Sleet Warning |
Winter Storm Warning |
...Unchanged Products... |
Freezing Rain Advisory |
Ice Storm Warning |
Wind Chill Advisory |
Wind Chill Warning |
Blizzard Warning |
So, with the new consolidated winter weather headline, a
product example may look like this:
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 AM CST
FRIDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH
7 AM CST FRIDAY.
<the hazard type – in this case SNOW – will
be mentioned in the first lines of the product>
As a reminder, below is a brief description of winter weather
hazards and the criteria that are expected to be met when
a specific winter weather watch, warning or advisory is issued
from the NWS in Huntsville. The criteria are specific to the
Huntsville forecast area (Northern Alabama and Southern Middle
Tennessee).
Product |
Criteria |
| Winter Weather Advisory (snow/sleet) |
1 to 2" in ≤ 12 hours |
| Freezing Rain Advisory |
Ice accumulation up to 1/4 inch |
| Wind Chill Advisory |
Wind chills between 0 and -10F |
| Winter Storm Warning (snow/sleet) |
>2 to 4" in 12 hours -or- >4”
in 24 hours |
| Ice Storm Warning |
Ice accumulations > 1/4” |
| Dense Fog Advisory |
Widespread fog restricts visibility to ≤ 1/4
mile |
| Blizzard Warning |
Warning criteria for snow/sleet ..plus.. sustained
winds ≥ 35 MPH and considerable blowing/drifting snow
(i.e. visibility ≤ 1/4 mile for 3 or more hours). |
|
www.weather.gov 
National Weather Service Forecast Office
