NWS Tests New Product Format

Beginning December 8, 2009, NWS Norman will test a new bullet format for our Winter Weather (WSW) and Non-Precipitation (NPW) text products

The new bullet format will make it easier to quickly see the most important information concerning hazardous winter weather and non-precipitation events. While we intend to use the new format during the entire test period, we may revert back to the old format, if necessary.

The test will affect the following text products:

Watches
WSW - Winter Storm, Blizzard, Wind Chill
NPW - High Wind, Excessive Heat, Freeze

Warnings
WSW - Winter Storm, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Wind Chill
NPW - Dust Storm, Excessive Heat, Freeze, High Wind

Advisories
WSW - Winter Weather, Freezing Rain, Wind Chill
NPW - Wind, Dense Fog, Dense Smoke, Freezing Fog, Heat, Frost, Blowing Dust

The new format will use bullets to emphasize the most important information (similar to severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings).

Here's an example to illustrate the difference you might see:

 

The OLD Way

The NEW Way

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
601 PM CST WED JAN 16 2008

.LIGHT SNOW AND FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CREATE SLICK SPOTS ON AREA
ROADWAYS TONIGHT...PRIMARILY OVER NORTH-CENTRAL AND CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA. ANY SNOW OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE VERY LIGHT...BUT
SLIPPERY ROADWAYS WILL CAUSE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

OKZ005>008-011>013-017>020-024>026-028>032-170815-
/O.NEW.KOUN.WW.Y.0001.080117T0001Z-080117T1200Z/
WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-MAJOR-GARFIELD-NOBLE-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-
LOGAN-PAYNE-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVA...CHEROKEE...MEDFORD...
PONCA CITY...FAIRVIEW...ENID...PERRY...WATONGA...KINGFISHER...
GUTHRIE...STILLWATER...YUKON...EL RENO...MUSTANG...
OKLAHOMA CITY...CHANDLER...PURCELL...NORMAN...MOORE...SHAWNEE...
SEMINOLE...HOLDENVILLE
601 PM CST WED JAN 16 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY.

LIGHT SNOW AND FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE EXPECTED TO COMBINE AND
PRODUCE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL AND
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. THE SLICK CONDITIONS WILL BE PRIMARILY CONFINED
TO BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES...BUT WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO
THE TEENS AND 20S...SOME MAIN ROADS COULD BECOME SLICK. ACTUAL SNOW
AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE VERY LIGHT...BUT IT DOES
NOT TAKE MUCH ICE TO CREATE DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING DRIZZLE MAY CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

$$

 

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
601 PM CST WED JAN 16 2008

OKZ005>008-011>013-017>020-024>026-028>032-170815-
/O.NEW.KOUN.WW.Y.0001.080117T0001Z-080117T1200Z/
WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-MAJOR-GARFIELD-NOBLE-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-
LOGAN-PAYNE-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-MCCLAIN-CLEVELAND-
POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALVA...CHEROKEE...MEDFORD...
PONCA CITY...FAIRVIEW...ENID...PERRY...WATONGA...KINGFISHER...
GUTHRIE...STILLWATER...YUKON...EL RENO...MUSTANG...
OKLAHOMA CITY...CHANDLER...PURCELL...NORMAN...MOORE...SHAWNEE...
SEMINOLE...HOLDENVILLE
601 PM CST WED JAN 16 2008

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY.

* LIGHT SNOW AND FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL PRODUCE SLICK AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS...MAINLY ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

* SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE VERY LIGHT...BUT ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOME TRAVEL PROBLEMS.

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...TAKE YOUR TIME AND WATCH OUT FOR SLICK SPOTS.

$$

 

We'd like to hear your comments on the new format. Complete the survey and let us know what you think:

 
http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=wswnpw

When the test ends on May 29, 2010, the NWS will review comments to help determine whether the bullet format will be implemented nationwide.

If you have comments or questions regarding the experimental use of bulleted Winter Storm and Non Precipitation products, contact

Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist

email: richard.smith@noaa.gov 


   



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