Winter-related Advisories

• Hazards unrelated to precipitation – these include extremes in temperature, fog related events, high winds, or localized flooding unrelated to rain.

WINTER-RELATED ADVISORIES

Here are some watches and warnings related to winter weather.

Winter weather advisory – this means that some type of winter weather event is either occurring, about to occur, or probable. This is what used to be called a Travelers advisory. It indicates any type of winter precipitation that could impact travel or cause a major inconvenience. This advisory has largely replaced the blowing snow advisory and snow advisory.

Winter storm watch – this means you can expect the possibility of winter weather within two days. It is not guaranteed there will be a snowstorm.

How do you define hazardous winter weather? It is defined in one of several ways:

1. At least five inches of snow or sleet in twelve hours

2. At least seven inches of snow or sleet in twenty-four hours

3. Accumulation of ice that could damage powerlines or trees

4. Any combination of damaging winds, snow, and or ice that is life-threatening

There will be some variation in the characteristics of snowfall or sleet conditions that qualify as an advisory, watch, or warning depending on where a person lives.

Winter storm warning – this indicates winter weather that is either occurring or imminent within the next 12 to 48 hours. Note that it could just as likely to be imminent as it is to be already present. You can expect freezing rain, strong winds, sleet, and or snow. The exact amount varies from place to place throughout the country. This has replaced the sleet warning and the heavy snow warning that used to be commonplace.

Ice storm warning – this is released whenever it is expected that ice will accumulate cost travel and utility disruptions. Ice is heavy and will frequently down power lines and trees. Accumulations vary from ¼ to ½ inch of freezing rain.