Cold weather advisory

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A cold weather advisory (formerly known as a wind chill advisory until October 2024) [1] is a hazardous weather statement issued by Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States to alert the public that temperatures or wind chills are forecast to reach values low enough that it poses a threat to human health and life if adequate protection is not taken against hypothermia and frostbite. The exact criteria meriting the issuance of an advisory varies from state to state, and areas prone to colder temperatures will often require colder temperatures/wind chills before issuing an advisory. [2]

Contents

Example

The following is an example of the now deprecated Wind Chill Advisory, this one was issued by the National Weather Service office in Detroit, Michigan on January 21, 2011. [3]

920  WWUS43 KDTX 212131 WSWDTX  URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI 431 PM EST FRI JAN 21 2011  ...EXTREME COLD WIND CHILLS TONIGHT...  .COLD TEMPERATURES IN ADDITION TO WINDS INCREASING TONIGHT AHEAD OF A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL ALLOW WIND CHILLS TO DROP BETWEEN -15 AND -20 ACROSS THE NORTHERN THUMB AND SAGINAW VALLEY TONIGHT.  MIZ047>049-053>055-062-063-220545- /O.NEW.KDTX.WC.Y.0001.110122T0500Z-110122T1500Z/ MIDLAND-BAY-HURON-SAGINAW-TUSCOLA-SANILAC-LAPEER-ST. CLAIR- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MIDLAND...BAY CITY...BAD AXE... SAGINAW...CARO...SANDUSKY...LAPEER...PORT HURON 431 PM EST FRI JAN 21 2011  ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM EST SATURDAY...  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DETROIT/PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM EST SATURDAY.   IMPACTS...   * COLD WIND CHILLS MAY LEAD TO FROST BITE AND HYPOTHERMIA IF    PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.   HAZARDOUS WEATHER...   * WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL BETWEEN -15 AND -20 DEGREES    LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.  PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...   * A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.  IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.  &&  $$  RK 


The following is the first Cold Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service. It was issued on November 17, 2024. [4]

  URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Sacramento CA 1254 PM PST Sun Nov 17 2024  CAZ068-069-181400- /O.NEW.KSTO.CW.Y.0001.241119T0600Z-241119T1800Z/ Western Plumas County/Lassen Park-West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada- Including the cities of Chester, Quincy, and Blue Canyon 1254 PM PST Sun Nov 17 2024  ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM MONDAY TO 10 AM PST TUESDAY ABOVE 6000 FEET...  * WHAT...Very cold temperatures 5 to 15 degrees expected at   elevations above 6000 feet.  * WHERE...West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas   County/Lassen Park.  * WHEN...From 10 PM Monday to 10 AM PST Tuesday.  * IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin   is exposed to these temperatures. These cold temperatures could be   hazardous to pets, plants, and those without adequate heating.  PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  Keep pets indoors as much as possible.  &&  $$ 

See also

Related Research Articles

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A wind chill watch is a weather watch formerly issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when the wind chill could reach dangerous levels within the next 12 to 48 hours; as of October 2024 it has been re-named "extreme cold watch." The exact definition required to issue a watch varies from state to state or from National Weather Service county warning areas to another, but if forecasters believe conditions are favorable for life-threatening wind chills meeting local criteria, a watch will be issued. People going outside should plan to protect themselves against hypothermia and frostbite. In October 2024, the "wind chill watch" and "wind chill warning" were, among other changes, re-named in-favor of a "simplified" naming scheme.

A wind chill warning was a hazardous weather statement previously issued by both local forecast offices of the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States and by the Meteorological Service of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) when wind chills were forecast to reach values low enough for residents and travelers to be susceptible to life-threatening medical conditions or death associated with accelerated body heat loss. In both Canada and the United States the "wind chill warning" has been replaced with the "extreme cold warning."

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A Freezing Spray Advisory is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States to warn sea vessels and sometimes road vehicles near the shoreline that accumulation of freezing water droplets and icing due to a combination of cold suspended droplets, wind, and cold air, so vessel movement is possible, however, accumulations are not expected to reach rates of 2 cm per hour, or else a heavy freezing spray watch, warning or a specific notice would be issued.

An extreme cold warning is a weather warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and by the United States' National Weather Service (NWS) to inform the public about active or imminent severe cold temperatures in their local region.

An extreme cold watch is a weather watch issued by the United States' National Weather Service (NWS) to inform the public that "dangerously cold air, with or without wind, is possible." The extreme cold watch is a 'step' below the "extreme cold warning."

References

  1. "National Weather Service revises watch, warning and advisory products for cold". Archived from the original on 2024-10-10.
  2. National Weather Service. "Wind Chill Advisory". Glossary - National Weather Service. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  3. National Weather Service. "Wind Chill Advisory". Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  4. "IEM :: NPW from STO". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Retrieved November 17, 2024.