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A small craft advisory is a type of wind warning issued by the National Weather Service in the United States. In Canada a similar warning is issued by Environment Canada. It is issued when winds have reached, or are expected to reach within 12 hours, a speed marginally less than gale force. A Small Craft Advisory may also be issued when sea or lake ice exists that could be hazardous to small boats.
A winter storm warning 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 a winter storm is occurring or is about to occur in the area, usually within 36 hours of the storm's onset.
A winter weather advisory is a hazardous weather statement issued by local Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) of the National Weather Service in the United States when one or more types of winter precipitation—snow, rain and snow mixed, freezing rain, sleet, graupel, etc.—presenting a hazard, but not expected to produce accumulations meeting storm warning criteria, are forecast within 36 hours of the expected onset of precipitation or are occurring in the advisory's coverage area.
A winter storm watch is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there is a possibility of heavy snow or potential of significant ice accumulations, without meeting a specific other winter criteria. The watch is typically issued 12 to 48 hours before the storm's expected arrival in the given area. The criteria for this watch can vary from place to place, which is true with other winter weather warning and advisories.
At sea, a storm warning is a warning issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when winds between 48 knots and 63 knots are occurring or predicted to occur soon. The winds must not be associated with a tropical cyclone. If the winds are associated with a tropical cyclone, a tropical storm warning will be substituted for the storm warning and less severe gale warning.
This article describes severe weather terminology used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States, a government agency operating within the Department of Commerce as an arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
A lake effect snow warning is a bulletin issued by the National Weather Service in the United States to warn of heavy snowfall accumulations that are imminent from convective snow generated by very cold airmass passing over unfrozen lakes. The criteria for amounts may vary significantly over different county warning areas. On October 2, 2017, some National Weather Service Forecast Offices discontinued issuing the Lake Effect Snow Warning, and consolidated it with the Winter Storm Warning. On October 15, 2018, the National Weather Service discontinued issuing Lake Effect Snow Warnings nationwide all together, and all offices consolidated it with the Winter Storm Warning. Lake effect snow warnings were reinstated for the 2019–20 winter season.
A snow squall warning is a bulletin issued by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada and the National Weather Service in the United States to warn population of two types of snow events reducing visibility in blowing snow: lake effectsnow squalls and frontal snow squalls.
In weather forecasting in the United States, "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) is the wording used by the National Weather Service to convey special urgency in watch or warning messages for unusually extreme and life-threatening severe weather. It is used in the format "This is a particularly dangerous situation..." at the discretion of the issuing forecaster. A watch or warning bearing the phrase is referred to as a PDS watch or PDS warning.
A blizzard warning is a hazardous weather statement issued by Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States, which indicates heavy snowfall accompanied by sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph (56 km/h) or greater are forecast to occur for a minimum of three hours. A blizzard tends to reduce visibilities to 1⁄4 mile (400 m) or less.
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."
A gale watch is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there is an increased risk for a gale-force wind event, meaning sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 34 to 47 knots, but the occurrence, location, and/or timing of the event is still uncertain.
A Hazardous Seas Warning is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when wave heights and/or wave steepness values reach certain criteria. These criteria are defined by the local forecast office. Such tall waves can pose a serious threat to vessels that do not seek shelter.
A Hazardous Seas Watch is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there is an increased threat of high wave heights and/or wave steepness values reach a certain criteria, but the occurrence, timing, and/or location are still uncertain, though the area of concern is known. The criteria are set by the local forecast offices. It is normally accompanied with strong winds, and occasionally even cyclonic activity. Such tall waves can pose a serious threat to vessels that do not seek shelter, as well as vehicles and property very close to concerned waters.
A Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States to warn vessels that rapid accumulation and icing of freezing water droplets due to a combination of cold water, wind, cold air, and vessel or vehicle movement is likely. Accumulation rates of 2 cm per hour or greater must be possible for a warning to be issued, or else a freezing spray advisory would be issued.
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.
A wind advisory is generally issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there are sustained non thunderstorm winds of 31–39 miles per hour (50–63 km/h) and/or gusts of 46–57 miles per hour (74–92 km/h) over land. Winds over the said cap will trigger high wind alerts rather than a wind advisory. The advisory is site specific, but winds of this magnitude occurring over an area that frequently experiences such wind speeds on a basis will not trigger a wind advisory. A slightly lower wind speed in areas around lakes may trigger a Lake wind advisory instead.
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
- ↑ "National Weather Service revises watch, warning and advisory products for cold". National Weather Service . Archived from the original on 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- ↑ National Weather Service. "Wind Chill Advisory". Glossary - National Weather Service. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ↑ National Weather Service. "Wind Chill Advisory". Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ↑ "IEM :: NPW from STO". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Retrieved November 17, 2024.