Extreme cold warning

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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.

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In April 2014, ECCC replaced the "wind chill warning" with an "extreme cold warning." In the older system a wind chill warning for Southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada was issued when the wind chill dropped to -35. Thus a temperature of −37 °C (−35 °F) with no winds would not require a warning be issued. Under the new system the extreme cold warning is issued based on either the temperature or the wind chill being a certain value for at least two hours. The values range from −30 °C (−22 °F) in the warm temperates to −55 °C (−67 °F) in parts of the Arctic. [1] [2]

On October 1, 2024, the NWS replaced the "wind chill warning" with the "extreme cold warning." The standards governing issuance are set by local NWS offices. The 'step' below an extreme cold warning is an "extreme cold watch," which itself replaced the "wind chill watch" in October 2024. [3] [4]

Canada

An extreme cold warning is issued when the following temperatures are expected to last for at least two hours, which different regions have different criteria for: [2]

United States

In the United States an extreme cold warning was an experimental weather warning issued by the National Weather Service in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. [5] The warning was issued if the temperature fell to −35 °F (−37 °C) or colder with a wind of less than 5 mph (8 km/h; 2 m/s). [6] It was an experimental advisory for when the air temperature was dangerously cold, but the wind was too little to warrant a Wind Chill Watch or Warning. [7]

The Extreme Cold Warning was used from January 10, 2011 to April 15, 2011. [8] It was discontinued beginning with the 2011-12 winter storm season. Only five Extreme Cold Warnings were issued in that period: one for Burleigh County, three for areas outside of the Bismarck–Mandan metropolitan area, and one for West Glacier, Montana [9]

In a partner webinar on October 30, 2018, the National Weather Service announced that based on survey feedback, the Extreme Cold Warning and the Wind Chill Warning will be consolidated into the Extreme Cold Warning, meaning that this product would once again be issued on a regular basis. This change was hinted to take effect sometime in 2021, accounting for NWS software upgrades. [10] [11] This was confirmed at the AMS 2024 meeting in January 2024.

In October 2024, the NWS officially implemented these changes to its wind chill and hard freeze warnings, watches, and advisories (WWAs) as part of its "Hazard Simplification initiative." The goal of these WWA name changes, per the NWS, is "simplifying a suite of cold weather forecast products to improve messaging of winter hazards and provide better decision support." The changes include: [12] [13]

Extreme Cold Consolidation and Renaming

Freeze Consolidation


Local NWS offices will still determine the standards governing the issuance of such WWAs.

Example

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 451 PM CST Mon Jan 20 2025  MNZ054-056>060-062-064>070-073>077-082>085-091>093-210700- /O.UPG.KMPX.CW.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-250121T1800Z/ /O.EXA.KMPX.EC.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250121T1800Z/ Lac Qui Parle-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Ramsey- Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota- Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca- Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn- Including the cities of Chanhassen, Waseca, Mankato, Fairmont, Victoria, Albert Lea, Olivia, St James, Hastings, Owatonna, Gaylord, Minneapolis, Granite Falls, Willmar, Monticello, Madison, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Montevideo, Faribault, Chaska, St Peter, Le Sueur, New Ulm, Redwood Falls, St Paul, Shakopee, and Blue Earth 451 PM CST Mon Jan 20 2025  ...EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TUESDAY...  * WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 37 below.  * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central,   southwest, and west central Minnesota.  * WHEN...Until noon CST Tuesday.  * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite   on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.  PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat.  Keep pets indoors as much as possible.  Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.  &&  $$

See also

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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. ↑ Environment Canada. "Wind Chill Hazzards". Archived from the original on December 17, 2005.
  2. 1 2 Extreme Cold Warning
  3. ↑ Michael Musher, National Weather Service Public Affairs. "National Weather Service Revises Watch, Warning and Advisory Products". News Around NOAA. Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  4. ↑ Blaise Keller. "Beyond the Barometer: Changes coming to wind chill alerts". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  5. ↑ "National Weather Service Plans to Issue 'Extreme Cold Warnings'". Archived from the original on 2013-06-16.
  6. ↑ "NWS To Experiment With 'Extreme Cold' Warnings". 10 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Experimental Cold Warning Feedback Needed".
  8. ↑ "NWS Tests Extreme Cold Warning". Archived from the original on 2013-06-09.
  9. ↑ "National Weather Service ditching 'extreme cold' warnings".
  10. ↑ "National Weather Service Public Information Statement PNS18-11" (PDF). Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Update on Winter Weather Initiatives Partner Webinar" (PDF). Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  12. ↑ Michael Musher, National Weather Service Public Affairs. "National Weather Service Revises Watch, Warning and Advisory Products". News Around NOAA. Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  13. ↑ Blaise Keller. "Beyond the Barometer: Changes coming to wind chill alerts". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
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