Not that we want it to get here any sooner than it has to, but the National Weather Service says how it issues some winter weather-related watches and warnings will be changing this season.
It’s being rolled out, they say, this month.
Mostly, the changes relate to just cold weather, and freezing weather.
They’re consolidating Extreme Cold Watches and Wind Chill Watches into just Extreme Cold Watches.
Extreme Cold Warnings and Wind Chill Warnings will become just Extreme Cold Warnings, and Wind Chill Advisories will now be called Cold Weather Advisories.
Freeze Watches and Warnings will now only be used, instead of also using Hard Freeze Watches and Warnings.
Why? Forecasters say they will be used to provide, “better decision-making services,” and were based on public and partner engagements, surveys, and social research.
“The new NWS Cold Product Suite will allow NWS to communicate that cold is dangerous with or without wind. Wind chill will not go away although emphasis will be placed on ‘cold is cold’ for public safety,” said a fact sheet from the Weather Service.
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