Storms
WINTER STORM WATCH: Issued by the local NWS Forecast Office when severe winter conditions (heavy snow = 6+ inches and/or significant ice accumulations = 1/2 inch or more) are possible (50% confidence) typically within 24 to 36 hours.
WINTER STORM WARNING: Issued by the local NWS Forecast Office when severe winter conditions (heavy snow = 6+ inches and/or significant ice accumulations = 1/2 inch or more) are expected (80% confidence) typically within 16 hours.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: Issued by the local NWS Forecast Office when winter conditions (snow, sleet and/or freezing rain/ice) are expected (80% confidence) typically within 12 hours. These winter conditions will cause significant inconvenience and may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, these situations should not become life-threatening. The greatest hazard is often to motorists.
BLIZZARD WATCH: Issued by the National Weather Service when sustained winds of at least 35 mph, and falling or blowing snow create visibilities at or below ¼ mile (these conditions should persist for at least three hours), are possible within 24 to 36 hours.
BLIZZARD WARNING: Issued by the National Weather Service when sustained winds of at least 35 mph, and falling or blowing snow create visibilities at or below ¼ mile (these conditions should persist for at least three hours), are expected within 16 hours.
ICE STORM WARNING: Issued by the National Weather Service when a heavy accumulation of ice (at least ½ inch thick) is forecast to accrete and down trees and power lines, resulting in significant and widespread power outages.
Freezing Rain & Snow
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY: Issued by the National Weather Service when ice is forecast to accrete (less than ½ inch thick) on roads, making driving hazardous; or on sidewalks, making walking hazardous. Even trace amounts of freezing drizzle will make driving and walking on untreated surfaces treacherous. A significant accumulation of ice on trees and power lines is not expected.
BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY: Issued by the National Weather Service when wind-driven snow is expected to reduce visibility enough to hamper travel. Blowing snow may be falling snow, or snow that has already accumulated but is picked up and blown by strong winds. Visibility conditions are not expected to deteriorate sufficiently to issue a Blizzard Warning.
SNOW ADVISORY: Issued by the National Weather Service when an average snowfall of 3 inches is expected. Amounts can range from 2 to 5 inches. A Snow Advisory may also be issued for snowfalls under two inches at the beginning of the snow season or after a prolonged period between snowfall events.
HEAVY SNOW WATCH: Issued by the National Weather Service when an average snowfall of 6 inches in 12 hours or 8 inches in 24 hours is expected.
HEAVY SNOW WARNING: Issued by the National Weather Service when snowfall totaling six inches or more in 12 hours or less is strongly expected or imminent. Also is issued when snowfall totaling eight inches or more in 24 hours is strongly expected or imminent.
Wind Chill
WIND CHILL ADVISORY: Issued by the National Weather Service
when potentially dangerous wind chill readings of 15 to 24 degrees below zero are expected.
