The National Weather Service (NWS) made changes to its winter weather watch, warning, and advisory products as part of its hazard simplification project. The official Service Change Notification was released on March 26, 2024 and the revisions went into effect on October 1, 2024.
The changes aim to clarify that cold can be dangerous with or without wind, addressing a common misconception that extreme cold is only tied to colder temperatures when there is wind. Dangerously cold weather can accompany or follow wintry precipitation, but is often overshadowed by the precipitation.
The following changes have been made:
Windchill Watch and Warning have been renamed to Extreme Cold Watch and Extreme Cold Warning. With a Watch, dangerously cold air with or without wind is possible, telling the public to be prepared. With a Warning, dangerously cold air with or without wind is expected, telling the public to take action. Wind Chill Advisory has been renamed to a Cold Weather Advisory.
Hard Freeze Watch and Hard Freeze Warning were consolidated to Freeze Watch and Freeze Warning.
For more information, check out their fact sheet.
Keep in mind that NWS Weather Forecast Offices may have different local criteria for issuing these winter weather products depending on location, timing, severity, and impact.
