Written by the National Weather Service
Are you confused about the terms “Watch,” “Warning” and “Advisory”? The National Weather Service wants your feedback this winter season on a proposed alternative to communicating winter hazard messages. The goal of this demonstration is to explore how we can simplify and clarify our messages to improve public understanding.
Proposed Simplified System
During this demonstration, NWS will propose alternative terms and phrases for our winter weather hazard message headlines. We have designed these alternative terms with the goal of simplifying and clarifying our messages for the general public and for those responsible for making key decisions to protect the public. The alternative language is being generated by software we’ve developed specifically for this demonstration.
Here are the specifics of how we’ll create the alternative language for the demonstration this winter.
For all current, official winter weather hazard messages that lead with the phrase:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ____________ HAS ISSUED A _____ WATCH”
We will convert this text for demonstration purposes only to:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ________ FORECASTS THE POTENTIAL FOR _________”
with the hazard type (snow, ice, wind, etc.), level of certainty, timing and expected impact(s) clearly stated in the second blank space.
For all current, official winter weather hazard messages that lead with the phrase:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ________ HAS ISSUED A(N) ______ ADVISORY”
We will convert this text for demonstration purposes only to:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN _________ ADVISES CAUTION FOR ____”
with the hazard type, timing and expected impact(s) clearly stated in the in the blank space
For all current, official winter weather hazard messages that lead with the phrase:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN _______ HAS ISSUED A(N)______ WARNING”
We will convert this text for demonstration purposes only to:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN _______ HAS ISSUED A WARNING FOR A DANGEROUS______”
with the hazard type, timing and expected impact(s) clearly stated in the blank space
We retain the term “Warning” for the demonstration because of its direct connection to protection of life and property, but this alternative approach would eliminate the individual hazard products within the Warning category.
Compare Headline Text from Official to Proposed Products
Click here to access the Comparison page. We encourage you to click on the WFO name at times when links are green to access our side-by-side message comparison. In addition to the actual message comparison, these comparison pages also provide links where you can provide your comments. We welcome your comments on any specific comparison for a given day or location via our team email address: [email protected], or on this demonstration in general via our comment form. The demonstration will end on March 31, 2013.