Have you ever thought why when some few inches of snow are on top of the schools it closes down, yet there are times when there is a lot more on top and life still goes on as usual? All this depends on the official warnings by the weather specialists. The gravest warning is referred to as Winter Storm Warning. But what kind of weather is the cause of this great message? We can discuss the exact mixtures of snow, ice, and wind that cause forecasters to send such an emergency warning in order to protect the population.
What Type of Weather Triggers a Winter Storm Warning?
Winter Storm Warning is declared when a forecaster is quite certain that a severe and dangerous winter occurrence is forthcoming, generally within the upcoming 12 24 hours. It is that circumstances will endanger your life and existence.
The key word is "combination." It’s rarely just one thing. A warning is given by the National weather service when they anticipate a combination of hazardous weather. This normally implies satisfying one or more of the following conditions:
The Magic Numbers: Snow and Sleet Amounts
Forecasted snowfall is the primary trigger of many areas. The typical standard is 5 inches or greater of snow or sleet during a 12-hour time or 7 inches or greater during a 24-hour time. Consider the amount of snow that you would have to shovel or drive through to stack 7 notebooks on top!
These numbers, however, differ not everywhere. Other places that manage snow effectively such as in the Midwest and Northeast can be required to receive 6 to 8 inches in 12 hours before a notification is given. These thresholds are determined by the meteorologists depending on what is really disruptive to individual communities.
The Invisible Danger: Ice Accumulation
In other cases, it is not snow that is the greatest hazard, but ice. Ice Storm Warning can be given when the amount of ice caused by freezing rain is more than a quarter-inch. Even lack of greater volume can be so dangerous. Ice is dense, tends to break the branches of trees, to knock out electrical cables, and to coat roads with a layer of ice that is almost invisible and greasy making the movement hazardous.
When Wind Joins the Party
When snow is mixed with wind it is even more dangerous. Although there are strict conditions of a Blizzard Warning (strong winds above 35 mph and poor visibility during 3+ hours), a Winter Storm Warning may also refer to a harmful mixture of snow and wind. The snow is blown about by the wind, piled into deep drifts, making it difficult to see, and thus causing the conditions to be white-out.
It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All: Warnings Change with Location
An important consideration to be made is that a Winter Storm Warning in Texas will have a different appearance than that of a Winter Storm Warning in Minnesota. Local criteria are applied in the National Weather Service due to the difference in the effects of the same weather.
Watches vs. Warnings: Know the Difference
You may also hear of the Winter Storm Watch. This is your early heads-up! Watch A Watch indicates that hazardous weather could happen in 12 to 48 hours. It is time to take a look at your emergency kit and a plan. A Warning is to state that dangerous weather is about to occur or it is already occurring. It is high time to act and be safe.
What to Do When a Warning Is Issued
On the Winter Storm Warning you have seen or heard, it is time to take the safety issue seriously. This is the advice that professionals give:
When you know the factors that lead to the Winter Storm Warning, you will be in a better position to make wise decisions that would keep your family and yourself safe throughout the winter season.
Gianna Eleanor
Have you ever thought why when some few inches of snow are on top of the schools it closes down, yet there are times when there is a lot more on top and life still goes on as usual? All this depends on the official warnings by the weather specialists. The gravest warning is referred to as Winter Storm Warning. But what kind of weather is the cause of this great message? We can discuss the exact mixtures of snow, ice, and wind that cause forecasters to send such an emergency warning in order to protect the population.
What Type of Weather Triggers a Winter Storm Warning?
Winter Storm Warning is declared when a forecaster is quite certain that a severe and dangerous winter occurrence is forthcoming, generally within the upcoming 12 24 hours. It is that circumstances will endanger your life and existence.
The key word is "combination." It’s rarely just one thing. A warning is given by the National weather service when they anticipate a combination of hazardous weather. This normally implies satisfying one or more of the following conditions:
The Magic Numbers: Snow and Sleet Amounts
Forecasted snowfall is the primary trigger of many areas. The typical standard is 5 inches or greater of snow or sleet during a 12-hour time or 7 inches or greater during a 24-hour time. Consider the amount of snow that you would have to shovel or drive through to stack 7 notebooks on top!
These numbers, however, differ not everywhere. Other places that manage snow effectively such as in the Midwest and Northeast can be required to receive 6 to 8 inches in 12 hours before a notification is given. These thresholds are determined by the meteorologists depending on what is really disruptive to individual communities.
The Invisible Danger: Ice Accumulation
In other cases, it is not snow that is the greatest hazard, but ice. Ice Storm Warning can be given when the amount of ice caused by freezing rain is more than a quarter-inch. Even lack of greater volume can be so dangerous. Ice is dense, tends to break the branches of trees, to knock out electrical cables, and to coat roads with a layer of ice that is almost invisible and greasy making the movement hazardous.
When Wind Joins the Party
When snow is mixed with wind it is even more dangerous. Although there are strict conditions of a Blizzard Warning (strong winds above 35 mph and poor visibility during 3+ hours), a Winter Storm Warning may also refer to a harmful mixture of snow and wind. The snow is blown about by the wind, piled into deep drifts, making it difficult to see, and thus causing the conditions to be white-out.
It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All: Warnings Change with Location
An important consideration to be made is that a Winter Storm Warning in Texas will have a different appearance than that of a Winter Storm Warning in Minnesota. Local criteria are applied in the National Weather Service due to the difference in the effects of the same weather.
Watches vs. Warnings: Know the Difference
You may also hear of the Winter Storm Watch. This is your early heads-up! Watch A Watch indicates that hazardous weather could happen in 12 to 48 hours. It is time to take a look at your emergency kit and a plan. A Warning is to state that dangerous weather is about to occur or it is already occurring. It is high time to act and be safe.
What to Do When a Warning Is Issued
On the Winter Storm Warning you have seen or heard, it is time to take the safety issue seriously. This is the advice that professionals give:
When you know the factors that lead to the Winter Storm Warning, you will be in a better position to make wise decisions that would keep your family and yourself safe throughout the winter season.