Winter weather advisory
A Winter Weather Advisory is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when a low pressure system produces a combination of winter weather that presents a hazard, but does not meet warning criteria. A Winter Weather Advisory is similar to significant weather advisory, but a winter weather advisory is an official product. A similar warning is issued by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada offices.
The advisory criteria vary from area to area. For example, any measurable snow will constitute the advisory in Florida, while 3 to 5 inches will do so in New England. If other forms of wintry precipitation are expected, then a Winter Weather Advisory or Winter Storm Warning can be issued, also depending on the amount of precipitation that is expected.
Prior to the 2008-09 winter storm season, there was the Snow Advisory, specific for when snow was the only hazard expected in the advised area, the Sleet Advisory, specific for when sleet was the only hazard expected in the advised area, the Blowing Snow Advisory, specific for when blowing snow was the only hazard expected in the advised area, and the Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory, specific for when snow and blowing snow were the only hazards expected in the advised area. The Winter Weather Advisories for Snow, for Sleet, for Blowing Snow, and for Snow and Blowing Snow, respectively, have since replaced them.
Types
Because of the changes with the 2008-09 winter storm season, several varieties have been noted throughout the US.- Winter Weather Advisory for Snow
- Winter Weather Advisory for Snow and Blowing Snow
- Winter Weather Advisory for Blowing Snow
- Winter Weather Advisory for Sleet
- Winter Weather Advisory for Snow, Sleet, and Freezing Rain, or a different combination thereof
- Winter Weather Advisory for Freezing Rain
- Winter Weather Advisory for Lake-effect Snow
- Winter Storm Watch is given when a winter storm is likely to occur.
- Winter Storm Warning is given when a winter storm is moving into the area and that the public should take protective action.
- Also, the generic term, Winter Weather Advisory, may be used on its own, typically to indicate that all three winter precipitation types are expected in moderate amounts. However, the generic term may be used at the forecaster's discretion regardless of whether or not the condition applies
Example of a Snow Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
657 PM MST SUN DEC 9 2007
MTZ008>015-044-045-047-048-050>055-101100-
/O.CON.KTFX.SN.Y.0025.071210T1100Z-071211T0000Z/
BEAVERHEAD-NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER-HILL-
CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-
TOOLE-LIBERTY-BLAINE-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-JUDITH BASIN-
FERGUS-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DILLON...BROWNING...CUT BANK...HAVRE...
GREAT FALLS...FORT BENTON...HELENA...LINCOLN...ENNIS...SHELBY...
CHESTER...CHINOOK...CHOTEAU...STANFORD...LEWISTOWN...BOULDER...
TOWNSEND...WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS...BOZEMAN...WEST YELLOWSTONE
657 PM MST SUN DEC 9 2007
...SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 5 PM MST MONDAY
FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4500 FEET...
A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 5 PM MST MONDAY
FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4500 FEET.
PERIODS OF LIGHT SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO FALL OVER THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN FRONT...THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...AND ACROSS MUCH OF
SOUTHWEST MONTANA FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.
EXPECT NEW SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ON MONDAY TO RANGE FROM 2 TO
6 INCHES FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4500 FEET...WHILE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS WILL GENERALLY BE LESS THAN 1 INCH AT LOWER
ELEVATIONS. AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITIES AT TIMES.
A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND
LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATEST
UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.
$$
Example of a Winter Weather Advisory
The Following is an Example of a Winter Weather Advisory For Snow, Issued by Des Moines.
IAZ004>006-016-017-026>028-270430-
/O.UPG.KDMX.WS.A.0006.190427T1200Z-190428T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KDMX.WW.Y.0028.190427T1200Z-190428T0000Z/
Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-Franklin-Butler-
Bremer-
Including the cities of Estherville, Algona, Forest City,
Lake Mills, Garner, Britt, Kanawha, Mason City, Clear Lake,
Hampton, Parkersburg, Clarksville, Shell Rock, Greene, Aplington,
Allison, Dumont, and Waverly
324 PM CDT Fri Apr 26 2019
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM CDT
SATURDAY...
- WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 5 inches
- WHERE...Northern Iowa.
- WHEN...From 7 AM to 7 PM CDT Saturday.
- ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions.
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will
cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads
and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.
The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
&&
$$