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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently updated a few of its winter weather terminologies that are key to staying safe for the incoming 2024-25 season. NOAA is the most trusted agency for all weather predictions and conditions. When NOAA changes something, it is essential for people to know what exactly was changed or updated. This year, NOAA updated two old terms and is refreshing one added in the 2024-25 season. The first one its have updated is “wind chill advisory,” which is now “cold weather advisory.” The biggest change is that a “wind chill watch and a “wind chill warning” will now be referred to as an “extreme cold watch and an “extreme cold warning.” Lastly, one more term that needs refreshing in the eager minds of skiers and snowboarders is “snow squall,” a vigorous and intense short-lived burst of extremely heavy snowfall. All three are major terms to be aware of if anyone plans to chase significant snowstorms or travel in areas known for winter weather.
Cold weather advisories are issued when normal or seasonable winter weather conditions are likely or occurring. This typically is not a direct danger to someone’s safety or health because it is not an extreme warning or watch, but rather it’s more of an inconvenience to daily life. The general public is being advised to dress accordingly and cover exposed skin when leaving their home or traveling while paying attention to local weather stations.
Extreme cold can result in a watch or warning, meaning two separate things, and will be issued when dangerously cold air is possible or expected. When a cold ‘watch’ is issued, dangerously cold air is possible with or without wind but not imminent. So why should one care if it’s not a definite? It means conditions are becoming favorable in a geographic region and one should be prepared in case it advances to an extreme cold warning. An extreme cold weather “warning” is issued during which in time dangerous or life threatening cold air is expected for a region again with or without wind. This signifies that people should take action because these conditions are more than likely going to happen and can and will cause frostbite or hypothermia if proper precautions aren’t being done. At this point, if anyone must travel or go outside, they need to dress in layers and cover as much exposed skin as possible to stay safe. These changes are to illuminate and clarify that cold can be dangerous with or without wind, holding forth the common misunderstanding that extreme cold is only related to colder temperatures when there is wind.
The latest and most life threatening terminology issued by NOAA are snow squalls. These are intense short-lived bursts of extremely heavy snowfall, usually within 30-60 minutes, that result in quickly depleting visibility. They should not be taken lightly.
A snow squall is similar to a blizzard but is more of a miniature version that has a much shorter duration and is usually confined to a small area or zone, not an entire region. When a snow squall impacts an area, visibility will suddenly be drastically lower, and roads can be extremely slick. This abrupt weather change to unknowing drivers typically results in car wrecks and injuries, and sometimes, unfortunately, leading to traffic-related deaths. To be prepared and avoid such conditions, people should leave early, carry chains at all times, and pay attention to weather forecasts. When these conditions become unavoidable, it is advised to turn on car headlights, significantly reduce speed, and brake early and slowly to avoid multiple car pileups. Car wrecks from snow squalls can cause hours of backed-up traffic and significantly impact everyone’s day, so the public is advised to do its part, be prepared, and stay safe at all times.
