ST. LOUIS — There will be no wind chill advisories or warnings this winter as the National Weather Service has changed the way it communicates cold weather threats.
The NWS made adjustments as it tries to simplify the way it messages threats associated with the arctic blasts of winter. This change is an attempt to better communicate the threats associated with the current extreme cold, freeze, and wind chill warnings, watches and advisories that have long existed.
As part of the ongoing National Weather Service (NWS) Hazard Simplification Project, the NWS said it is acting upon data collected during public and partner engagements, surveys, and social science research. This has led to consolidation of wind chill and extreme cold products and freeze and hard freeze products.
These new NWS cold weather warnings, watches and advisories allow the weather enterprise to communicate that cold is dangerous with or without wind. Wind chill will not go away, although emphasis will be placed on “cold is cold” for public safety.
Part of this consolidation of the cold weather products is to improve messaging of these hazards and provide better decision-making services for people and emergency managers.
Freeze and hard freeze headlines will be streamlined to freeze watch or warning with enhanced language for hard freeze conditions as needed.
The frost and freeze headlines are focused on the agricultural community. Usually, the growing season is nearing its climatological end with the first freeze of the fall. Springtime freeze and frost can damage early vegetation. These warnings and advisories take into account the growing season, impacts, and precautionary and preparedness actions.
The NWS has made these changes as part of a plan to simplify the vast number of advisory, watch and warning products issued. More changes to additional alerts are expected in the next few years.
