Cold Criteria & Frost/Freeze Changes in Effect October 1, 2024

As of October 1, 2024, in conjunction with the NWS Hazard Simplification initiative, all wind chill and freeze products will be consolidated and changed nationwide.

Extreme Cold Watch and Wind Chill Watch will be consolidated into Extreme Cold Watch.

Extreme Cold Warning and Wind Chill Warning will be consolidated into Extreme Cold Warning.

Wind Chill Advisory will be replaced with Cold Weather Advisory.

Hard Freeze Watch and Freeze Watch will be consolidated into Freeze Watch.

Hard Freeze Warning and Freeze Warning will be consolidated into Freeze Warning.

Previously, Extreme Cold and Wind Chill products were based upon the wind chill and required a certain wind threshold. Starting October 1, 2024, these products will be issued based on the temperature or the wind chill, and there will be no wind threshold. In other words... wind or no wind, cold is cold! Please see the below images for the criteria for Cold Weather Advisory and Extreme Cold Warning.

Cold Weather Advisory

Extreme Cold Warning