Winter Weather PNS 6

Public Information Statement 
National Weather Service New York NY 
600 AM EDT Fri Oct 31 2025

...THIS IS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK... 

Please join the National Weather Service in promoting winter weather 
education including safety. 

The topic for today is National Weather Service winter weather 
services. 

The NWS issues two type of Winter Weather Watches...Winter Storm, 
and Extreme Cold.

There are also five types of Winter Weather Warnings...Blizzard, 
Winter Storm, Extreme Cold, Ice Storm and Snow Squall Warnings. 

There are also two types of Winter Weather Advisories...Winter 
Weather, and Cold Weather. 

Watches and warnings are issued for potentially life threatening 
hazardous weather. Watches are usually issued 36 to 48 hours before 
an event is expected. Warnings are usually issued up to 36 hours 
before an event. Advisories are issued for less serious events up to 
36 hours before they occur. Any of these alerts can be issued with 
longer lead times if forecast confidence is high.

A blizzard warning will be issued for sustained winds or frequent 
wind gusts to 35 mph or greater, and considerable falling and/or 
blowing snow, frequently reducing visibilities below 1/4 Mile, for a 
period of 3 hours or longer. 

Snow squall warnings are short fused, meaning they are typically 
issued with an hour or less lead time. They will be issued if a 
heavy snow shower, accompanied by gusty winds and blowing snow, is 
expected to cause a rapid drop in visibility to 1/4 mile or less and 
plummet temperatures sufficiently to cause a flash freeze. These 
short fuse events are usually associated with arctic cold frontal 
passages, are quick moving and last for less than one hr in 
duration. 

Winter storm watches and warnings are issued for...

Heavy snow, when an average of at least 6 inches in 12 hours or 8 
inches in 24 hours is forecast. 

A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain expected to cause 
impacts similar to those of either heavy snow or significant 
freezing rain. 

Ice Storm Warnings are issued when at least one half inch of ice is 
forecast to accumulate on elevated flat surfaces. 

Beginning last winter season Wind Chill Watches/Warnings were 
consolidated into Extreme Cold Watches/Warnings. Extreme Cold 
watches and warnings are issued when air temperatures and sustained 
wind speeds are forecast to produce apparent temperatures or wind 
chills of at least minus -15 for southern portions of the area, and 
-20 degrees for northern portions of the area.

Flood watches and warnings are issued for flooding of rivers, small 
streams, streets and poor drainage areas. Heavy rain lasting at 
least 6 hours and snow melt are usually a major cause of flooding. 

Coastal flood watches and warnings are issued for widespread 
moderate or greater flooding of shoreline and coastal communities, 
with inundation of 2 to 3 feet or greater above ground level. 

High wind watches and warnings are issued for sustained winds 
averaging at least 40 mph for at least 1 hour, or for wind gusts 
reaching at least 58 mph for any duration. 

Advisories will be issued for lower amounts or values and cover 
winter weather, freezing rain or freezing drizzle, wind and cold 
weather which often relates directly to wind chills, and dense fog. 
Note that beginning last season the Cold Weather Advisory is 
replaced Wind Chill Advisory where the apparent temperature or wind 
chill criteria is now -5 for southern portions of the area, and -10
for northern portions of the area. For additional specific NWS 
criteria, access our winter weather web page at...

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OKX/WINTER

The next statement around 6 am Saturday will be a recap of winter 
weather safety.

$$