Winter Storm Criteria Change


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1138 AM EST FRI NOV 7 2014

...CHANGE TO WFO PEACHTREE CITY WINTER STORM WARNING CRITERIA...

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY...THE SNOW AMOUNT CRITERION FOR A WINTER
STORM FOR THE ENTIRE PEACHTREE CITY COUNTY WARNING AREA WILL BE 2
INCHES OF SNOW.

PREVIOUSLY...THE ENTIRE PEACHTREE CITY COUNTY WARNING AREA HAD A
SNOW CRITERION OF 4 INCHES IN 24 HOURS. THIS HAS BEEN REMOVED.
ALSO...THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAIN COUNTIES OF FANNIN...
UNION...TOWNS...WHITE...LUMPKIN...DAWSON...PICKENS...AND GILMER
HAD A 12-HOUR SNOW CRITERION OF 3 INCHES...WHICH HAS BEEN REDUCED
TO 2 INCHES TO LINE UP WITH THE REST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

WINTER STORM CRITERIA FOR SLEET /ONE HALF...1/2...INCH OR
GREATER/ AND FREEZING RAIN /ONE QUARTER...1/4...INCH OR GREATER/
HAVE NOT CHANGED.

THE CHANGE TO THE SNOW CRITERION WAS BASED ON PUBLIC SAFETY
CONCERNS AND COLLABORATION WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PARTNERS IN
THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAIN COUNTIES.

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED 12-48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF AN EVENT
FOR A 50 PERCENT OR GREATER CHANCE OF CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR A
WINTER STORM.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED UP TO 36 HOURS BEFORE AN EVENT
FOR AN 80 PERCENT OR GREATER CHANCE OF A WINTER PRECIPITATION
EVENT WHICH CAUSES AN INCONVENIENCE BUT DOES NOT MEET WARNING
CRITERIA.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED UP TO 36 HOURS BEFORE AN EVENT
FOR AN 80 PERCENT OR GREATER CHANCE OF A WINTER STORM.

A WINTER STORM WATCH/WARNING CAN ALSO BE ISSUED AT FORECASTER AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DISCRETION WHEN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ARE
EXPECTED BUT THE SNOW...SLEET...OR FREEZING RAIN CRITERIA ARE NOT
NECESSARILY MET.

FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS CHANGE...PLEASE CONTACT
KEITH STELLMAN...METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE...OR STEVE NELSON...
SCIENCE AND OPERATIONS OFFICER...AT 770-486-1133.