Winter Weather Products (Non-Routine)

Winter Weather Products

Some of the products issued by the NWS Forecast Office in Peachtree City will be seen only during periods of potentially hazardous winter weather. These include Watches, Warnings, and Advisories. The page below offers a brief explanation of each product, and links to an example of each product.

* Winter Storm Watch (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: archived version
Issued 12-48 hours in advance of an event for a 50% or greater chance of conditions favorable for a significant winter storm (including heavy sleet, heavy snow, or ice storm). Winter storm conditions include 2 or more inches of snow, 1/2 inch or more of sleet, or 1/4 inch or more of freezing rain. May 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.
* Wind Chill Watch (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: N/A
Issued when there is at least a 50 percent chance for wind chill values to drop to 5°F or lower within the next 36 to 48 hours.
* Winter Storm Warning (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: archived version
Issued up to 36 hours before an event for an 80% or greater chance of a winter weather event that meets at least one of these criteria: 2 or more inches of snow, 1/2 inch or more of sleet, or 1/4 inch or more of freezing rain. May 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.
* Ice Storm Warning (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: archived version
Issued up to 36 hours before an event for an 80% or greater chance of a 1/4 inch or more of freezing rain. May be issued at forecaster and emergency management discretion when significant impacts are expected but the freezing rain criteria is not necessarily met.
* Blizzard Warning (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: N/A
Issued when there is at least an 80 percent chance that wind and snow will combine to produce blizzard conditions within the next 36 hours. Bizzard conditions consist of sustained wind speeds (or gusts) of at least 35 mph, and considerable falling or blowing snow causing a reduction of visibilities to less than 1/4 mile for at least 3 hours.
* Wind Chill Warning (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: archived version
Issued when there is at least an 80 percent chance that wind chill values will drop to -10°F or lower within the next 36 hours.
* Winter Weather Advisory (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: archived version
Issued when, within the next 36 hours, there is a high probability of enough snow, sleet, or ice to cause inconvenience, but not enough to warrant a warning.
* Wind Chill Advisory (WSW)	WMO Header: WWUS42 KFFC Example: archived version
Issued when, within the next 36 hours, there is a high probability of wind chill readings below 5°F, but not low enough to warrant a warning.

PRODUCT GUIDE MAIN MENU

Routine Products such as...general forecasts, aviation forecasts, climate data, etc.
Non-Routine Products:
- Severe Weather Products such as...Tornado Warnings, Flood Warnings, etc.
- Winter Weather Products such as...Ice Storm Warnings, Winter Storm Watches, etc.
- Non-Precipitation Hazard Products such as...Wind Advisories, Dense Fog Advisories, etc.
- Other Non-Routine Products such as...Short-Term Forecasts, Record Event Report, etc.

also...

Web-Only Products such as...GraphiCast, Event Planner, etc.
Hydroligic Products such as...Lake Levels, River Stage Forecasts, etc.