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NWS to Simplify Cold Weather Alerts: Key Changes for Winter 2024

As temperatures drop and the season for frigid air masses approaches, the National Weather Service (NWS) is making significant changes to its cold weather alert system. Starting October 1, 2024, familiar terms like “Wind Chill Watch” and “Hard Freeze Warning” will be replaced or consolidated to improve public understanding and safety. These updates are part of the ongoing Hazard Simplification project, which aims to make hazardous weather messaging clearer and more actionable.

Why These Changes Matter

Cold weather can become life-threatening very quickly. Severe cold spells put people at risk for frostbite and hypothermia, and exposure can become deadly within minutes. By simplifying alerts, the NWS hopes to better convey the seriousness of these conditions and help people make informed, timely decisions to stay safe.

Key Changes Effective October 1

  1. Extreme Cold Consolidation and Renaming
  • Wind Chill Watch will become an Extreme Cold Watch.
  • Wind Chill Warning will be renamed an Extreme Cold Warning.
  • Wind Chill Advisory will be changed to a Cold Weather Advisory.
  1. Freeze Consolidation
  • Hard Freeze Watch will be renamed to a Freeze Watch.
  • Hard Freeze Warning will be consolidated into a Freeze Warning.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

A primary goal of these changes is to combat the misconception that extreme cold is only dangerous when it is accompanied by wind. In reality, dangerously low temperatures can occur without significant wind and can still lead to severe health issues. This new messaging aims to emphasize that extreme cold, whether calm or blustery, must be taken seriously.

Preparing for Extreme Cold Events

As part of this communication shift, the NWS is urging communities to pay close attention to all alerts related to cold weather hazards. Dangerously cold conditions can occur alongside or immediately after winter storms, and the threat from extreme cold should not be overshadowed by snowfall or icy precipitation.