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Weather Related Organizations => NOAA National Weather Service => Topic started by: stanleyjenkins on November 01, 2017, 07:04:14 AM

Title: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: stanleyjenkins on November 01, 2017, 07:04:14 AM
https://www.weather.gov/crh/hazsimplification

I'm not sure how I feel about this, to honest. Basically, the NWS is consolidating some of their watch and warning types into more generic ones.

For example, Lake Effect Snow Watch and Blizzard Watch will become a generic Winter Storm Watch.
Title: Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: WeatherHost on November 01, 2017, 07:16:04 AM
Their simplification explanation was too complicated for me.

Title: Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: CNYWeather on November 01, 2017, 09:50:26 AM
https://www.weather.gov/crh/hazsimplification

I'm not sure how I feel about this, to honest. Basically, the NWS is consolidating some of their watch and warning types into more generic ones.

For example, Lake Effect Snow Watch and Blizzard Watch will become a generic Winter Storm Watch.

We have Lake Effect advisories, watches, warnings maybe 10-15 times a season here, depending on
what kind of mood Lake Ontario is in. This is going to confuse people here after so many years
of all the lake advisories being issued.
Title: Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: tmabell on November 06, 2017, 08:50:16 AM
I must be missing something.  The NWS is eliminating the Lake Effect Snow products and will now use the Winter Storm Watch & Warning products instead.  From all I've seen this is a nationwide change:

https://www.weather.gov/iwx/HazSimpWinterWx (https://www.weather.gov/iwx/HazSimpWinterWx)

Yet, they follow that announcement with this:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/pns15lake_effect_snowaaab.htm (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/pns15lake_effect_snowaaab.htm)

Does the right hand know what the left is doing?
Title: Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: W3DRM on November 06, 2017, 11:06:21 AM
I must be missing something.  The NWS is eliminating the Lake Effect Snow products and will now use the Winter Storm Watch & Warning products instead.  From all I've seen this is a nationwide change:

https://www.weather.gov/iwx/HazSimpWinterWx (https://www.weather.gov/iwx/HazSimpWinterWx)

Yet, they follow that announcement with this:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/pns15lake_effect_snowaaab.htm (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/pns15lake_effect_snowaaab.htm)

Does the right hand know what the left is doing?

Well, it doesn't appear that they are totally eliminating the lake effect snow forecasts. That will still be available in "selected areas" and it appears that the Buffalo, NY area will be one of them.

I'm also thinking that some of this my be CYA/Liability based given that the NWS has received some pretty severe criticism relative to the forecasts they put out that don't cover a weather situation that occurred during a storm. Not everyone who hears or reads a weather forecast has the knowledge or ability to understand that it is subject to many variations and may, in fact, be incorrect due to a multitude of reasons one of which is the fact there are many micro-climate zones everywhere that impact what the weather actually does regardless of the written forecast.
Title: Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: tmabell on November 06, 2017, 12:31:48 PM
Yep you are right, Buffalo and Burlington are going to continue issuing Lake Effect Snow Warnings as they always have.  Confusing  ](*,) .  If that isn't enough those same two offices will be among the first to ADD a new Winter Warning product.  The SQW (VTEC SQ.W) Snow Squall Warning is being added at the same time the NWS is trying to consolidate/simplify the process of warning the public by eliminating other products.  I rest my case  #-o
Title: Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
Post by: hankster on November 06, 2017, 05:32:33 PM
So they are thinking that the east and south side of Lake Michigan doesn't get lake effect snow?  :shock: