Author Topic: NWS Hazard Simplification  (Read 3100 times)

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Offline stanleyjenkins

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NWS Hazard Simplification
« 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.

Offline WeatherHost

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Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2017, 07:16:04 AM »
Their simplification explanation was too complicated for me.


Offline CNYWeather

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Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
« Reply #2 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.
Tony




Offline tmabell

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Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
« Reply #3 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

Yet, they follow that announcement with this:

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

Does the right hand know what the left is doing?

Offline W3DRM

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Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
« Reply #4 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

Yet, they follow that announcement with this:

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.
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Offline tmabell

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Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
« Reply #5 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

Offline hankster

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Re: NWS Hazard Simplification
« Reply #6 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: