With beautiful fall weather, it can be difficult to remember that winter isn’t far away. Now the National Weather Service wants to simplify its messaging about potentially deadly cold winds and freezing temperatures.

“Cold weather can be deadly – ​​people exposed to extreme cold are vulnerable to frostbite and can succumb to hypothermia within minutes,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service said in announcing its new descriptions.

Wind warnings and watches for children have been renamed to extreme cold warnings and watches. The Wind Chill Advisory is now referred to as a Cold Weather Advisory.

What were previously called hard freeze clocks and alerts are now called freeze clocks and alerts.

“These changes are intended to clarify that cold weather can be dangerous with or without wind and to dispel a common misconception that extreme cold is associated with colder temperatures only when there is wind,” the National Weather Service said. “Dangerously cold weather can accompany or follow winter precipitation, and the cold message can be overshadowed by the winter precipitation.”

As in the past, a clock indicates that the weather described is possible and the public should be prepared. Hazardous weather is expected when a warning is issued, and the weather service says a person who hears the warning should take action.

In its extreme cold guidelines, the weather service recommended dressing in layers, covering all exposed skin, limiting time outdoors and bringing pets indoors.

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